To scale replica of St. Andrews being built in Michigan

[chriskzoo]

My buddy just texted me and I did a little research on it and it looks like there is a to scale replica of St. Andrews being built near Lakewood Shore Resort (where The Gailes links style course is, if you are familiar with it).

I'll be real interested to see how it turns out (I'm not sure if they broke ground yet), but it sounds like something I thought was a no-brainer for a long time.

Here is a PDF of the 475 acres they will build it on:

http://www.house.mi.gov/SessionDocs/...-23-2009-3.pdf

[jamo]

From watching it on TV, the coolest part about St. Andrews is that the first and the 8th holes look like they are in the middle of the city. They are fenced in and everything. I hope they make that realistic, and I hope they make something to look like the hotel on 17.

[chriskzoo]

The question I would like to propose is this: Would you play this course, or would to still leave St. Andrews as one of the "Holy Grails" that only the original can satisfy?

It would be like say, being a big fan of the Shelby Cobra - the originals which can go for millions, and instead buying one of the kit cars that look exactly the same.


Personally, as long as they get the layout exactly the same (same fairway widths, same bunker placement, same green shapes) and all the "purely St. Andrews" things like the Valley of Sin and replicating the Road Hole honestly, I'll be the first in line. My one fear is that they will "over condition" the course and it won't play hard and fast like St. Andrews does. I do think playing it would diminish actually getting on St. Andrews at some point, however.

[chriskzoo]

From watching it on TV, the coolest part about St. Andrews is that the first and the 8th holes look like they are in the middle of the city. They are fenced in and everything. I hope they make that realistic, and I hope they make something to look like the hotel on 17.

Yeah, I don't think they can (or should) try to replicate the feel of those buildings being there. I can't think of any way they would do it that didn't just feel hokey.

[sean_miller]

From watching it on TV, the coolest part about St. Andrews is that the first and the 8th holes look like they are in the middle of the city. They are fenced in and everything. I hope they make that realistic, and I hope they make something to look like the hotel on 17.

Are you suggesting that without the surrounding (encroaching?) city and the history, it will just be a field? I know that's not really what you're suggesting, but really, why are they doing this??

[Stretch]

My father in law lives in Arizona and I've meandered across the relocated London Bridge at Lake Havasu a couple of times. Never mistaken it for actually being in London though.

[Dartguy]

A friend of mine told me there was a St. Andrews replica in Orlando, maybe Disney area. I guess he may be mistaken. I always thought it would be great to play it, but never got around there to try it.

Anyone know? I'm guessing it may be a replica of another course?

[jamo]

Are you suggesting that without the surrounding (encroaching?) city and the history, it will just be a field? I know that's not really what you're suggesting, but really, why are they doing this??

Well, if you strip away my favorite features of the course, and take away the history, it is just a field. I guess though even if they did make it realistic, I would rather pay the money to fly across the pond to see the real thing.

[ohiolefty]

To quote Nancy Kerrigan: "Why God, whyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!??!?!"

[Fat Slice]

AH, they built an exact replica of Disneyland in Tokyo and it's almost as fun as the one in California.

Sure, I'd play it!

(Not for $300 though...)

[TourSpoon]

A friend of mine told me there was a St. Andrews replica in Orlando, maybe Disney area. I guess he may be mistaken. I always thought it would be great to play it, but never got around there to try it.

That is the Jack Nicklaus tribute course to St. Andrews called the New Course at Grand Cypress Resort in Orlando. I played there 2 months ago and the 1st and 18th are set up just like on tv without the town. The rest of the course is in the tradition of the Old Course, but is not an exact copy. It was worth playing.

[Skragbait]

I'd play it. But I already live in MI anyway. Would be worth the few hours drive.

[Mattplusness]

this is amazing news.

[Shorty]

My father in law lives in Arizona and I've meandered across the relocated London Bridge at Lake Havasu a couple of times. Never mistaken it for actually being in London though.

That's the one where the moron who bought it thought that London Bridge was Tower Bridge.

[Frito]

I would play it.

[mattttt25]

This is my home course, about three miles from my house:

http://www.renditionsgolf.com/

Every hole is a replica of a course that has hosted a major. For me, its enjoyable walking up to a tee box and looking out on a hole that I've seen on TV. Its exciting playing a lively round with friends and coming up on amen corner and having someone in the lead come apart or battle through.

I doubt many will travel far to play this St. Andrews replica, but golfers in MI and surrounding states will most likely enjoy it.

[billysandy]

I can go up to the real thing and play it for about £60 winter green fee.

[JWL1957]

I could not play a copy of St. Andrews. The old course gets alot of its character from its surroundings. I played it years ago, and there is nothing else like it.

But then again........ some people might find it fun.