What was your "hook"?

[Ted Sturges]

My question is in regards to what "hooked" you into becoming a golf course architecture junkie?  For me, the moment is clear.  It was 1991, and my father and a couple of our friends had planned a trip to attend the '91 Ryder Cup at the just completed Ocean Course at Kiawah (the war by the shore).  I was 30 years old.  I had been an avid golfer for 20 years by that time.  I had arranged for our group to play a little golf in advance of the golf tournament viewing.  A friend had arranged for us to play Yeamans Hall Club.  I knew nothing about Yeamans Hall, and I didn't know who Seth Raynor was.  When I walked onto the 6th tee, and looked down at the redan and I thought to myself...what in the hell is that?  

I was hooked.  After our round, I engaged in a lengthy conversation with the pro about the course, who built it, how old it was....etc.  He showed me the original blue print that depicted the original routing.  When I got back home, I wrote him a thank you note and expressed interest in learning more about the course.  He forwarded my letter to Dr. Henry Terrie, who was the Green Chairman at Yeamans at the time.  Dr. Terrie mailed me a letter providing additional color on the course and on Seth Raynor.  He sent me a photo copy of a letter written in 1924 by Seth Raynor, to the founding members of Yeamans Hall Club as a progress update on the construction of the course (I framed that letter and it is in my home office today).  Dr. Terrie and I struck up a friendship and we played a good bit of golf together before his passing. He also suggested I contact George Bahto and Charles Ferguson to further my education on Seth Raynor.  I did, and have cultivated friendships with both of those gentlemen.  

So, for me...it was seeing my first redan and wondering what it was, and why it looked different from the goat ranch I grew up playing.  I was hooked.  That experience brought me into a new pastime (the study of golf architecture).  Ran's site took it to another level as the access to content (and other golf architecture "nerds") made the world much smaller.

What hooked you?

TS

[Phil McDade]

Playing Machrihanish.

[Keith OHalloran]

Reading "The Evangelist Of Golf" after having played NGLA without  knowing the design principles. It was really eye opening.

[Mark McKeever]

Meeting Joe Bausch.

[Chris_Hufnagel]

No doubt in my mind...playing High Pointe for the first time...

[Dan Herrmann]

Ran's course reviews.   After I returned from my first visit to Pacific Dunes in 2001, I happened upon a golf course under construction with some of the really great features I first saw at PD.  Ended up joining that course (French Creek) and I was hooked.

[Thomas Dai]

My 'hook' started with simply playing golf in a pasture/field with some friends and our Dad's from around age 8, still got a scar from standing too close on a mates follow-through. Started sketching and planning imaginary courses from about age 11. Keenness on more intricate aspects of course architecture developed following easier access on mass-market bookshop shelves to GCA subject books. Interest developed stronger after purchasing copies of Tom Doak's 'The Anatomy of a Golf Course: The Art of Golf Architecture' and FW Hawtree's The Golf Course: planning, design, construction and maintenance'. The book collection has expanded since then, and of course, the internet has further opened my architectural horizons.

An interesting thread. I'll be curious to see how it develops.

All the best.

[Jim Sherma]

Back in the '70's Golf World had nicely laid out stroke saver type previews for the majors. I know Atlanra AC was one of them, but there were others. This was the start for me as I was not even playing at this point and had access because my dad's old partner always gave him a subscription as a present. After I started playing a lot I really got into it more heavily once I played Pine Valley and Baltuarol in the early '90's. Finding GCA just put it into overdrive thanks to informational access.

[Andrew Buck]

My question is in regards to what "hooked" you into becoming a golf course architecture junkie?  For me, the moment is clear.  It was 1991, and my father and a couple of our friends had planned a trip to attend the '91 Ryder Cup at the just completed Ocean Course at Kiawah (the war by the shore).  I was 30 years old.  I had been an avid golfer for 20 years by that time.  I had arranged for our group to play a little golf in advance of the golf tournament viewing.  A friend had arranged for us to play Yeamans Hall Club.  I knew nothing about Yeamans Hall, and I didn't know who Seth Raynor was.  When I walked onto the 6th tee, and looked down at the redan and I thought to myself...what in the hell is that?  

I was hooked.  After our round, I engaged in a lengthy conversation with the pro about the course, who built it, how old it was....etc.  He showed me the original blue print that depicted the original routing.  When I got back home, I wrote him a thank you note and expressed interest in learning more about the course.  He forwarded my letter to Dr. Henry Terrie, who was the Green Chairman at Yeamans at the time.  Dr. Terrie mailed me a letter providing additional color on the course and on Seth Raynor.  He sent me a photo copy of a letter written in 1924 by Seth Raynor, to the founding members of Yeamans Hall Club as a progress update on the construction of the course (I framed that letter and it is in my home office today).  Dr. Terrie and I struck up a friendship and we played a good bit of golf together before his passing. He also suggested I contact George Bahto and Charles Ferguson to further my education on Seth Raynor.  I did, and have cultivated friendships with both of those gentlemen.  

So, for me...it was seeing my first redan and wondering what it was, and why it looked different from the goat ranch I grew up playing.  I was hooked.  That experience brought me into a new pastime (the study of golf architecture).  Ran's site took it to another level as the access to content (and other golf architecture "nerds") made the world much smaller.

What hooked you?

TS

I really don't remember the time or place.  What I do know is in high school I must have drawn redesigns of my home course, the course my dad was superintendent at a thousand times.  

[Brad Tufts]

Playing Essex County Club in junior interclubs, and my entire family belonging to a classic parkland course from the Golden Age.

[Eric Smith]

A trip to Pinehurst the summer before 8th grade. After playing the courses there I was convinced they were much better than the ones back home but wasn't sure of the reason(s) why. At first I thought it was because of the better grass (bermuda vs blues) and the pine trees (you could find your ball in the needles vs thick woods). I had never played on bermuda before then and found it interesting that I didn't seem to hit as many fat shots on it like I did at home.

By the time we returned the following summer I knew quite a bit more about Pinehurst and Donald Ross and picked up on two key ingredients to why the golf was better there. Wider corridors meant more fairway and the sandy soil, which allowed that bermuda grass I fell in love with to excel at creating perfect turf to play off of.

[Chris_Blakely]

Playing The Balsams Resort - Panorama course on a golf trip with my brother about 12 years ago or so.

Chris

[Wayne Wiggins, Jr.]

Growing up at Aronimink and playing on a course which was worked on by Fazio in preparation for the 1993 PGA Championship (which we all know didn't happen), I was led to believe that this was what all golf courses were, what they looked like, how they played, etc.  I knew this course as a difficult, green, lush, tree-lined, rough-choked "championship" course.  Then Ron Prichard came in (late 90's early 2000's?) and took the course back to the Donald Ross design that we have today.  When i saw that transformation, i was hooked by what different style architecture was and how it looked and played.  From that point i wanted to learn more about other courses and their design... who did it, when, etc. and realized that there was a big world of options out there... that it didn't all have to be pretty and green.  I wasn't confined to Fazio, and Nicklaus, and Jones, and Pete Dye... there were these old dead guys who did pretty cool stuff.  And then.  I found GCA.com.  

[Tim Leahy]

Checked out a copy of the World Golf Atlas from the local library.

[George_Bahto]

Keith O’Halloran: what a nice compliment thank you

At this point in my life, as some sort of Seth Raynor expert it seems, I’m almost embarrassed to tell this story (expose) about how I got hooked.

Huge hockey fan with front row seats at the N J Devils for over 20-years we were fortunate to attend many events with the players and during that time I got to know a number of the players, also inviting them to play at The Knoll.

It was about the time the (Cliff Wendehack-built) Knoll clubhouse burned to the ground (1086).

My golfing partner and I had as our guests for the day (the great) Claude Lemieux and or then, starting goalie, Chins Terreri (pre, Marty Brodeur). Chris was/is a very good golfer, Claudie, more in our class. Chris was also a fan of GCA and a fan of Charles Banks (and more, of course), During the round he and I talked Banks, The Knoll, Essex County, Forsgate, etc.

After the round we talked about the loss of the clubhouse and how I thought I might try to resurrect some of the lost / stolen memorabilia, the original blueprint and lost artwork that adorned the walls of the clubhouse.

He suggested going over the USGA Museum in Far Hills “and by the way George. Banks was the protege of Seth Raynor and the great C B Macdonald.”

“Chris, really?      How do you spell Rainer (ha) R-A-I-N-E-R”    Obviously he corrected me and began a reportage about Macdonald and Raynor.

I had never heard of either SR or CBM  - can you imagine?

Off I went on this “mission” which led to the discovery of their architectural philosophies - led to the writing of a short history of the Knoll. (I was 56-years old at the time - ha).

Book Dealer, Dick Donovan, and Met Golf Assn Historian, Bill Quirin (a fan of the hated Rangers!), urged me to continue my research for there was a great untold story about Seth Raynor .....

And we were off to the races after that

"and that's the end of the story"

[Colin Macqueen]

Yes Tim,
That too was my baptism as far as becoming interested in architecture was concerned.  I bought a second-hand copy of Golf Club Atlas not really realising what I had bought. I thought it was simply going to describe some golf courses from around the world! I had for some time though been interested in the agronomy as far as golf courses were concerned. I still haven't really got to grips with the architecture but am enthralled by the subject nonetheless. I have rabbited on about  it so much in the last three years since finding the GCA forum that Tricia my better half, has the insights now to point out that the Morecambe Bay course a few miles from where I am lying abed, on holiday, is (was?) a Mackenzie! I didn't know that! She may have a better feel for this business than I do!

Cheers Colin.

[SL_Solow]

My story isn't as good as George's although I also knew Mr. Donovan who is missed.  I played a fair amount of golf as a youngster, mostly following my Dad around early on Sunday's at Chicago area publics.  I discovered tennis when I was 13 and left golf, save for a couple of times a year to play for the high school team and some tournaments.  In college, my serve relegated me to being a good club player.  Somehow, I was reintroduced to golf.  I enjoyed the challenge of the game.  But what really appealed to me was the differences in the playing fields, the fredom and open spaces, and the impact they had on the play.  compared to the uniform and limited dimensions of the tennis courts which were only differentiated by surface and setting, golf courses were and are fascinating.  Being one who tends tto over intellectualize most things, I started to read everything I could about the subject and to see a variety of courses all while working on my game.  This led to an interest in golf course maintenance and agronomy.  Now, more than 40 years later, I continue to learn and to try and improve.

[David Kelly]

1978 Open Championship at St. Andrews.

[Will Lozier]

I can only point to various moments where I've had my eyes opened further as I've always envisioned golf holes where ever I've driven and sketched holes since I've maybe junior high.  If I may...

1) Playing Ross' excellent Springfield Country Club (OH) as a youth with member friends and being shocked by his greensites which are either beautifully benched into a hill with severe back to front slope, slightly built up on the flatter terrain with mostly open fronts allowing for ground options, or, in the case of the 8th hole, a glorious skyline green on top of a hill falling off on three sides on a short down and up par-4.  I once made a 25' putt aiming 180 degrees away from the hole (ball probably traveled over 40') on #8 for birdie in a 6-man (3v3) 9-hole scramble match to go one-up.  Then, made a 35-footer with at least 10' of break on the last.  I just marveled at how much fun those putts were make (or miss).  SCC's greens are largely unknown by most on GCA and I'd encourage anyone here to pay a visit.  Probably the course I'd pick to play for the rest of my life if I had to.

2) Working as a PGA Apprentice in VT 15 years ago I bought Doak's Guide and began to seek out interesting courses much more intentionally playing Ekwanok & Yale among other New England gems further inspired me.  

3) Playing St. Enodoc while in England for my brother's wedding 11 years ago was extraordinary.  

4) Stumbling onto GCA.com 10 years ago.

5) Working at Carmel Valley Ranch the summer before moving overseas and being lucky enough to play Cypress Point and Pasatiempo.  The former gets my #1 and always will.

6) Living in Surrey for a year a few years later and playing tons of great Heathland golf all over Surrey and an Open Qualifier up in Leeds at Alwoodley while also heading SE to Deal and ferrying from Wales to Ireland.  My game got to be so much better playing on F&F.  BIG YEAR.

7) Walking Cape Breton Highlands twice in 6 hours and having an absolute blast on my honeymoon.

Caddying for 5 months at Bandon Dunes was the ultimate up to now.  Truly the finest GCA education one can hope for with the variety of courses, the conditioning, and the weather.  Getting someone else around such courses is invaluable to the understanding of the subtleties of each and, I would argue, to true links golf.

9) Attending The Masters.  The scale took me back to memories of Yale!

Cumulatively, these experiences have formed my interest and diverse preferences in GCA.  I'd hope I'm lucky enough to experience 9 more! Sorry for going on and on and....

[Sean_A]

Donald Ross.

Ciao

[jeffwarne]

In this order
Augusta CC (for its subtlety and playability)
ANGC (for its beauty, strategy, drama and history)
Augusta Golf Club (The Patch) (for it's rock hard grassless fairways, and demanding that I learn a much larger variety of shots to score)
Palmetto (which still confounds me as a player to this day, for its history and initially for having to play the ground game pre irrigation)
Forest Hills Golf Club (for its history and feel)
Playing golf in the MET Section and every course I had never heard of was better than the next.
Links golf

Wasn't aware they were the hooks until I began playing "better" modern courses and realized I couldn't stand any of them

[Chris Oldham]

Probably my first trip to Scotland.  In particular, I was completely awestruck by Dornoch and the natural flow of the course.  Living in Knoxville, TN and having played Holston Hills many times, I was struck by the similarities between the two courses and could see where Donald Ross developed his sense of what a golf course should look like and how it should play.  Since that time, I can't help but look at a golf hole and think of things I have seen at many of the great Scottish courses and how they have been incorporated into modern design.

[cary lichtenstein]

My hook  was Tam O Shanter in Niles, Illinois.

[Mike_Trenham]

Age 14 caddied for my father in two important local events one at a nice George Fazio design the other at a Flynn master piece which blew me away.  A dinner my father asks me so you liked x couse better, would you replace any hole from y with any hole on x.  My answer was no.  He then said what about couse z...

Next was reading The Golf Couse by Cornish and Whitten

Walking a bunch of courses under construction

[Tim_Weiman]

My hook was at Leewood Golf Club in Eastchester, NY when I was about 2 years old. The course has no claim to fame other than a pretty famous baseball player - Babe Ruth - was a member (before my time!). Just loved the whole idea of golf courses even at that early stage.

Also have to credit the first golf architecture book I purchased when I was ten years old: Sports Illustrated's 18 Best Golf Holes in America.

Loved Dan Jenkin's writing, especially his description of Pine Valley.