Courage in golf course architecture

It's rare that I write about a golf hole I've never seen... but I was playing golf on the computer today and stumbled across the 13th hole at Harbour Town Golf Links. Since I've seen this hole so many times on TV, I allow myself to write about it.

It takes courage to built a hole like this, especially in 1969. Many architects have built all-carry approaches before. Mostly on par 3's and short par 5's where they thought they could predict the length of the approach for every player. Fewer have built all-carry approach with no alternative on par 4's and most of them used a natural feature, like a lake, a creek or a steep slope as the element to carry.

But to built this:

An all-carry approach with no bail-out (except long) to a tiny green completely and tightly surrounded by a man-made feature takes courage. The bunker was no inspired by a landform of any kind, it was a pure design decision.

Even though the design is credited to Pete Dye (architect) and Jack Nicklaus (consulting architect), this green, as Mr Dye recalls in his book Bury me in a pot bunker, it was his wife, Alice Dye who made the suggestion for this unique green complex.

Out of literally nothing, the construction of this green complex generates a dramatic moment in the round. The ball might hit the railroad ties, or be on the wrong side of the green and a chip might be necessary from the putting surface... memorable moments can happen there and this is why most people play.

It is courage and it is genius, and here's why:

1) at 378 yards from the back tees and 325 yards from the middle tees, the hole is short enough so most players playing under a 20 handicap have a legitimate chance at trying this unique approach.

2) the bunker demands an aerial approach to the green and combined with the trees also protecting the putting surface, it creates pressure on even the best players. Even if it's only a 3-iron or an hybrid on the tee, they know they have to hit a precise shot to have a look at the green on the approach.

3) the bunker is severe enough to be cool. This one is hard to explain, but only random bunkers would not make the shot work, you need and have a unique feature there.

All that in 1969, when the hard par easy bogey was the dominant mentality.

It took courage. (talent too)

Funny enough, Alice Dye is also the one who suggested to built the Island green on the 17th at TPC Sawgrass about 15 years later... She is an important part of Mr Dye's work... and she might well be the most courageous golf architect ever !!!

A matter of numbers

A simple test, if you add up those numbers, what would it give you:
340+500+140+320+160+400+430+290+310+420+510+200+300+370+120+270+180+340
the answer is simple:
- a course in good shape
- a round of golf for 30$
- a round played in 3 hours and 15 minutes

Let's be honest, the world of golf is in a difficult position. Courses are closing especially in the United States, the number of round played are going down and, combined with the uncertain economic future, golf is among troubled waters. Many players quit the game: it takes too much time, it cost too much and the course are not providing enough fun for the money, they are a pain to play.

For those who added up the 18 numbers, the answer is 5600, like would be the numbers for an 18 hole course of 5600 yards.

And if you look at those numbers, there is plenty of distance to interest any level of players. After all, the best players will remain the best players no matter what.

Over the last 20 years, the trend was to built "championship course". In reality most of those courses never hosted a championship, but it was believed that a longer course, of more than 7000 yards, was a better course.
You can tell me you're not playing thoses courses from the back tees at 7000 yards, but from the middle tees at 6100 yards...

But those extra 900 yards that you are not playing:
- it's land that must be bought, rising the cost of the game;
- it's land that must be shaped, rising the cost of the game;
- it's tees and land that must be maintained: rising the cost of the game and preventing the maintenance ressources to be focused onf the proper maintenance of fairways, bunkers and greens.
- it's yards that must be walked by you, adding an extra 20 minutes for the round.

It becomes obvious, especially in the current demographics and in the interest of bringing families, future players in the game, that 5600 yards is the way to go for everyday play... Nobody learn to play baseball in a 50 000 seats MLB-size stadium. The same should be applied to golf, let championship courses have championships and let the every day courses be fun for all.

Une histoire de chiffres

Une simple addition, que donne:
340+500+140+320+160+400+430+290+310+420+510+200+300+370+120+270+180+340

la réponse est simple:
- un parcours en bonne condition
- une ronde de golf pour 30$
- une ronde jouée en 3 heures et 15 minutes

Il faut se le dire franchement: le monde du golf est en difficulté. Les nombreuses fermetures de parcours particulièrement aux États-Unis, le nombre de ronde à la baisse et ce, combiné à un avenir économique incertain cause bien des ennuis pour l'industrie du golf. Plusieurs joueurs abandonnent le jeu: le temps de jeu est trop long, le prix est trop élevé et les parcours sont difficilement accessible à tous.

Pour ceux qui ont fait le calcul: le total de cette addition de 18 chiffres est 5600, comme dans 18 trous pour un total de 5600 verges.

Et si vous regardez les chiffres, il y a suffisament de distance pour intéresser tous les niveaux de joueurs...

Au cours des 20 dernières années, le milieu du golf a construit des "parcours de championnat". Bien que la plupart de ces parcours n'ait jamais reçu de championnat, on a cru qu'un long parcours, de plus de 7000 verges, était un bon parcours...

Vous pouvez me dire que vous ne jouez pas les parcours à 7000 verges, mais bien à partir des départs intermédiaires à 6100 verges...

Mais les 900 verges que vous ne jouez pas:
- doivent être achetés, entraînant des coûts supplémentaires;
- doivent être réalisés, entraînant des coûts supplémentaires;
- doivent être entretenus, entraînant des coûts supplémentaires et empêchant de concentrer les efforts d'entretien sur les verts, les bunkers etc..
- doivent être MARCHÉS par vous, allongeant votre ronde de près de 20 minutes.

Cela va de soi, l'avenir du golf, notamment dans le contexte d'une population vieillissante et dans l'intérêt d'amener les familles sur les parcours de golf, passe par un raccourcissement des parcours, pour le jeu de tous les jours.