My thread on " The top ten mistakes that green committees make" was really a trial balloon for my thoughts following my visit to Sand Hills and Wild Horse, two wonderful golf courses that appeal to every level of golfer.
During the day I would play Sand Hills, in the evenings the eight of us would discuss the golf course, and occassionally, Dick Youngscap would engage us in conversation and a question and answer session.
As much as I liked both courses, I couldn't help thinking how a membership owned club, with a board and/or green committee or both would alter and ultimately disfigure these magnificent golf courses.
Shortly after my return I played an interesting AWT golf course that clearly evidenced the hand of green committees over the years.
Some of my favorite holes or approaches at Sand Hills were
# 1, # 2, # 11, # 13, # 17 and # 18. I happen to like skyline greens so these holes were very appealing to me.
When I played the AWT golf course I was disappointed that behind almost every green it was heavily planted.
I couldn't help but think how a green committee would QUICKLY ruin Friar's Head, Sand Hills and Hidden Creek.
At Wild Horse and Sand Hills I loved the wide fairways.
Lately, I've been a very straight driver, yet, at the AWT golf course some of the fairways were narrowed to approximately 15 yards or less in the LZ, despite the clear manifestation of a wide fairway foot path. This was the work of misguided green committees. These narrowed fairways and lush roughs are beyond the abilities of the membership to cope with, and as such, the golf course plays other than as AWT intended.
In addition to the pinched in fairways, green committees had planted rows of trees to further choke off the corridors of play, thus penalizing the higher handicap golfer.
At my home club in NJ a similar process had occured years ago, yet, NOONE sees the problem. And, due to TV and tournament golf, the perception that narrowed fairways are the wave of the present and the future is disturbing.
It's clear that only certain people are qualified to be the curators, the protectors or guardians of the golf course.
Paying equal dues should not necessarily entitle members to an equal vote.
It's also clear that green committees have lost their way .... as evidenced by their work over the last forty years.
Dick Youngscap, Ken Bakst, Roger Hansen and Dick and Herb Sambol are amongst those elite individuals who should remain curators in perpetuity. I excluded Mike Keiser because his courses aren't "private", and as such he doesn't have "partners" to deal with, and I excluded Mike Pascucci because his course isn't operational.
So, I want to praise and thank these individuals for their vision, their love of the game, and the creation and preservation of the golf courses that bear their influence.
And, I want to note that the best green committees are one man shows.
Thanks fellows, you've made golf more enjoyable for all of us, you've created a living legacy that we'll continue to enjoy for years to come and you've raised the bar for all those that follow that aspire to create great golf courses.