Routings similar to Muirfield?

[Paul_Turner]

William Flynn appeared to have a penchant for routing course similarly to Muirfield's.  Lehigh has an outside front 9 that encloses the back, although the back 9 isn't essentially circular, like Muirfield's.  I believe Huntingdon Valley is similar; how about other Flynn courses?

Other than Muirfield, Colt's Kennemer in Holland is currently routed with an outside/inside configuration, although I think the hole number has been changed from Colt's original plan.  Colt's Blackmoor almost fits too, apart from one hole.

Is Muirfield the first routing of this type (1925)?  Or are there earlier examples?  Is it a popular routing pattern for modern architects? (figure 8 seems to be popular).

[Neal_Meagher]

The Sonoma Golf Club in California has a very, very similar routing to that of Muirfield.  It dates from around 1926 and was designed by Willie (Olympic Club) Watson and it features a front nine that traverses clockwise and a home nine that is, as Mr. Alliss would say "anti-clockwise".

Not being the aerial whiz of a Mr. Burroughs or Mr. Nuzzo, I'll defer to one of those two to hopefully post it as an aerial of the day sometime.

The routing was very slightly tweaked a dozen years ago during a sorta-kinda successful renovation.  NOT restoration, very much a renovation with one eye toward finding and then bringing back older features, but only one eye.

Sadly, one learns from such experiences.

One more tidbit, as the bay and ocean winds combine in the mid to late afternoon, the balanced orientation of the holes done in this manner creates havoc from all directions.

[David_Elvins]

Paul,

As for modern architects, Mike Clayton's routing of Ranfurlie (in Melbourne) is of the Muirfield type.

[Paul_Turner]

The routing was in full swing today.  That 3-5 stretch was unbelievable into the wind, and downwind it was pretty dicey: remember Tiger's approach at 12.  Also, the 6th which curves against that wind, looked to be truly horrendous.