What courses warrant the most study?

[Ran Morrissett]

OK, after St. Andrews, what courses would benefit you (as a student of architecture/enthusiastic player) the most to study?NGAL is second for me, followed by Pine Valley, and then......it starts to get tough. What others would you pick?I think Melbourne West would be there, maybe ahead of Cypress.  Would Prestwick make it into the top five - not for me. I would rather get to know Westward Ho! Maybe Riveria because Thomas really didn't have much going for him.What are the other contenders?

[TEPaul]

Merion should be in anyone's top five for a number of reasons the primary one being a brilliant routing on a small and peculiar property. As mentioned in some other recent posts they also did something very important-they waited a long time to acquire enough land for a proper range without screwing up their course like some others ie: Plainfield and Gulph Mills etc.

[TEPaul]

Another reason Merion warrants study from the perspective of on-going maintanence practices. Who has better managed their tree situation of the notable classics through the years!!

[DBE]

Merion's former pro, Bill Kittleman has helped the Green Committee with the trees.  A few years ago after Golf Digest (I don't know if the piece was authored by Ron Whitten) listed several courses that were no longer able to host U. S. Opens, their Green Chairman, David Barrickman, took it upon himself to also police the trees.  He was the person who was responsible for thinning out the trees behind #2 and #9 as well as cleaning out the quarry on the back nine.  I noticed however, small pines being planted throughout the course last spring.

[GCT Jr.]

Ran writes: Maybe Riveria because Thomas really didn't have much going for him.First, with all due respect Ran, it's Riviera, not River-ia. With that clarified, I suggest you study what is left of my Riviera design soon because Tom Fazio and the USGA are about to get their hands on the course to make it US Open worthy. I'm sure it will not be a pretty effort, though it will be better than Mr. Nicklaus's plan, which entailed several lake holes so that Paul Latshaw could have clean irrigation water, and Mr. Nicklaus also included the rerouting of holes so a larger driving range tee could be built, as the USGA thinks there isn't enough tee space.Study up.Rosingly Yours,GCT, Jr.

[TEPaul]

Ran:I like your name for the Thomas course in L.A.But since the mistake of your fingers has been exposed and you're wrong, can I have the name for a future course (that features a lot of water)?Would it be pronounced River-ee-a or Ri-veer-ia? I like the first one better.

[T_MacWood]

Greens-St.Andrews, Pinehurst#2, R.Melbourne, Prarie Dunes, Winged Foot, Crystal DownsRouting-Cypress Point, Cape Breton, BelAir, Merion, Fishers Is., Shinnecock HillsUse Of Sand-Pine Valley, St.Andrews, Sand Hills, Oakmont, R.Melbourne or Cypress Point, Garden City or Woodhall Spa, Strategies-St.Andrews, Pinehurst#2, NGLA, The Golf Club, Chicago, Rivieria

[Lloyd Bickerton]

I am quite honored to see my home course of Royal Melbourne listed a couple of times. I have just got into golf architecture in the past three years and my appreciation of my home courses has gone up immeasureably. Even after playing Pebble Beach in California last November, I looked forward to a return match at home because our West course is still the most strategic course I know ( but I haven't seen all the courses as everyone here).

[Bob Ellington]

Pinehurst #2 - it is the US equivalent of St. Andrews in that it is playable by all skill levels of players with one ball and for that reason, any architect should really study it.