A very astute comment but with all decison making - how far do you take it or not take it?
This is my take.
Minimalistic is generally, as applied to golf course architecture, doing the least that is necessary to create and maintain a golf course.
Now if the Client is prepared to forego USGA greens, full irrigation, full drainage and occasional blind holes then one can talk about “minimalistic”.
However there are hardly any recent golf courses that have been constructed, including the Bandon’s, that are minimalistic.
Minimalistic were the golf courses that our forefathers in Scotland played on, some of which still exist and can still support a fun and interesting game of golf.
The only one under construction I can think of is Jon Wigget’s course at Brahan near Dingwall in Scotland. (Hopefully Jon will put up a couple of pictures up of the work so far).
In Switzerland there are a few “special event” courses that are without doubt minimalistic golf course architecture, which are played in the summer over alpine pastures on to very rudimentary greens.
Usually along the tracks of the melted ski pistes such as the famous Lauberhorn Downhill in Wengen, Switzerland or the Hahnenkamm in Kitzbühl, Austria.
Something for Bode Miller no doubt!!!
My favourite is the annual event on the Gornergrat in Zermatt, Switzerland under the shadow of the Matterhorn.
As far as the Bandon golf courses and others that can claim to make a cheap build I believe they are termed. “Naturalistic”. (Tom Doak please correct me)
“Naturalistic” for me means, adapted to the terrain or shaped to look like the natural terrain, but includes all the modern standards necessary to maintain a golf course at optimal condition most of the year round. This includes drainage, irrigation, specified root zones etc.
That's my minimalistic take.