Differences & Characteristics of course design by well-known course designers

[PiustheDrGolf]

Hi All,

I would like to know differences & characteristics of courses by well-known golf course designers such as Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Parmer, Greg Norman, Pete Dye, Donald Ross, and etc.

If you played one of their courses, please share your course review so that we can expect when we get a chance of playing their courses. Thanks.

[Fat Slice]

Pete Dye seems to really like bunkers. As in pot bunkers, elevated bunkers, bunkers bunkers everywhere.

[PiustheDrGolf]

Pete Dye seems to really like bunkers. As in pot bunkers, elevated bunkers, bunkers bunkers everywhere.

True. I found his designed courses have very hilly fairways and greens. Somewhat forgiving from tees for openness but well-placed bunkers. Island green is another his signature hole too.

[jjb333]

Donald Ross has very undulating greens making for difficult putts all round. Also, you really have to think about where you want your approach shot into his greens.

[smith5606]

Perry Maxwell (Southern Hills, Prairre Dunes, etc.) is known for big, undulating greens. By the way, amazingly, there is a Perry Maxwell designed course (9 holes anyway) that you can play for almost nothing in Coffeyville, KS. This is the link to the course

http://www.coffeyville.com/HillcrestGolfCourse.htm

A buddy and I played it several years ago and it was incredible to find such a course in someplace as isolated as Coffeyville. I'll bet you wouldn't have any trouble figuring out which of the 18 holes were the Maxwell designed holes.

I'm wondering, does anyone out there know of courses like Hillcrest - out of the way, relatively unkown public courses, designed by now famous designers?

[tjy355]

I have an interest in golf course architecture and enjoy playing and experiencing different courses by different designers.

A book I recommend, if you are at all interested in learning about golf course architecture history and evolution is "The Golf Course" by Geoffry Cornish and Ron Whitten. I think it is out of print, but easy to find used.

I am especially encouraged by the so-called "renaissance" in golf course design that emphasizes a return to more traditional strategies, natural use of the land forms and routings that favor walking.

And speaking of walking, the best way to observe and experience a course's design is by walking it. So much is missed when you wizz past in a cart.

[smith5606]

I couldn't agree with you more - especially your comments about walking the course. It is a shame that cart rental fees have become such a critical part of golf course cashflow that courses are being designed to eliminate the possiblilty of walking. One course in our area has a first tee that is literally .25 miles from the club house and an equivalent walk from the 9th green back to the clubhouse and the 10th tee. Walking a course like this is not really an option. Even if a walking group is playing at a reasonable pace, the lag time between greens and tees makes the group fall behind. Clearly something needs to be done or the walker/carrier will become a thing of the past. Experiencing the great courses and the ambiance that distinguishes them will also be lost forever.

Clearly, it is impossible to stuff the toothpaste back into the tube. Golf has become a very big business. As long as the profit potential is what it is, golfers will be object of greed and exploitation and the effects on our great game will be profound. I'm not sure where, when, or if the tide towards continued commericalization can be reversed. I suppose that a few voices crying out in the wilderness don't really mean much. As for me, I will continue to walk when I can, play clubs that have a classic timelessness about them, enjoy courses encourage shot making over "bomb and gouge" strategies, and try to remind people whenever I can that this great game was built by people with an unabiding love for the mystery of round ball against flat club, man against nature, and the joy of being apart of something timeless.

[MrKadash]

Hi All,

In addition to those here that have played courses by those designers and have valuable opinions, I enjoy this site for good reads.

http://www.golfclubatlas.com . Great discussions on architects/architecture.

[PiustheDrGolf]

In addition to those here that have played courses by those designers and have valuable opinions, I enjoy this site for good reads.

Wow.. Thanks!. Anyway, OSU fan in Michigan made me giggle. :)