The broken future of golf (on broken ground)

[Philippe Binette]

Broken grounds should be back more in the design of courses...

less bunkers, more broken ground... is that a way of the future for affordable and fun golf ?

http://binettegolfarchitecture.blogspot.com/2012/02/broken-future-of-golf.html

[Melvyn Morrow]

The future or part of it certainly is down to better land selection balanced by sustainability. A step back towards Nature and certainly not real estate sites which results in the course looking like an after thought. 

[Philippe Binette]

but even on a weaker site, incorporating, creating broken ground could, in the long run, be a sustainable way of building a course. Or bringing nature back on an existing course via broken ground.

[Bill_McBride]

#13 is one of my favorite holes at St Andrews Old, because the broken ground in front means you can't play the bump and run approach you can play everywhere else on the course except #1.   It's a great change of pace.

[Melvyn Morrow]

Philippe

Thats fine if the land is balance by its surroundings, but if not it will unbalance the whole course.

[Carl Johnson]

Do I see more time spent hunting for balls in the broken ground?  More lost balls?  Slower play?  Not  that there's anything wrong with that.

[Colin Macqueen]

Gentlemen,

I don't see broken ground as somewhere that necessarily you will lose your golfball. Rather it is just unkempt, not manicured, irrigated less but still mown out. I think it provides a perfectly natural hazard in effect and visually. It can be in front of tees or within 30-40 metres of green surrounds.
So yes I think it is an admirable way forward for sustainable, affordable and fun golf.
You get plenty of that in the small town courses like Yass and Ipswich and even Growling Frog on the outskirts of Melbourne, here in Oz.

Cheers Colin

[Philippe Binette]

There are lost ball in lakes... once again it's a matter of balance between width and hazard.

I just feel more broken ground and less wall to wall moving is the way to go

[Jon Wiggett]

Broken ground and grass bunkers are two of the most under utilised hasards in modern GCA.