.Ben,
I am just stating that with what Madison wanted to accomplish, Fazio was the only architect to choose. First off, it was a discovery property so they are going to go with there man Fazio. Second, a minimalist architect wouldn't have worked on that site for a high-end private club. A buddy of mine and I always mention that we should have DMK do the second course at Silverrock on the flat piece of property, and do a st. andrews replica with stacked sod bunkers and everything. That would work if it was a public course. For a high end private club in Coachella Valley, you either have to a good mountainside course or a great course on an inland flat property. Tom Doak designed Stone Eagle on one of the best properties for desert golf, and some people still think it isn't a good course, and it even went through foreclosure because of it. If you put a minimalist architect on a flat piece of property in the desert, and tell them they need to make a great course, with 200+ lots, with $200k initiation, you are going to have a hard time being successful. I agree completely Ben that the minimalist architect would produce a more fun course to play with more strategy, but to be a successful club with high end clientele it wouldn't have worked.
Let’s just say that instead of getting Fazio to do Madison Club, they hired DMK to build a great Scottish course in the desert. No hard feelings to DMK, because I love his work, but it just wouldn't have been as successful as what Fazio did. The more and more I talk with high end members on what architects they like the most, they all say Fazio first. They just haven't seen the light yet, leaves more time for us admirers to enjoy the great work out there by the minimalists.
Also, I just remembered hearing this about Whisper Rock. Bill Coore badly wanted to do the second course at Whisper Rock, (We could only imagine how good of course that would have been), but in the long run the club decided to go with Fazio for the second course. I am sure for the club and membership that was probably the right call financially.