Which courses deserve more attention and discussion on GCA?

[Ed Oden]

A number of the courses mentioned in this thread have been profiled before - some many times.  Personally, I would like to see people make a greater effort to search out old threads and add to them rather than automatically starting a new one.  Not only does that allow everyone to get the benefit of previous discussions, it can also add some nice perspective to changes that may have occurred to a course over time or to how a course looks and plays at varying times of the year or under different conditions than present during your visit.  

A profile of Peachtree?  I would not recommend doing one.  I'm afraid that is one of the main reasons I haven't done a photo tour in a couple of years.

[Kyle Harris]

The course where you, the poster, play the most.

There's an "In My Opinion" section for a reason.

[Stewart Naugler]

Great point Ed, I completely agree about the old threads.

[Mark Saltzman]

SNaugler, I'd love to see a photo tour of Franklin Hills.

Ed, I know some of the courses I mentioned have been profiled and I have looked at the old threads ... but I still think they deserve more attention.

Great point about adding to the old threads.

[Ed Oden]

Mark, I certainly don't want to discourage you or anyone else from discussing any course, whether it deserves attention or not.  Rather, my intent was to encourage folks to search out and add to prior threads.  I think people will be amazed at what they find if they do.

[Mac Plumart]

The course where you, the poster, play the most.

There's an "In My Opinion" section for a reason.

Brilliant!

[Stewart Naugler]

Mark- I'll start scanning my old photos when I get a chance, and I'll add some newer digital photos so we can compare the two.

Love Franklin Hills!

[J_ Crisham]

I will post a photo tour of Franklin Hills, Orchard Lake, and Oakland Hills if you guys are interested in discussing them. I really love the discussions on why the greatest tracks (Cypress, Pine Valley, etc) are the greatest tracks. This leads to great discussions/explanations on what great golf course architecture is. That being said, I do think we're missing the boat on one legendary track that was brought back to life recently (LA North). Maybe it's my fault for not posting more pictures, as I played there before and after the recent restoration/renovation. Now that the snow's falling I'll have more time to post, but I'd have to think others have played LA North after the outstanding work Gil Hanse/Jim Wagner did.

Selfishly, I would like to hear more thoughts on The Valley Club, Shoreacres, and Chicago Golf because they're fresh in my mind.

I would also love to hear much more about The Country Club (Brookline and Pepper Pike).

We're extremely lucky in that we have some of the greatest minds in golf that are members of this board. Back ten years ago when I was a lurker, this board had some unbelievably informative discussions.

My thoughts on CGC is that it is the best architectural course that we have in Chicago,hands down. Shoreacres is next followed by Olympia Fields North, Skokie, Beverly,and Flossmoor.We have big tournament course like Medinah,Butler,Cog HIll etc that are fun to play- if you do not keep score. We also have another level of great family clubs like Exmoor,Sunset Ridge, North Shore,Butterfield,andGlenview Club. We also have 4 all male clubs:Butler,Old Elm,Blacksheep,and Bob O LInk. Chicago truly is one of the top5 golf destinations architecturally in the US behind New York/LI, andPhilly.From the top 7 courses I played in Boston I feel Chicago is pretty much at the same level.  Ahead of Minn/St. Paul,Denver,St. Louis and Detroit. Will comment on our standing versus LA in a couple of weeks after playing LACC,Riv, Valley Club and BelAir.

[Mark Saltzman]

Jack, an aquanitance from Chicago spoke highly of Conway Farms (a T Fazio I believe). Do you have any thoughts on that one? Whet about the always controversial Rich Harvest?

[J_ Crisham]

Mark, I have only played Conway Farms twice,so I am not an expert on it but here goes. As modern designers go I enjoy Fazio quite a bit but to rank this course,for instance it is not on the same level as his work at Forest Creek North. I find it to be in excellent condition,fairly well routed given the piece of property, it has very little elevation change, a couple of quirky short par 4's ,and a faux sod faced greenside bunker on a short par 5. The Lake Forest area has courses I prefer like Knollwood, Onwentsia, Exmoor, Old Elm to name a few- or is that all of them?. Conway is good but it would fail to make my top 15 in Chicago. Rich Harvest Farms is an example of polarizing golf- you either love it or hate it-can you guess which camp I'm in?

[John Kavanaugh]

Every course gets exactly the attention it deserves. Courses are not great because you are told they are by the failed golf media, they are great because the way your ball rolls across the ground they excite you enough to tell your friends. These reports come at a cost to your credibility, a cost you are happy to pay. I mean really, nobody likes a golfer with a camera and a boring story they have heard 100 times before.

[Mac Plumart]

Courses are not great because you are told they are by the failed golf media,

I have to disagree.  The opinions of the vast majority of retail golfers I bump into are my evidence.

[John Kavanaugh]

Retail golfer?  When did you start offering $7 trades?  Who the hell is in your life that is retail? 

[Mac Plumart]

Retail golfer?  When did you start offering $7 trades?  Who the hell is in your life that is retail? 

Good point.  I have been known to slum it with an asphalt guy from the Midwest on occasion.  But only once.

[John Kavanaugh]

Retail golfer?  When did you start offering $7 trades?  Who the hell is in your life that is retail? 

Good point.  I have been known to slum it with an asphalt guy from the Midwest on occasion.  But only once.

I've called them civilians.  Retail golfer works. Hey, just cause we had a 19" tube tv in a double room didn't give cause to call it slumming.

[Terry Lavin]

Jack, an aquanitance from Chicago spoke highly of Conway Farms (a T Fazio I believe). Do you have any thoughts on that one? Whet about the always controversial Rich Harvest?

It makes the top 20 list in Chicagoland IMHO. It's too inconsistent in it's presentation to get me all fired up.

[Carl Rogers]

The early work of the GCA's mentioned here most often and the direct comparison with later more well known work.

[PCCraig]

The early work of the GCA's mentioned here most often and the direct comparison with later more well known work.

Very interesting point. Would be interesting to study the first 3 / last 3 designs by a few well known and active modern day architects.

[Patrick Kiser]

Well, I've got one going with my Mystery Course thread.  So I'm doing something about it  ...

[David_Tepper]

There has been no discussion that I can recall about the renovation of Del Paso CC in Sacramento done by Kyle Phillips 5+ years ago. Anyone played it?

[Brandon Urban]

I would love to see more photo tours of everyone's local clubs or courses. I think those may actually generate more discussion than the "big dogs" we seem to talk about over and over. We all know NGLA and Sand Hills are fantastic, but it seems more conversation could be had over courses that actually have some debatable greensites or bunkers or routing.
I know my home club isn't the greatest as far as architecture goes, but it is an enjoyable walk that I love. I would love to hear other's thoughts on it, because I'm pretty sure no one else has played it... but that also makes me leery of posting a tour. Maybe people don't want to comment on something they haven't played.
Thoughts?

[Jud_T]

Brandon,

There's little downside in posting a tour.  Worst case is that it generates little discussion, but it's still a valid contribution nevertheless.  Best case is it generates a ton of discussion and sheds light on an interesting off-the-run track and/or an under-appreciated GCA.  The only issue is that photos tend to flatten the terrain, so average courses without much interesting topography can look less interesting than they do in person.  So it comes down to a judgement call on your part.

[Patrick Kiser]

There has been no discussion that I can recall about the renovation of Del Paso CC in Sacramento done by Kyle Phillips 5+ years ago. Anyone played it?

Jed should have posted a home course write up by now ... but he must be busy or something  .

[Mark McKeever]

Schuylkill Country Club.

Mark

[George Freeman]

Plainfield CC in NJ
Franklin Hills in MI

Both are phenomenal golf courses and are both under-discussed and under-appreciated.