Interview with Steve Smyers - he loves Macdonald too!

[Jay Flemma]

http://jayflemma.thegolfspace.com/?p=5304

Some of his greens and holes look fantastic!  I played Southern Dunes, but before I started studying architecture.  This was a really interesting interview.

Why don't we talk more about this guy and his courses?

JF: What makes for a well designed golf course?

SS: The course needs to fit the land. You need to make it fit and flow with whatever nature gives you. The reason Mike Kaiser has had phenomenal success is that, number one, he picks sites that have the best content – the terrain, the natural setting, soil, climate, vegetation, drainage, edges, all of it…and what stronger edges are there than the ocean?

JF: It’s compelling.

SS: You bet it is! So as architects we first try to design the context – the natural context I mean. First, do we need to create a strong edge? Or can we utilize the existing features naturally so that they feel right? Then the next thing is to create the trip or journey – i.e. the routing of the course, that takes you too the most interesting and exciting places on the property in the proper sequence.

JF: How do you do that? (Sequence everything properly…)

SS: Just listen to your body and feel how it reacts to certain parts of the site – how long you want to stay and enjoy the view or how quickly you want to leave. That will tell you what is best to the golfer. The best parts of the site will jump out at you. I also won’t try to force a rhythm of holes based don a sequence that doesn’t feel right with the property.

JF: You mean the doctrine of symmetry? Which mandates two par-3s and two par-5s per side?

SS: Exactly. That’s just forcing in a puzzle piece where it may or may not fit best.

Now a great course not only has a great setting and takes you on a great journey, but a course can’t be great unless it offers the ultimate examination into a golfer’s ability and talent. 1) It’s gotta ask you to hit all the shots with all the clubs. 2) It has to give the golfer non-verbal cues via the land, so you can read your options and, therefore, understand the strategies. Read the golf course and you’ll understand how the architect wants you to best attack.

[Tommy Williamsen]

Steve did my course in DC, Four Streams.  The folks at the club who dealt with him had only wonderful things to say about his professionalism.  He makes a yearly visit to check on the course and make suggestions.  I have only played three of his courses but find his bunkering to be nothing short of outstanding.

[Jay Flemma]

What others have u played?

[Tommy Williamsen]

What others have u played?

Old Memorial and Chart Hills.
I also played Lochenheath before it closed and was renovated.

[Steve Kline]

I've played two Smyers courses that I'm aware of - Wolf Run in Indy and Ivy Hills in Cincy (my home course for a number of years). One thing that stood out was that both were quite difficult. I played Wolf Run one time about 22 years ago, when I was 16. So, the memory is quite vague. But, I remember the site had some interesting land. Don't remember much about the holes. Also, I remember there was some deep hay that was virtually unplayable just off of every fairway. Ivy Hills was a terrible site. On the side of a hill that has approximately 300 feet in elevation change. I believe the original design plan had four holes scrapped from flat land was scrapped by the developer to put in condos. That change resulted in three of the worst holes I've ever played at the top of the hill on the steepest part of the land. Not many people like the course, but I grew to appreciate the angles and strategy. The greens had a lot of slope and you absolutely had to develop a game plan, know how to attack the greens, and stick to it. Unfortunately the course was always soaking wet, which was not the design intent (nothing Smyers could do about that). It was designed for firm and fast I believe. One thing that it had in common with Wolf Run is that it is quite difficult (one of the hardest courses in Cincy). It also had a lot of hay just off the fairway initially. Some of it has been cut back or eliminated over the years. But given the difficulty of the terrain for golf they really don't need any of it. Of course, the problem then would be mowing all of that difficult terrain.

[Steve Kline]

Also, worked for 10 days installing drainage on greens at a Smyers course in Beallsville, MD. Is that your course Tommy? It wasn't too far from DC.

[Scott Warren]

I really enjoyed Chart Hills. Overbunkered, but smart, fun and on good land. The sixth is a brilliant short four.

I met Steve at a member-guest tournament last year and he was extremely friendly and engaging. A really nice bloke, who if I remember correctly is married to an Australian -so also a man of impeccable taste!

[Tommy Williamsen]

Steve, yes 4streams is my home club.

[Jay Flemma]

His wife is a former touring pro:) Pretty cool...and his son is All-American.  They almost won the Anderson together.

[Jay Flemma]

Steve will also be coming out with a statement on technology and a list of ideas he thinks need to be addressed regarding the future of the game.  Any suggestions or questions for him?