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Jim Hoak

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Brook Hollow opens
« on: November 05, 2020, 11:06:11 AM »
Brook Hollow golf course in Dallas reopened this past Sunday after being shut down for a year for a renovation of its Tillinghast-designed course.  The overriding principle of the redo was to restore the course to its Tillinghast roots.  Keith Foster, working with a Tillinghast historian, Phil Young, sought to bring Tillinghast principles to the greens, bunkers, waste areas and Great Hazard.  Keith is developing a reputation as a Tillinghast restoration expert, having done Philly Cricket and Baltimore Five Farms.
Here are some photos.  I may add some more later.
By removing trees, Foster gave the course a wider, more open look.  And the squared-off greens are a Tillinghast look.  The course is returned to a par 70, with the back "Tillinghast" tees over 7,000 yards.  Additional shorter tees have been added as well.
The course has been used for the most Texas Amateurs of any course, as well as the USGA Mid-Am and Trans-Miss.
The course originally opened in 1920, led by Cameron Buxton, who had moved to Dallas from Philadelphia after helping Crump establish Pine Valley.  His goal was to establish the best course in Texas, and Brook Hollow was recognized as one of the best for years.




Par 5 15th. View of the Great Hazard



Short Par 4 14th.



Par 3 10th.
 



10th Green on left.  First Tee in middle and 6th Green on right.  Notice the squarish greens.  And the hint of a brook/ditch in the front of the 6th Green.



Par 4 12th Green.
« Last Edit: November 09, 2020, 09:55:31 PM by Jim Hoak »

Mike Hendren

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Brook Hollow opens
« Reply #1 on: November 05, 2020, 11:37:03 AM »
Cool but jarring.


Bogey
Two Corinthians walk into a bar ....

Jim Hoak

  • Karma: +1/-0
Re: Brook Hollow opens
« Reply #2 on: November 05, 2020, 12:07:00 PM »
"Jarring" in what way?
I should have added that the grass is the new grass from Oklahoma State, Tahoma, for fairways and rough.  I believe it's the first time it has been used on a whole course.  Greens are bent with hydronics on all greens.

JMEvensky

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Brook Hollow opens
« Reply #3 on: November 05, 2020, 12:28:06 PM »
Thanks for posting those--it's been a long time since I played BH.

Bruce Katona

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Re: Brook Hollow opens
« Reply #4 on: November 05, 2020, 12:39:47 PM »
I love the look of The Great Hazard & the squarish greens.


A question on the squarish shape:


It appears this shape may be a bit of a challenge for the big riding greens mowers, so hand cutting with walk behind mowers?  Wear patterns on the sweep/clean-up cut with these shapes?


I do like the look on 1st pass.

Anthony_Nysse

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Brook Hollow opens
« Reply #5 on: November 05, 2020, 12:46:33 PM »
I love the look of The Great Hazard & the squarish greens.


A question on the squarish shape:


It appears this shape may be a bit of a challenge for the big riding greens mowers, so hand cutting with walk behind mowers?  Wear patterns on the sweep/clean-up cut with these shapes?


I do like the look on 1st pass.


I would be very, very surprised if greens are not walkmowed daily, with turning boards used in the tight areas & laid on the collars.
Anthony J. Nysse
Director of Golf Courses & Grounds
Apogee Club
Hobe Sound, FL

Alex Miller

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Brook Hollow opens
« Reply #6 on: November 05, 2020, 12:56:55 PM »
Love what I see. The difference in color of the hazard sand and bunkers is stark, but based on other courses I've seen that opened with a similar contrast, they'll get closer in color over time.

Tommy Williamsen

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Brook Hollow opens
« Reply #7 on: November 05, 2020, 12:57:22 PM »
"Jarring" in what way?



For me it is the tabletop nature of the greens pictured.

Where there is no love, put love; there you will find love.
St. John of the Cross

"Deep within your soul-space is a magnificent cathedral where you are sweet beyond telling." Rumi

Mike Hendren

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Brook Hollow opens
« Reply #8 on: November 05, 2020, 02:03:57 PM »
"Jarring" in what way?
I should have added that the grass is the new grass from Oklahoma State, Tahoma, for fairways and rough.  I believe it's the first time it has been used on a whole course.  Greens are bent with hydronics on all greens.


In a “while the archies were channeling Tilllie, Seth and Desmond butted in” kind of way.


Also, is it just me or are there similarities to the recent work at Beverly?


Bogey
« Last Edit: November 05, 2020, 02:42:08 PM by Michael H »
Two Corinthians walk into a bar ....

Mike Bodo

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Brook Hollow opens
« Reply #9 on: November 05, 2020, 05:32:45 PM »
The course looks amazing! I'll be in Forth Worth Dec. 13 - 15 and may check it out.
"90% of all putts left short are missed." - Yogi Berra

Tim Martin

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Brook Hollow opens
« Reply #10 on: November 05, 2020, 07:25:40 PM »
The course looks terrific!!!!

Jim Hoak

  • Karma: +1/-0
Re: Brook Hollow opens
« Reply #11 on: November 05, 2020, 08:38:43 PM »
I might add in reference to the sand that we intentionally avoided the "modern" white sand seen at too many redone courses.  We went with a mix that hopefully will minimize plugged lies, but still be dark enough to be "old school."

Andrew Harvie

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Brook Hollow opens
« Reply #12 on: November 05, 2020, 09:47:42 PM »
I'm excited for this. For some reason, a Texas trip has always been of interest to me, and Brook Hollow is #1 on that list. The photos look good. Congratulations to all involved for restoring the "Pine Valley of Texas!"

mike_beene

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Brook Hollow opens
« Reply #13 on: November 05, 2020, 11:45:45 PM »
This is better than my small brain could imagine. Already my favorite course in Texas before anything done. The work on 10 sets the tone. We thought we were smarter than Bill Coore and rejected his desire to stay away from white sand. You guys are smarter than we are. Too much weed smoked in east Dallas. Congratulations Jim.

mike_beene

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Brook Hollow opens
« Reply #14 on: November 05, 2020, 11:58:56 PM »
Is 1 now a par 4?

Mark Kiely

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Brook Hollow opens
« Reply #15 on: November 06, 2020, 12:53:25 AM »
That 10th looks very fun. It all does, actually.


Is the 6th green as close to the 1st tee as it appears? Was it always that way? Does the course get enough play for that to be dangerous?
My golf course photo albums on Flickr: https://goo.gl/dWPF9z

Jim Hoak

  • Karma: +1/-0
Re: Brook Hollow opens
« Reply #16 on: November 06, 2020, 10:37:44 AM »
Answering two questions--
#1 is now a par 4--a monster from the back tees, but about 400 yards from the "Member" tees.  So, maybe a 4 1/2 par.  As an aside, there are many "half par" holes now.  I love that.
#6 Green is close to #1 Tee, but the same as before.  Doesn't play that dangerous, since the angle on #6 doesn't play toward the #1 tee, and what you're seeing is the far back tee on #1..
« Last Edit: November 06, 2020, 10:39:15 AM by Jim Hoak »

Lou_Duran

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Brook Hollow opens
« Reply #17 on: November 06, 2020, 02:20:31 PM »
This is better than my small brain could imagine. Already my favorite course in Texas before anything done. The work on 10 sets the tone. We thought we were smarter than Bill Coore and rejected his desire to stay away from white sand. You guys are smarter than we are. Too much weed smoked in east Dallas. Congratulations Jim.


If you get your Dear Mike letter from your club soon, we still have a few openings at mine.  But don't wait too long.  Word is that it is about to change hands and the strategy is for higher monthlies and fewer members. If you haven't played Trinity Forest recently, you might want to. I'll look forward to playing BH next spring if they open it up to guests.   Hopefully the objectives will have been met.

mike_beene

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Brook Hollow opens
« Reply #18 on: November 06, 2020, 11:58:54 PM »
Lou,not to threadjack Jim's excellent thread, our annual meeting is next week and my filter doesn't always work. We have a group who wants to add 50 senior memberships so they can cut their dues in half but that would open 50 stock memberships and I worry about the ability to play when you want. If we used the momey to expand the range and move first tee might work. And the problem of a 5-7 year waiting list could be helped. Frustrating not being able to get family and friends in. Anybody ever had this big an influx? It concerns me and my current vote is against. Thoughts?

Lou_Duran

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Brook Hollow opens
« Reply #19 on: November 07, 2020, 09:31:38 AM »
Tying your dilemma- not very unique at top tier courses in Dallas where demand greatly outstrips the supply- to this thread, back in 1981 my group in a Metroplex tournament at the old Great Southwest GC (then over 7k yards) included well-known, longtime amateur and Brook Hollow member Herb Durham.  We had a long wait at the difficult par-3 #3 and we got to talking about your problem from what I thought was a slightly different angle.


Just getting into my career and in the process of starting a family, I posed the question to Herb, how can someone in my position afford to join a club like his even if he met all the other requisites.  Not a man to waste words, he simply noted that there were any number of young guys like me in Dallas who could write a check on the spot for the then initiation fee ($40k, as I recall), greatly surpassing available memberships.  Great clubs, a few even without a great course, just face a completely different set of factors and issues.


Yours is a nice problem to have, though it does have governance and management implications.  Me, because I have a bit of an egalitarian streak in me, I'd open it up a crack, perhaps with restrictions in the new senior class (e.g. after 12 on weekends and holidays).  Access, of course, is a primary issue as are wear-and-tear from heavy cart traffic, soft greens in the summer, and the common problem of a few uncaring members who won't take care of the course.  There are reasons why even abnormally high maintenance budgets never seem to be enough.


A "solution" is to join a second club which does not have these issues.  Such a place exists within 20-30 minutes that probably fits your tastes even better than your beloved club.  I understand that a handful of openings are available through the end of the year.  The membership is very welcoming and you can walk casually all the way to a distant sunset.   As a bonus, I would be happy to play as your guest!     

mike_beene

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Brook Hollow opens
« Reply #20 on: November 07, 2020, 05:15:02 PM »
I might do that just to watch you navigate a golf board or whatever we call those things.

Jim Hoak

  • Karma: +1/-0
Re: Brook Hollow opens
« Reply #21 on: November 09, 2020, 04:28:15 PM »
Here are a few additional photos -


View of the 1st Green, now a Par 4.






Par 3 4th.






18th Hole

« Last Edit: November 09, 2020, 04:30:16 PM by Jim Hoak »

mike_beene

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Re: Brook Hollow opens
« Reply #22 on: November 09, 2020, 08:59:21 PM »
Wow. The trees are gone! Looks really good!

Jim Hoak

  • Karma: +1/-0
Re: Brook Hollow opens
« Reply #23 on: November 09, 2020, 09:51:59 PM »
Taking out many trees, while leaving the prime ones, has really opened up the course.  Makes the fairways seem wider--which I guess they are without the overhanging limbs.  And the greens squared off are larger.  Despite that, the course is a couple of shots or so tougher due to increased length.
Keith Foster has added other interesting features too.  For example, in part to bring back the memory of the missing brook at Brook Hollow--and due to his love of Sunningdale, one of his favorite courses--he has added what look like grassed over ditches and swales, much like the "drainage ditches" of Sunningdale.

David Wuthrich

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Re: Brook Hollow opens
« Reply #24 on: November 10, 2020, 10:33:18 AM »
Thanks for sharing the information and photo Jim.  Can't wait to make the drive up from Houston to see it!