The Bubble Gum Factor

[Michael_Stachowicz]

I am looking for examples of golf courses that the critics hated but the golfing public loved.

I am wondering if golf course architecture is going the way of pop music.  Rolling Stone might hate NSync, but they still sell a ton.  It may be like everything else capitalistic, dumb it down to the least threatening design so most of the golfing public will like it.  Box-o-wine instead of a fine cab.

[Ran Morrissett]

Some "critics" have sniffed at Tobacco Road but it is consistently busy and I am told that unlike a lot of courses in the greater Pinehurst area, it makes a nice return for its owners.

While a few of its more unique features might offend a critic, many  golfers appreciate a sense of adventure and this course delivers that in a beautiful environment. Plus, for only a few dollars more, it is so different that it sure as heck beats playing the standard fare for the 50th time.

[THuckaby2]

Augusta National gets bashed unmercifully in here, but everyone I know outside this room would give their first child, left nut, one arm and a leg to play there.

As for a course the public actually gets to play - well, there's one near us that the soon-to-be-doyens in here, as well as others in print have bashed:  Coyote Creek here in San Jose, particularly the Valley course.  The critics' take is that it sucks beyond belief, but you sure can't get a tee time there very easily....

TH

[Scott_Burroughs]

Other than this web site, how often do we see pieces in magazines or newspapers that criticize golf courses?  Not very often.  Most pieces in these rags are puff pieces to promote the course and sell copy.  

Other than Ron Whitten (who does on occasion give less than stellar reviews outside of the Architorture piece), Gib Papazian (not exactly widely known, most mags don't want brutal honesty), and maybe Brad Klein, who else writes true criticisms of courses?

So I don't really know which courses critics don't like as I don't see many written.

You're right about Tobacco Road, it's pure fun.  And after playing it for a second time two weeks ago, I agree wholeheardedly about you're suggested improvements.  Get rid of current #17 and add a long uphill par 3 between #12 and #13 (they can even keep all the fescue that is there).  I played the tips and my clubs on the par 3's were, 9, P, 6, 9, and gap-wedge, not exactly much variety.  #17 is gap wedge, which could be replaced with a long iron par 3, along the lines of Twisted Dune's #16 over the chasm to a huge green.

[THuckaby2]

Scott - GREAT point, I hadn't thought of it that way.  As an avid reader of Gib and this board, I had truly forgotten how the real world is outside of this... you are dead on here.  

TH

[Scott_Burroughs]

Actually, I do know which courses the critics don't like.  The ones where they don't get to play for free or where the cart girl wasn't gorgeous.

[Ran Morrissett]

The critics - or at least the ones I know - don't like Old Head at Kinsale.

How is that doing I wonder? Is it going to be a financial success? Are playing times hard to come by at Old Head?

[Paul Richards]

Ran:

As always, very astute thoughts.  Tobacco Road, while a
very fun course to play, has probably been overrated by
many of the critics.

Old Head, also an incredibly fun course to play, and with
perhaps the greatest views on any course (even more
spectacular than Pebble Beach!), has a few good golf
holes, but many that just get you from one point to the
next.  A must-see, but not a great course.

[David Wigler]

One of the few courses I have ever seen get a critical bashing is Royal Links in Las Vegas.  I'll be the fist to admit that trying to replicate the 18 best holes in Scottish golf right in the middle of the Vegas desert is not a way to win fans at GCA.  The course charges a $250 green fee and gets it though.  If you can get past the extreme cheesyness, it actually is a fun course to beat it around at.

[Ran Morrissett]

Two more courses that critics have bagged but that attract plenty of devotees: Tralee GC, Ireland and National GC, Cape Schank, Australia.

Along with some of the others mentioned above, there seems to be a common thread: visually spectacular courses have a natural way of wooing ardent admirers. Some critics may argue that some of their spectacularness was gained at the expense of good golf - sometimes the critics are undoubtedly right but also too sometimes they are wrong.

[Paul Richards]

Ran:

Tralee is hardly overrated.   The front nine is just OK.  But the back nine (except the silly 11th hole) is spectacular.  

I've played here 3 or 4 times and each time I walk off the
backside and say "Wow."