When I think of architects already doing things differently than most, TD is at the top. From back to back par 3s to the routing at Dismal River, Tom isn't afraid to take a few chances.
What Mike Nuzzo did at Wolf Point with low profile greens at fwy grade for the most part is very different, especially on a flat site where the norm would be to lift up the greens and tees. He brings uncertainty into shot making when you can’t tell where the green starts and finishes. And its not just about the mowing lines, but topography as well.
Pete Dye certainly brought in a different look with his TPC courses.
I've seen some other examples of designers trying to do it differently, but often they come off to me as goofy, as trying too hard to say "look at me".
Ian Andrew in the "visuals" thread (paraphrasing here) says the look and feel of modern architecture is because people don't have time to figure it out, and more importantly don't want to put forth the effort. Why read the book if you can go see the movie.
He also says courses are judged on how they look more then how they play.
I think Ian is right, but I also think it’s a mistake to target design for the general populace, or for those who judge courses. The general populace does not play golf, and those who try to judge golf course strike out as often as they get a hit (in terms of what will be successful and what will not).
Recently in National Geographic there was a story about some folks who enter these huge caverns in Australia that empty out, or open up,( not sure what term to use here as I don’t have the article in front of me) miles downstream. They have to rappel , swim, climb, hike, whatever in hopes of finding a way out. Apparently, there are multiple exits and because of the huge canyon faces and over growth, GPS and other electronic navigation aids don’t work. They enter not knowing where or how they’ll get out.
I want to play golf courses like that. I don’t want to do all the physical stuff, but I’d like to go in uncertain about what my game plan might be. Golf courses where I can sit down the night before and check off hole by hole…hit driver here, 3 wood here and here, 4 or 5 iron to this par 3….etc get boring. I think with clever design, in the right climate, on the right soils, and with the right guys setting up the course each day, we could have more adventurous golf.