Golf design gains from the Gil Hanse Olympic course

[Mike_Young]

I don't know where the Olympic course will go from here and I don't know where Olympic golf will go.  But I do know the promotion of Gil Hanse via the Olympic TV stations has made more people and golfers aware  there are people who design golf courses who are not tour players.  It has even been rare that the TV mentions the lady tour player who worked with him.  Hopefully this will take signature player design the way of the Eddie Bauer Ford Bronco.    GH should be congratulated for seizing the moment as well as can be.

[BCowan]

Mike,

    I agree.  I just wanna know if you are okay?  This post is too positive for you 

[Mike_Young]

Mike,

    I agree.  I just wanna know if you are okay?  This post is too positive for you 

Gee...I'm positive when I need to be....I just can't stir as much crap being positive on here    I'll try to get contrarian soon...

[Mike Sweeney]

GH should be congratulated for seizing the moment as well as can be.

MY,



Typing in New England and thanks for posting this. It is time to call in some favors and make a fall trip to see Boston Golf Club. The Olympic course reminded me of Tallgrass (NY), as that was a flatish piece of property. I was always a big fan of TG with both GCA and non-GCA friends. It is time to see Gil Hanse's work on a unique piece of property.

[Mike_Young]

GH should be congratulated for seizing the moment as well as can be.

MY,



Typing in New England and thanks for posting this. It is time to call in some favors and make a fall trip to see Boston Golf Club. The Olympic course reminded me of Tallgrass (NY), as that was a flatish piece of property. I was always a big fan of TG with both GCA and non-GCA friends. It is time to see Gil Hanse's work on a unique piece of property.

I've played it a couple of times.  I like it and also like the woodwork the dude in did in the clubhouse...

[Bill_McBride]

West Coast guys have been bragging about Hanse since Rustic Canyon opened!

[JC Urbina]

Mike,


I agree, I have been fascinated with the golf course and what Gil and Jim have done with the topography.  Since I know most of the shapers who worked on the course I can see why it turned out so well.  A lot of talented people were involved and this mornings interview on the golf channel of the golf course superintendent only cemented the fact that Gil and company assembled a talented crew for the job that laid ahead.  I was impressed that the Golf Channel took the time to interview the people who are so often in the background but all so important in the final product.  Gil deserves this adulation along with the group of people who helped achieve the dream of an Olympic golf course.


The emotional ups and downs of designing and building a golf course are never truly realized by many in the golfing world, you would know more about that then most.

[Jay Mickle]

  I was impressed that the Golf Channel took the time to interview the people who are so often in the background but all so important in the final product.  Gil deserves this adulation along with the group of people who helped achieve the dream of an Olympic golf course.

Does anyone have a link to the above mentioned interview?

[Kirk Gill]

I very much liked the look of that course as it was shown on television. I was disappointed then, when a local talk radio guy (who is not known for golf commentary) made a point of saying that he thought that making it a public course after the Olympics seemed like the best that could be done "because it looks just like a local muni already. There's nothing much to it."


I'm not sure what it was that he was reacting to, other than the fact that it IS a flattish site, and is not too heavily bunkered. Is this sort of reaction common?

[BHoover]

I heard some people making comments that the course needed rough to present a "proper" challenge. I couldn't disagree more, but I fear that type of reaction was common among much of the golfing public.

[John Kavanaugh]

I have the eye of your typical golfer and must say this is the backass ugliest course I have ever seen on TV. In oddly enough one of the most beautiful countries, I don't get it. I really, really hate the sandpro marks in the bunkers. Come on, the skeet shooting venue had better views.


I'd love to know why Friars Head is beautiful and this course isn't.

[John Kavanaugh]

Is it possible that providing so many options for the player has resulted in painfully slow play? Is anyone enjoying this today on any level?

[SL_Solow]

Sorry Barney but we must be watching different golf courses.  s far as slow play, its endemic on the Ladies Tour; don't complain about a course that creates options.  Your position suggests that tourneys should be played in courses that lack imagination so as to speed up play.  Not for me,

[John Kavanaugh]

Shel,

I was simply trying to pose a question in a complimentary way. Of course options are good but I don't think that I am incorrect in the assumption that play is slower than normal for both the men and the women. Odd considering the lack of rough and number of bunkers, oh, and slow greens. I feel horrible even hinting it could be the design.

[Josh Stevens]

Wasn't it nice to see basically no rough - none at all.  The way the cameras would zoom in as the balls rolled about the place for about 10 seconds before settling, maybe in a bunker.  A 300 yard drive and it still comes down to the last 20 ft of roll or bounce that determines whether its a good shot or in the sand.

Hopefully a whole new generation of golfers will start  from scratch with no long grass

[Niall C]

.....apart from the long stuff the ball rolled into when it came off the fairway !!!


Personally I thought the transition from fairway to native grasses/bundi quite jarring and indeed the absence of semi rough or short cut of rough made the native stuff more hazardous.


Niall

[Mike_Young]

I dont know much about the course.  And wasn't judging it.  I was saying that so many golfers have no idea anyone other than tour players design golf courses and this ihas been the largest effort made to explain that in a long time.

[Niall C]

Mike


Fair point.


Niall

[JWL]

Mr. Urbina....
Just wanted to say that I agree with and relate to your comments.   Well said.

[RJ_Daley]

I also agree with Mr Urbina and JLP along with Josh Stevens.  It appears a great course created in a pressure cooker of a situation.  I wonder how many GCA companies would have survived all the trials and tribulations.  The course identified the best players of both men and women.  No flukes.  JK seems to see many things from a very different perspective. 

I hope the course survives and becomes a national treasure of Brazil sports.

[John Kavanaugh]

No fluke champions like often produced on courses during the Open.

[BHoover]

I found the quote below, posted in another thread, to be somewhat ironic considering the author. Some might consider the author of said quote to be the same revered barnyard animal as the subject of the quote.

"Gil Hanse is a bit of a sacred cow here; not a lot of criticism of his work, for whatever reason.  Maybe he's perfect."

[Tom_Doak]

I found the quote below, posted in another thread, to be somewhat ironic considering the author. Some might consider the author of said quote to be the same revered barnyard animal as the subject of the quote.

"Gil Hanse is a bit of a sacred cow here; not a lot of criticism of his work, for whatever reason.  Maybe he's perfect."

Except that you're criticizing me right now.  I get a lot of criticism here, and respond to most of it.  I'm not perfect.

[BHoover]

I found the quote below, posted in another thread, to be somewhat ironic considering the author. Some might consider the author of said quote to be the same revered barnyard animal as the subject of the quote.

"Gil Hanse is a bit of a sacred cow here; not a lot of criticism of his work, for whatever reason.  Maybe he's perfect."

Except that you're criticizing me right now.  I get a lot of criticism here, and respond to most of it.  I'm not perfect.

Not so much criticizing as appreciating the irony. I'm not perfect, either, for the record.

[Garland Bayley]

No fluke champions like often produced on courses during the Open.

Great sample size to draw this amazing conclusion from.
Also, perhaps you overlooked the qualification criteria. If only four US golfers get in, then Ben Curtis can't win.