Trump National pic, UGH!!!!

[PThomas]

In most cases, you can make a course look awful based on a carefully chosen angle of a photograph.

how true...why there's this course in Oregon.....never mind....

[rjsimper]

Ryan,
is there even an outside chance that that 18th hole at Trump could've been acheived without so many acres of maintained bunkers-and maybe-if possible blending a bit of that with the terrain we see immediately to the left of those bunkers?

While i agree that the setting is/was stunning, I find it hard to believe that hole couldn't have been even more spectacular/less jarring without being so well......... GREEN and WHITE

Sure there is - there's a very inside chance....but just because it could have been accomplished another way doesn't necessarily make this BAD.  The white sand gets villified everywhere, whether it's here or at Pasatiempo, but I think what makes the photo David posted so jarring is that the sight line of the shot aligns the bunkers on 17 and 18 in one continuous line from a perspective that would never be seen when actually playing those holes. 

[Kalen Braley]

Oddly enough the waterfall does not seem too out of place or ugly.

I'm not trying to pull a Pat Mucci here and say you really have to see it in person....but I think it really helps.  I drove by there a year or so ago and stopped to take a look around.  It really is very much out of place with the surroundings.  Even my wife who knows zero about course architecture thought they looked hideous and over-done.  This is the same woman who wants to put in a small waterfall in the backyard.  I refused on the basis of it not being congruent with "naturalism"    

[jeffwarne]

Ryan,
I held my thumb over the bunkers on 17-still looks awful

I understand what you mean about white sand being villified-I was referring more to the sheer VOLUME of maintained sand-my choice of the word white was more to refer to maintained sand

You're right that some photo angles show work better than others-i think this hole might be best photographed from the bar

[Andy Troeger]

Could someone remind me of the history of the Trump National LA? This was originally a Pete Dye course and then redesigned by Donald Trump (and I assume an architect along with him?)

The Irish Course at Whistling Straits came across to me as much more overdone than the Straits Course. Both certainly are different even from most of the other Pete Dye courses I've seen. From my experience I prefer the older stuff, but the bar was set very high with places like The Golf Club, Harbour Town, Crooked Stick, Long Cove, TPC, etc.

[rjsimper]

The first is 17 - while you can whine all day long about the waterfall, it's not AS ridiculous as it looks from the original image in this thread - it's not subtle, but it's also not as ludicrous as it looks from above


This image is of 18, taken from the upper fairway perhaps 225 yards from the green - perspective makes the centerline bunker appear much larger, but again, it's not a blinding wall of sand as it would appear from above.  As I said, a subject photographed from different angles can yield far different results.


If you want to talk about dumb holes at the course, talk about this one (but it's not nearly as sexy to denounce)

[Scott Weersing]

"The unique beauty of Whistling Straits, as seen from the 4th tee on a calm spring morning", stated Ran!




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How is this different from Trump LA other than size of bunkers and color of sand. It seems we are willing to pick on Donnie when the real problem is Pete Dye. Does anyone have pics from before Trump took over? Maybe Donnie made it worse, but Pete Dye's record seems to consist of 5 great courses (none of which I have played) and a whole bunch of over the top ones.

More:

Those pictures are a good example of bunkers in the rough. While they may look interesting, I do not think any of them are in play except for a high handicap player.

[Dean Stokes]

What kind of hole is the bottom picture with the hundred yard long green and the ampitheatre of horrid little traps?

[Brock Peyer]

As a firm believer that a picture is worth a thousand words, I though I'd post this pic I found of Trump National in LA. I've seen some ask from time to time on the site if this course is worth the effort and money while they are visitng here in granola land. I think this speaks for itself. But hey, it's on the ocean and Pebble is only on a bay!

What "natural" the ultimate goal?

[Patrick_Mucci]

David, et. al.,

I wonder, if the color of the sand matched the surrounding scrub and rocks, if your perception and response would be the same.

If the bunkers were in harmony with the rocks and waste sand would the photos be far more appealing ?

Can someone with expertise in altering photos recolor the sand to rematch the rocks and scrub sand ?

Is everyone's reaction solely visual or tactical ?
 

[Adam Clayman]

These do have a certain similarity to one of the Desmond Muirhead photo's posted here years ago.
 While never having been to any of these courses, my gut tells me I'd either be laughing, the way Pete may have intended, or throwing up. Since Matt hates them, I'll go with Pete's humor.
 

[TaylorA]

You hit the nail squarely on the head -- there's no difference between Trump LA layout and that of the Irish Course at Whistling Straits. Both feature the overkill dimension and should be held to the same standard.

I must have missed the 40 foot tall man made rock waterfall with golf cart path tunnel at the Irish Course. What hole was that on?

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