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Frank M

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Perception of GCA Quality Affected By Sun? New
« on: April 27, 2018, 11:41:46 AM »
I'm guessing most here are either able to see past or will disagree with this statement, but for many golfers the quality of a golf course can be impacted by visuals, either negatively or positively, and I was wondering what your thoughts are on whether the type of sun/light and how it hits particular holes at particular times can affect the way we perceive the overall quality of a golf course?
« Last Edit: July 04, 2024, 04:36:57 PM by Frank M »

Jeff_Brauer

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Re: Perception of GCA Quality Affected By Sun?
« Reply #1 on: April 28, 2018, 01:10:53 PM »

Frank,


Since most golfers focus more on what they don't like that what is really good, I suspect having to look into the sun is the most brought up topic.  Hence, the old adage of siting your clubhouse from 12 noon to 6 on a mythical clock face to avoid morning holes running east and afternoon holes running west to northwest.


Architects are also aware of using shadows to enhance the aesthetics, a
nd, for the most part, we count a lot on typical golf forms causing shadows at certain points, no matter what we do, in a random sort of fashion.  Many do
consider sharper angles on features like bunkers, usually away from the sun to create them, generally west side on earlier holes, east side on later holes more likely to be played into the sun. 


This even extends to things like bunker noses, which don't have to have a perfectly round shape.  I once had a shaper ask me which side of the bunker nose did I want the crest?  I gave him the answer above.  You can enhance shadows a bit via carefully thought out design, but for me, its on the lower half of the list of problems to solve, i.e., I wouldn't build a bad bunker just to create good shadows.  Some do. Von Hagge was often quoted that his shaping was aimed at creating shadows first, especially aimed at surrounding real estate if being paid by the developer. 


Golfers playing from 10-2 don't get a lot of benefit either way.


I was wandering around my east Texas project the other day, and commented that still, after 50 years of golfing, there is nothing prettier than a golf course at dawn or dusk.  The shadows, the effect of clumps of trees (cut through for fw, planted, etc.) that allow some shady areas and some sunny ones, etc. all make for a beautiful landscape.  Yes, some golfers focused on score never seem to care about that, but I have to believe they feel it, even if not an expressed feeling.
Jeff Brauer, ASGCA Director of Outreach

Frank M

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Re: Perception of GCA Quality Affected By Sun? New
« Reply #2 on: April 28, 2018, 09:00:31 PM »
Jeff, thanks for the response.

I'm curious, do you think or have something that backs up the notion that most golfers focus on what they don't like? Specifically when it comes to a golf course?

I feel most golfers are much more focused on the visuals and drama of a golf course above anything else. I think most golfers will go back to a mountain course with 100 foot drops or waterside course with 100 foot cliffs no matter how bad the golf course and before ever noticing what they actually dislike about a golf course (unless they are talking bad conditions, bad service, etc.). I feel it's mostly the more GCA oriented people who will tend to focus on what they don't like over what's really good.

In terms of the sun, I'm not sure I made myself clear with my previous comment. I'm aware many golfers complain about playing into the sun, but from a GCA perspective, I was thinking it could be advantageous to have a hole that is less noteworthy architecturally and/or visually play into the sun.
« Last Edit: July 04, 2024, 04:38:16 PM by Frank M »

Dave McCollum

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Re: Perception of GCA Quality Affected By Sun?
« Reply #3 on: April 29, 2018, 03:08:05 PM »
Can’t speak for the architects, but I’ve read that Steve Winn created a pre-construction scale model of Shadow Creek in his office and had the lighting mimic the sun through the day and seasons.  Most of the dramatic golf photography is shot at “magic hour,” the hour or so after sunrise or before sunset.  For example, if you look at Ran’s course reviews over the years, he seems to have learned this technique as have Jon C and the better shooters posting here.