"An interesting fact about Maidstone's 9th hole in the World Atlas...: Apparently, the massive dune left of the fairway is actually built (see below... in photo borrowed from Morrissett's write-up on Maidstone here, at Golf Club Atlas)."
Jeff:
It's so interesting you say that, or, World Atlas said that!
Before I even begin to explain, let me first say that the answer to a question like that may be pretty hard to pin point, or, let me say it another way----eg what you see there as that dune on the left (and frankly the right too) may seem to be "built" but I believe a better way to explain it may be to use the phrase that it was essentially created by the architect going down with it and not up.
I realize it may be hard to understand what I mean by that. Let me preface.
John Foley mentioned the club history book of Maidstone by David Goddard that he just came by on ebay. It really is quite a book with some remarkable research on the oldest iteration of that club and first course and how it all came to evolve over time into what it is today. Believe me it was complicated and an evolution of some real piecemealing parcels together (and losing some too).
We know David Goddard, he lives out there and Wayne and I dealt with him alot on the history of Shinnecock. David sounds British to me and for the longest time we thought he belonged to Shinnecock but he doesn't. I suppose he is just known out there as a very good writer or writer/researcher. The only other thing we know about him is he is damn near impossible to get a hold of sometimes!
Nevertheless, in that history of his on Maidstone he had to have done a ton of research in the town on all kinds of deed swaps over the years and perhaps even engineering plans and reports filed with the town of Easthampton.
So let me explain why I mention this vis-a-vis what you and World Atlas said about that dune on the left being "built".
Goddard said in his book that Willie Park Jr essentially went DOWN approximately ten feet on the center of that hole perhaps from about 100 yards off the tee all the way to the end of the green on the right. In other words, Park may've created that valley along the center of that hole with one massive "Cut" operation!! If you look at it in person and the elevations of the fairways and holes around it including how the entire 10th hole is grade-wise and where the 13th green and fairway and the halfway house is you'd understand better.
But why would Park do such a thing? I don't have his book with me right here but I recall that Goddard said Park generated that massive cut to create the fill for what is essentially the entire 7th hole which was once part of the pond or marsh next to it.
So, that dune on the left (and probably the right too) may look built or built up but I think what Park did is remove a ton of material along what now appears to be its steep right side, thereby creating that look and the much lower fairway than the way that land and grade was before he made that golf hole.
I've loved that hole for twenty five years and part of the reason is it just looks so cool looking down into that elongated sunken valley fairway from the high tee on the dune behind #8 green, not to mention trying to hit that thing in a big wind or cross-wind-----but I only heard about this about 5-6 years ago and when I did I just said to myself; "OH MY GOD!!!
And who ever would've noticed or would've even thought Park did such a thing there??
Jeff, THAT is what I call HIDING THE HAND OF MAN and a great architect who can make something he did that massive look like he never did a thing!!!
THAT is what I call GREAT GOLF COURSE ARCHITECTURE!!!
PS:
If YOU are anywhere around the area just say the word and I'll take you there!