How to design a "fair" and fun Golf course

[natureboy]

4 hours ago, No Mulligans said:

I recently played an almost par 3 (it had one par 4 hole) that I thought had a great layout.  It had contours and mounds on the fairways, contours on the greens, was well bunkered, and was pretty scenic.  What I liked is that it called for every club in my bag and I think it was designed that way.  I played from the back tees and some of the hole distances are: 101, 120, 132, 151, 167, 175, 183, 195, 203, 213, 228, 315.  As I said, the layout pretty much has it covered.

My wife on the regulation (not the par 3) course which illustrates the scenery.

Where is it?

[SavvySwede]

8 hours ago, imsys0042 said:

I used to play there all the time.   Most of the people there are really nice.   They did do a very good job with those courses.

The only thing I would add to the thread is that it's nice to have an "unfair" hole on a golf course so you feel good about par or birdie.   Mercer Oaks #11 has a tree right center of the hole.   Unless you go left fairway or hit it past where the tree blocks the green, it's a pain.

My home course has a par 4 that plays like a bear.   Gary Van Sickle referred to it as "the most unfair par 4 in North America".   Feels really good to par it!  

That tree must have been gone for at least 2-3 years because I never had to navigate it. Still exists on google maps though. I'm guessing too many people whined about it, I personally enjoy stuff like that.

[imsys0042]

44 minutes ago, SavvySwede said:

That tree must have been gone for at least 2-3 years because I never had to navigate it. Still exists on google maps though. I'm guessing too many people whined about it, I personally enjoy stuff like that.

I do too.  I still remember a shot I hit that was just perfectly struck, a rarity, and it sailed just past that tree, on the left and left me a nine iron.  IIRC there is water to the right of where it was and you could see the third tee from where it was.  I've not been there in about 8 years but that and 16 where always where I would be happy with par.  

More on topic.  It was a perfect example of where you could be dead center of the fairway and be blocked out.  Annoying, but you need something ridiculous on every course. 

[No Mulligans]

2 hours ago, natureboy said:

Where is it?

Cimarron Golf Resort in Cathedral City which is the Palm Springs area.  That picture was from last Monday.