name the architect

[Joe Bausch]

Recently I played a course that has received some chatter here, but not lots.  And I've not seen any photos of it posted.  So, rather than my usual game, I'll post some photos that I hope might be enough to guess the architect.  I think >90% of the folks on this site know this architect, but this course is definitely not ranked way up there by any publication that I'm aware of.

If you played here before, then please don't blurt out the answer!  I would like to see if a set of photos showing some greens, bunkers, etc can easily reveal the identity of an architect.

Here we go.

A bunkerless short par 4 with a short shot in:



A par 5 with the tee and green view:





An uphill par 4:





Par 3:





Short iron on a shortish par 4:



On what is one of my faves on the course, a fairly long dogleg right par 4 where a perfectly placed drive is needed to see the green.  First the view from the tee:



A view from the dogleg to have a view at the green:



A view of the green from the elevated tee of the next hole:



Downhill par 3:





A view from over the green on the par 4 9th:



A view from the green on a dogleg right par 4:



An approx 200 yard par 3:



An approx 400 yard par 4:







A 465 yard par 4:





A 555 yard par 5:







A 400 yard par 4:





A 366 yard par 4:







A 195 yard par 3:



A 531 yard par 5 closing hole:

[John Moore II]

I have no idea where this course is. But I will say (no offense intended) that this course seems somewhat plain, but looking at the simple houses around it and of course, the powerline running through the middle, I get the feeling this course never had the intention of being a 'great' course (i.e Top 100). But to say its plain, does not mean completely uninteresting. Its just an average course, and there is nothing at all wrong with that.

[Steve_ Shaffer]

I've played there. Hint: Somewhere near Allentown, PA.

Yes, the course has no pretensions of being great. It's just another in the line of courses by this architect offering good public golf for a reasonable green fee.

[Matt Kardash]

If you think this course is plain you must have some pretty high standards. I think this looks a lot better than the "average" course. Not to say it looks great or anything. Looks good enough for somethign that was probably pretty low budget.

[Joe Bausch]

I've played there. Hint: Somewhere near Allentown, PA.

Yes, the course has no pretensions of being great. It's just another in the line of courses by this architect offering good public golf for a reasonable green fee.

Steve, this course is not located in Pennsylvania.

[John Moore II]

If you think this course is plain you must have some pretty high standards. I think this looks a lot better than the "average" course. Not to say it looks great or anything. Looks good enough for somethign that was probably pretty low budget.

Thats what I was trying to say. This course is a modest layout, likely with a modest budget. It serves the general public who want affordable golf. My comments had nothing to do with conditioning or anything of that nature, it looks very well maintained. I am just saying that the design is not overly special, and its not meant to be.

[Steve_ Shaffer]

Joe,

I thought this was Olde Homestead by Blaukovitch in New Tripoli, PA. That drop shot par3 sure looked familiar.

[Peter Pallotta]

Joe - I'm posting just to give you more impetus to tell us who designed this and what course it is; I don't have a clue about either. But I've played courses that look like that (though never as nice as that) and I have a real soft spot for such low-to-the-ground and gently-flowing designs; I'd bet there is a lot more going on there than meets the eye.

Thanks for posting
Peter

[Mike Hendren]

This course has hosted an official Hillbilly Tour event with only two participants - yours truly and JakaB.  A bargain at $17.

[Mike Hendren]

JakaB called this a Merion copy-cat because of the stop sign behind the green.



I believe the architect might have built a few of the greens himself  - #12 comes to mind.

Mike

[Bill_McBride]

Hate the low voltage lines.

Love the shaping of the greens, laid over the natural terrain for the most part.

Love the lack of trees inside the course.

Looks like a fun place to play if kept firm.

[Joe Bausch]

Here's the routing:



I've played this course now about 4 times over the past 10 years.  It is a public course usually in real good shape.  This time it was less so.  Maybe the summer has been brutal or something.  The one hole I mentioned as being one of my faves (#7) has been closed for awhile now I'm told and plays instead as a short par 3 of about 60 yards from astroturf.  I'm assuming there was some big issue with the fairway (zoysia, but I may be wrong), but it looks to me to be ready for play again soon.  The following par 3 appears to have issues too, with one of those fans mounted near the green.

[Bill_McBride]

How long is that hike from the 4th green to the 5th tee?  Looks like a long one!

[Dan Herrmann]

I too think it's a Blaukovitch course.

It has some elements I've seen at Olde Homestead and Honeybrook.

[Joe Bausch]

How long is that hike from the 4th green to the 5th tee?  Looks like a long one!

Bill, I've corrected the routing above to get the '5' closer to correct!  But it is a decent hike from 4 green to 5, but nothing unreasonable.  Maybe a couple of hundred yards?

[Joe Bausch]

I too think it's a Blaukovitch course.

It has some elements I've seen at Olde Homestead and Honeybrook.

It is not a Blaukovitch course.  And it is located real far from Pennsylvania.  And real close to Barney!

[Bart Bradley]

Joe:

Is it one of Fuzzy's courses?

Bart

[Joe Bausch]

Joe:

Is it one of Fuzzy's courses?

Bart

Nope. 

Perhaps the fact that it isn't obvious from the pics who designed this course says a little something about the architect!  Or that just posting some ground level photos from an amateur photog isn't enough to reveal his identity.

[Mike_Cirba]

I believe the architect's first name is Tom.

[Joe Bausch]

I believe the architect's first name is Tom.

Yes.  And did he have an uncle named George?

[Sean_A]

I don't have a clue who the archie is, but the course looks like my kinda place.  Just make those rather non-descript bunkers a bit deeper and less obvious and Bob's yer uncle. 

A lot of these shots looks like really classic stuff.








Ciao

[CHrisB]

Very nice course for the money, but you'd surely skip a round here to play Tom Fazio's (in my opinion) best work which is just down the road.

[Ronald Montesano]

Nice that you guys flirt, but who and where?  End the anticipation!!

[Joe Bausch]

Answer:  this is Quail Crossing, a Tom Doak design in southern Indiana. 

And it is not far at all from Tom Fazio's Victoria National.

[Mike_Cirba]

I believe the architect's first name is Tom.

Joe,

Do I get a prize?   Especially considering I have never been there??   

Actually, it was pretty easy.

There are less than a handful of architects who would dare create (actually, NOT create) THIS look.

I can think of two.