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Slag_Bandoon

Hiding the Water
« on: February 07, 2002, 11:32:14 AM »
  It has occurred to me that the courses I love the most have little or no water hazards. In fact, their irrigation ponds are actually hidden from site and or play. Take Bandon, it's pond is next to the (?) ;) fairway but you'd never know it was there unless you've sha*ked an historic one. It is constructed deliberately out of sight and mind. Apache Stronghold's water is, well, still off the coast hovering?  Talking Stick's?  Aside from the Atlantic, every course I've played in Ireland had only the ponds of the sky.  I love and have perfected making the recovery shot. Not the shot itself, but getting it there.  Is there a general player expectation that the water has to be scattered about for beauty and variety that is from the likes of television.  Can some water holes be removed, just like the trees oft should be?
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:02 PM by -1 »
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Ed_Baker

Re: Hiding the Water
« Reply #1 on: February 07, 2002, 12:40:55 PM »
Geezuz Slag,we covered "hiding the water" on the spitting thread under "rampant tinkling!" ;)

Probably has a lot to do with the site,budget, "target market" ect.No?
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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Slag_Bandoon

Re: Hiding the Water
« Reply #2 on: February 07, 2002, 12:49:11 PM »
Buddah! Baker!    Sorry, been out of the loop for a while and was impressed by a couple of courses where this notion took hold.  "Rampant Tinkling"  you say? I'll check it out after I go to my mailbox and see if my Runrig CD is in yet.    
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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Richard_Goodale

Re: Hiding the Water
« Reply #3 on: February 07, 2002, 02:20:12 PM »
Slag

Glad to see you got my hint re: Runrig.  Hope you will not be disappointed!  I'm with you re: water, which only goes to show that golf courses should only be built in places like Scotland, Ireland and Oregon which are naturally irrigated by god.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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APBernstein

Re: Hiding the Water
« Reply #4 on: February 07, 2002, 02:46:11 PM »
Every time I hear discussion on the topic of water, lakes (irrigaton and not), I think back to a specific picture in the write-up of Redtail on this site.  I have not played the course, and honestly, I'm not entirely sure in what context the hole is played (tee position, etc.).  But whenever I see it, the only word I can think to describe it is "ideal".

« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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SPDB

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Hiding the Water
« Reply #5 on: February 07, 2002, 02:50:13 PM »
bottom line: I would love to be long on my approach and be able to attach some real meaning to the phrase
"HIT A HOUSE!!!"
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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TEPaul

Re: Hiding the Water
« Reply #6 on: February 07, 2002, 03:35:22 PM »
That's hole #9 at Redtail and the tee is a high one coming from the right from only about 135!
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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Patrick_Mucci

Re: Hiding the Water
« Reply #7 on: February 07, 2002, 05:59:35 PM »
Slag,

The 16th at GCGC used to have all sand to the left and front of the green.  A small pond now resides there.  A good case could be made to returning the area to bunkers and bunker sand.  It would get my vote.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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Paul Richards

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Hiding the Water
« Reply #8 on: February 07, 2002, 06:08:47 PM »
Slag:

One of the things that makes My Home Course, Beverly CC,
so special is that it only has one little pond - and if you
hit it in there, well, you deserve a penalty stroke!
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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"Something has to change, otherwise the never-ending arms race that benefits only a few manufacturers will continue to lead to longer courses, narrower fairways, smaller greens, more rough, more expensive rounds, and other mechanisms that will leave golf's future in doubt." -  TFOG

Slag_Bandoon

Re: Hiding the Water
« Reply #9 on: February 11, 2002, 08:02:36 PM »
  It's not that I have a problem with water if it's already there but when the design creates them for ambiance, hazard, beauty or a place to put the fountain, it irks me.   It seems to me if they want to use the full extent of the land then the designer would want to use as much land as possible to get the job done instead of scattering about little ponds of hard luck.  When I hit a ball into the rough or trees I keep my eye on it because of some innate hopeless hope.  When I know it's going into water, well, I get that sinking feeling. (sorry)  The flight of the ball is magical.  Even when it goes into hostile territory where a miracle recovery is imminent, I still have hope.  To know it is doomed to the soup is dispiriting and then to think I'll have to drop a ball and go over that same aquapuke that just kicked my ass, well, I'd rather have a tough lie in the buffalo grass.  Miracles happen.  
   Water forces the pro game of dart tossing and I'd rather play the amateur game of mystery.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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APBernstein

Re: Hiding the Water
« Reply #10 on: February 11, 2002, 08:54:33 PM »
One of the worst examples of an artificial lake is the 4th at Pete Dye Golf Club.  This hole/lake still can't spoil a great front nine, but it just seems so out of character with the site/rest of the course.

I wish I had a picture, and I do at home, but somehow I know Mr. Dewar will have one ready if he sees this post.

* Check that, I found this picture of rather lesser quality on the club's website.

« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:02 PM by -1 »
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Slag_Bandoon

Re: Hiding the Water
« Reply #11 on: April 09, 2002, 02:09:17 PM »
Are underground tanks, vessels, etcetera ever used for water runoff for future irrigation?  Is there any problem with spoilage, fermentation or concentration of fertilizers in the water that makes this a bad idea?  My favorite water container is the one on Pettycoat Junction with the swimming girls - a la implied al fresco.   I'd put one of those wooden-slatted steam refuelers on a course of mine.  
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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A_Clay_Man

Re: Hiding the Water
« Reply #12 on: April 09, 2002, 09:26:16 PM »
Andrew- This picture of Pete's seems awfully similar to the tenth at PGA West Stadium. It Also seems as eerily out of place there too.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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