I am giddy reading these responses! Like Tony Montana, I am coming out of my hideout and opening myself to serious gunfire, but I am loving this conversation:
Sean, I love the green at the Gate hole, and truth be told, maybe my terminology needs refreshing, as I wouldn't consider a biarritz a tiered green, nor would I consider a horseshoe green tiered. Yes, there are 'tiers' but I suppose in my mind, I was thinking of a flat area that then slopes up to another flat area and possibly again (alla 3-tiered greens). Your second example you provided was more what I was thinking - two predictably flat areas joined by a rise (or dip). Yes, biarritz greens & horseshoe greens are templates and can have a manufactured look to them, but I suppose I love them more than the tiered approach because I see them less (read never) and the question doesn't seem as obvious.
As Matthew mentioned, I think tiered greens work much better when angled to play, and are set within a natural hill rise, although I still think there are better ways to shape the green to get a more varied and natural looking green complex.
Kyle great examples, and I agree that when they can look more natural, it seems more interesting / unique. You mention the 12th at TOC - I would never have thought of this as a tiered green, but I suppose it does meet the criteria. Does this mean it is more 'natural looking' because I couldn't / didn't necessarily identify it as a tiered green? Is this the point, that if the golfer (me) can identify a tiered green, then it likely doesn't look natural??
Robin, thanks for sharing your thoughts on how grass type influenced your green designs. A question for you / all architects: why don't architects (specifically those who work with the superintendent from the outset) use a grass on greens that won't allow for super fast green speeds, thus negating the issue that Tom is currently battling?
Bill, really appreciate the examples. I don't disagree that the stepped green isn't strategic, but rather that it is boring, and the answer seems too easy. Yes, you need to keep it out of right-rough, but the same could possibly be said if you put a redan-esque green there? One of the best Tilly greens I have played is the 13th at Somerset Hills. I LOVED that green with the mini-swale. I wouldn't necessarily think of that as a tiered green, but if that is the case, then I must revise my OP!
Tom, Woking is high on the list of those to play. I'll be sure to pass an invite to IJP when I pass through. I'm sure he won't turn down a £2 Nassau?