Predictions on Ted Sturges's trip

[Ran Morrissett]

Everybodys favorite course critic, Ted "if it ain't Raynor, I'm not playing" Sturges is presently playing Whistling Straits and the Blackwolf courses. I am taking bets. Will he:A. Give up golf and retire to a farm to raise bees.B. Actually have a good round at Whistling Straits and walk around it at night playing the bag pipesC. Agree with the Morrissetts that the 7th at Whistling Straits far exceeds the 7th at San Francisco GCD.  Agree that the greens at the River course are the most severe Dye greens ever assembledE. Concur that as a selection of three courses, they exceed the public access trio at Pebble.We eagerly await his report.

[Tillie]

You do know that the seventh at San Francisco has been changed several times since I designed. Don't you? At least twice rebuilt, maybe even three times. Not pretty.

[DBE]

Tillie's design at SFGC has been changed a lot.  In addition to the short seventh, the 13th, 14th and 15th holes are drastically different from the original design.  About 20 years ago the state of California informed the club that a highway would be built alongside their property and consequently the above mentioned back nine holes would be affected.  The club changed these holes "in house" in advance to the highway being built and then watched in amazement as the highway never affected the original course.  Unfortunately, the "in house" changes included a resevoir being built and the original holes could not be reclaimed.  This is why the 13th hole lacks the wonderful fairway bunkering and the approach shot into the 14th green is so awkward--this originally was the green for the 100 yard par three 13th hole played from what is now the 13th tee. It is my understanding that Rees Jones looked at the course recently but apparently the club does not necessarily want to get involved with an architect let alone an architect with a big name.                  

[Ran Morrissett]

It is nice to find people who don't genuflect at the name of SFGC. We've played it twice and still don't get. It isn't in Tillie's top 5.

[Tillie]

Just what the worlds needs...Rees Jones ruining another of my courses. Rounding out bunker edges, slapping bunkers on the sides of fairways with clumsy, artificial tongues on occasion. Yep, that would be great for SFGC.

[Ted_Sturges]

For the record, I liked the 8th better than the 7th at the Straits.  Still trying to figure out why Pete let Mike Strantz design the 18th!  Yikes!

[Larry Beisel]

As a member of the group who went to Kohler with Ted I also look forward to his assessment. It should be quite thorough. I played in the group behind him, and as I walked up the 18th at Whistling Straits I noticed Mr.Raynor - er Sturges - talking with a silver-haired gentleman on a porch overlooking the green. It was Herb Kohler... Let it be known that when Ted wants answers he goes to the TOP.  

[Sandy Barrens]

First off, I can't think of anything to say to Ted except, good luck and have a good time, but let's face it, Is Whistling Striats that good of a golf course or is it just another big buck gimmicky Dye course?I think the latter.After playing Bandon Dunes and then hearing and seeing the amount of earth moved for WS, I will gladly take a pass and say that I would much rather go to Michigan and play Crystal Downs.I can't believe that some of you have the oddyssity to not like SFGC, but I respect everyone's opinions, they just aren't right.

[Ran Morrissett]

Sandy,We are at a stand-off. You haven't played Whistling and I can't play Bandon until December. However, suffice to say, Whistling is far from a "big buck gimmicky Dye course" and I would highly encourage you to make the effort. The whole story of Bandon sounds great and the Scot architect sounds like a champ too. It will be interesting to see how well he tied the land around the greens into the greens themselves (see the our Sand Hills write-up on that subject because on a windy course, that is a key,key feature that few architects master). Doak will do a masterful job at the same once he gets the second course underway there and it will be interesting to see the Scot's detail work in this crucial area. We await Ted's full report (poor Mr. Kohler - he may never have heard the word Biarritz before meeting Ted!!)Cheers,  

[Bill Shamleffer]

Some very interesting comments per Whistling Straits.

Did Ted Sturges ever reply?

[Ronald Montesano]

Good God, Ted, whoever you are...don't issue a calumny to Strantz by accusing him of designing either crappy finishing hole at Whistling Straits.  The closer at Straits is mildly better than the end of Irish, but both are less than anything Strantz might develop during a hallucinogenic high-low day.