1960-2020 (The most significant courses built in the US in each decade)

[JohnVDB]

I'm having a hard time understanding the Spyglass mention on this kind of list.  Isn't Spyglass pretty much the last thing one would want to do with such a blessed site with that kind of ocean proximity, sandy soil, and overall location?  Can you imagine if CPC has started with 18, 17, 16, and 15?  Unfathomable...

Kalen,


I’ve played Cypress that way.  They had a ladies tournament the day my old boss took me there.  After standing around for a while he said we were going to start on 15. I was not really thrilled until he said we’d play them and then play 1-18. Had to tip the caddies an extra $20. No complaints from me. 

[V_Halyard]

...What did Chambers Bay influence?  ...

A municipality interested in doing Memorial Park?

Don't think so.  The impetus to rebuild Memorial Park came from the outside, not from the City of Houston, and all of the money for the project was privately donated.


The impetus was really all about hosting a golf tournament, and I guess Chambers Bay chose their designer because he proposed that, as well . . . but it's not like wanting to host a tournament is a new idea.

I spent three days at Memorial Park chatting and playing with some of the locals and families and I might differ with you a bit Tom. I think regardless of the funding and the initial target market, it is a public jugganaut and a destination for the people.
I played with three groups of locals, from all demographics, races and multiple countries of origin, and all of them got up at 545 to grab a tee time online at 6am before they were all gone at 601am.

Yes, it was COVID but I heard that the access to great architecture and conditioning was what brought the 3 crews I played with  to Memorial. It was the experience and the venue. The PGA connection was cool but the course was the attraction since none of them played front he tips. I don't know their finances but the course was wall to wall from first light to sundown, every stall of the new double decker driving range was full and the putting and short courses looked like playgrounds with families and lessons.
Yes, it is a major metro but the other takeaway was that a municipality in proximity to available funders should view their investment in great golf as investments in quality of life. There is definitely ROI at Memorial. I think in the big picture, the funding source may be less material as the results are feeding both positive financial and quality of life ROI for the region.

[Tom_Doak]

I spent three days at Memorial Park chatting and playing with some of the locals and families and I might differ with you a bit Tom. I think regardless of the funding and the initial target market, it is a public jugganaut and a destination for the people.
I played with three groups of locals, from all demographics, races and multiple countries of origin, and all of them got up at 545 to grab a tee time online at 6am before they were all gone at 601am.

Yes, it was COVID but I heard that the access to great architecture and conditioning was what brought the 3 crews I played with  to Memorial. It was the experience and the venue. The PGA connection was cool but the course was the attraction since none of them played front he tips. I don't know their finances but the course was wall to wall from first light to sundown, every stall of the new double decker driving range was full and the putting and short courses looked like playgrounds with families and lessons.
Yes, it is a major metro but the other takeaway was that a municipality in proximity to available funders should view their investment in great golf as investments in quality of life. There is definitely ROI at Memorial. I think in the big picture, the funding source may be less material as the results are feeding both positive financial and quality of life ROI for the region.

Vaughan:


Thanks for the correction.  My point was more about the impetus for Memorial Park [which Garland had got wrong] more than the impact of it. 


Memorial is actually a much more likely model for municipal golf improvement in the future.  Whether it's driven by a tournament or not, there are a lot of corporations around most major cities who might contribute to a similar project, IF they were sure their investment would be looked after.  The tournament connection helps assure that will happen in Houston, but a Foundation run by the donors could serve the same function in other cities.

[Kalen Braley]

I'm having a hard time understanding the Spyglass mention on this kind of list.  Isn't Spyglass pretty much the last thing one would want to do with such a blessed site with that kind of ocean proximity, sandy soil, and overall location?  Can you imagine if CPC has started with 18, 17, 16, and 15?  Unfathomable...

Kalen,

I’ve played Cypress that way.  They had a ladies tournament the day my old boss took me there.  After standing around for a while he said we were going to start on 15. I was not really thrilled until he said we’d play them and then play 1-18. Had to tip the caddies an extra $20. No complaints from me. 

Sounds like its good to be JVBD, would have been a nice day indeed.

That reminds me of the CEO for a company I worked for many moons ago. He mentioned he got out there a few times per year and after playing 18, they'd often have time for the 1, 14-18 whiskey loop near sunset.  That would be epic!

As for the topic thou, could you have imagined if the round started out with:
1)  18 green to 17 green  - par 4
2)  18 tee to 16 green - shortish 4
3)  17 tee to a green somehwere near 16 tee - Long 3
etc...

[Tom_Doak]

A couple of years ago I was playing golf with a friend who used to be a very good player, and he said when he was home he rarely played more than six holes anymore due to having young children.  When they would go down for a nap he would drive over to his club, play six holes, and get back just as they woke up.


It took five minutes before it dawned on me that he lives at Pebble Beach and his six-hole loop was 1-14-15-16-17-18 at Cypress Point.  Nice work if you can get it!   

[Tim Leahy]

Contrarian thoughts:

1950s -  NCR/Firestone
          -  Old Warson
         
1960s  -  Spyglass

1970s -  Kemper Lakes - (> Kemper Sports >> Bandon ??)

+1 Spyglass

I'm having a hard time understanding the Spyglass mention on this kind of list.  Isn't Spyglass pretty much the last thing one would want to do with such a blessed site with that kind of ocean proximity, sandy soil, and overall location?  Can you imagine if CPC has started with 18, 17, 16, and 15?  Unfathomable...

CPC and SH are different properties built in different decades. Jones did the best he could on the property given to him. I like the sand holes first leading into the woods. Imagine the Coastal Commission guidelines Jones had to deal with compared to Mac.

[Bernie Bell]

Contrarian thoughts:

1950s -  NCR/Firestone
          -  Old Warson
         
1960s  -  Spyglass

1970s -  Kemper Lakes - (> Kemper Sports >> Bandon ??)

+1 Spyglass

I'm having a hard time understanding the Spyglass mention on this kind of list.  Isn't Spyglass pretty much the last thing one would want to do with such a blessed site with that kind of ocean proximity, sandy soil, and overall location?  Can you imagine if CPC has started with 18, 17, 16, and 15?  Unfathomable...

CPC and SH are different properties built in different decades. Jones did the best he could on the property given to him. I like the sand holes first leading into the woods. Imagine the Coastal Commission guidelines Jones had to deal with compared to Mac.

The question is most significant.  Not best or most appreciated on this board.  Spyglass is routinely cited as RTJ's best, and whether or not you like him or his work, isn't much of what follows a reaction to his work?  That's significance, to me.