Many thanks to Ran for having me as the Feature Interview.
Tim, so when are we planning our trip to Royal Melbourne?
My phone is 231-933-9169 and e-mail is mike@devriesdesigns.com
The Downs greens are a great diverse collection of sites and their locations and the routing were chosen by MacKenzie, with Maxwell's assistance. The front nine was completed in 1929 and those greens tend to be a bit more MacKenzieish while the back nine took several years to build (beginning of the Depression) and tend to be smaller and more severe in a Prairie Dune type style, so I believe that Maxwell had a bit more influence on the outcome of the back nine greens, but they all flow together very well.
Regarding Meadow Club, the range is getting more and more use every year and the need for practice space is important there, as it is elsewhere. We are looking at ways to improve that situation, but there is not sufficient acreage elsewhere on the property to build a practice facility and so it will remain in its current location. As to the cramped nature of the holes around it, we are exploring ways to improve them and the range without losing the MacKenzie qualities that are there -- a final decision has not been made on that so I would prefer not to comment more. As to the five holes (17, 16, 6, 13, & 15) that are adjacent to each other -- originally, it was treeless between them and the Bon Tempe stream flowed between 6 and 16, allowing the player to choose his line to the hole ala the Old Course. Now tree-lined, the holes are a bit cramped in places and so the strategy is different and complete elimination of the trees is impossible, due to sympathy for the trees and as a safety issue in some instances. We have been assessing the health and appropriateness of the trees through a TreeWatch program at the club -- this is an open evaluation for tree care at the club, which provides notice of tree removal and why at the club and it works very well to educate the members about the course's trees. As to the determination of what has been lost, etc. -- some of it is easier than others, but we have some good old aerials, pictures, original irrigation plans, and just the ground features that have not been disturbed by earthmoving to determine what has happened. Then in the process of restoring, we use probes and analysis of the materials to see where an improved material has been used for greens, etc. All together, these give us a good representation of the work and I am very pleased with how the holes are coming together.
As to the budget numbers at Diamond Springs, I can ask Kris if he would like to offer that.
Thanks for all the nice comments -- hope I didn't miss anybody's question!
