Paul,
I was just checking in for your response which I thank you for taking the time to answer, and now you and Rich ask more questions! I got work to do
By the way, the Roman and rabbits was a fasinating comment. I wish MH would explain further how it works.
Paul and Rich,
I think what is in front of #17 is far more interesting a challenge than a bunker complex. when Paul first posted this thread and the pictures he seemed to be insinuating that the course is not quite up to the rest he has been posting here, but I found the pictures equally intriguing as compared to the other courses, especially this land form in front of #17. In soils other than sand I would want to put catch basins in the bottom otherwise they would fill with water at just the wrong time. If you put a gravel sump underneath that might work for a while but eventually fail. I hate the thought of catchbasins in each one, but having them full of water at the wrong time scares me. You could open up one end and allow positive surface flow, but I think you would lose the character.
I am going on and on, which I complaind about earlier, without answering your question. Yes, I think it is an outstanding feature, highly advanced when comapred to sand. It appears it can not be built by dozer, it was built by hand if it is truly a Roman artifact, which is why you may not see it as often, or never. I assume today you might use a backhoe or excavator.
You alluded to most modern architect not using this feature, I assume you are excluding Doak and C&C, so that leaves the rest of us as earmarked for being too modern. Watch your assumptions. There may be some moderns out there that will surprise you.
I think more and more you will see some employing features similar to the 17th at Bath, in place of bunkers, even taking chances in soils not necessarily conducive to that type of feature.
You know, the one comment I get from superintendents is the high points of those features are hard to keep moistened without flooding the low points, so the super must employ hand watering.
I think, what's wrong with a little hardpan dirt on the ridges during the dryer hotter periods?
In order to make the move to features like the 17th at Bath the architect must be willing to do it first, without concern for all the problems people will raise, educate the client about the merits of these types of features, and convince the client and super that it is not a bad thing that these features will look bad during periods of stressful weather, in the American's eyes, and that we must persist in selling the style, the approach, the philosophy, the strategic value, whatever you call it, to the customer, to change their mindset just the slightest bit, so that in time, with repeated experience, they come to appreciate the rustic nature of these features, the strategic qualities, and the excitement these features bring to the play of the game. They may never appreciate the visual beauty these features have for some of us, but as long as they appreicate the challenge these features present, the strategic value, they may be less concerned with the rough appearence the features will assume during certain times of the year.
I better go, i already took one call from a client asking about a plan while I am typing this. Some of us don't have a staff doing our work!
