I've only had time to read and not post much in recent days, but it seems that there is an overriding theme in many of the more recent posts that laments the loss of the "challenge" factor for the best players in the game.
A recent trend started by some of the new, "neo-classicists", has been to reintroduce strategy and "fun" into the game. The efforts of these architects should and have been applauded here and elsewhere, yet I don't think that any of us are so naive to believe that the great majority of these courses would present anything more challenging than an interesting diversion to the game's top players in competitive situations. And yes, I'm speaking of Sand Hills and Pacific Dunes, and a host of other modern courses we enjoy and delight in playing. Does anyone here doubt that if a 72 hole tournament was played at either in prime weather conditions that the best golfers would go very, very low?
In a significant way, this is a departure from what great courses of the past offered. Almost every great course of the past was not only a fun and strategic endeavor, but also provided more than enough challenge to be respected and even feared under tournament conditions.
After the golden age passed, and then the depression and WWII, it seems that many similar game improvements led to a situation where the best courses no longer had quite the same challenge as they had 20 years ago. Arriving on the scene was RTJ Sr., who modifiied classic courses and built new ones to fill the "challenge" void. Think what you will about his style, but there is no doubt that he made a lasting impact with what for the time was a pretty revolutionary and even creative methodology of bunkering in the landing zone, long tees to accommodate everyone, and humungous greens that were segmented to penalize the indifferent approach.
In thinking about the future, I don't believe that length is the answer. We seen any number of ultra-long courses being routinely butched. I'm not sure that strategy alone will do it either, as we are seeing "strategy" being "carried" at courses like TOC. Fast and firm conditions might be a part of it, but is dependent on benign weather conditions (i.e. Merion after some soaking rains). High rough can be easily vanquished as well, as witnessed by those who hit the ball not only long, but straight as well.
I think there is a natural law of action/reaction out there somewhere that makes inevitable some type of architectural reaction to technological improvements in the game. I just don't believe we've seen the latest architectural creative response yet.
However, I am certain we will.
Some current or future architect will come up with some creative and original design philosophy that will provide a new direction...a new paradigm, if you will, that will probably borrow from the past but also set out in new directions that will not only keep the game fun and strategic, but offer some new type of challenge that the game's best players will not only have to respect, but also struggle against.
Are there really only so many notes in the symphony? Or are we just inherently limited creatively in understanding what new notes are out there, until some next prophet of the game unveils them for our understanding and appreciation?
Are there any architects out there who are doing things differently? Who are undertaking ground-breaking, bold, innovative designs that pay homage to the old rules but break them in fresh, creative ways?
If so, what are they doing, and why do you think they will have a lasting impact on the future of the game?
I can think of one, but I'm not sure yet if he's the new messiah.