Favourite architect

[shotmark]

Who is yours?

For me the best old school architect was Dr Alister Mackenzie.

As for modern architects I like the work of Cabell B. Robinson. This is perhaps strange as he's a former RTJ employee and i'm not a massive RTJ fan.

Who is your favourite and why?

[jaskanski]

James Braid for me. Some of the best courses I have played have been his designs and I'm lucky enough to play some of them on a regular basis. His links and heath designs are my favourite type of courses and exclusive big name courses aside, some of his lesser known designs are more accessable to all and much cheaper too.

[youraway2]

Braid, Travis and Mackenzie are superior, but lately; Dick Wilson designer of Mystery Valley in Stone Mountain, GA and I'm a fan of David Kidd, Stonebrae, Haywood, CA. Oh Jerry Pate has done a few really good tracks.

[golf73]

I mean mackenzie makes great courses, but of the courses i play, i love nicholas designs. He always designs a great course!

[bargolf]

Dick Wilson - Laurel Valley, Bay Hill

Great stuff

[shotmark]

[quote name='jaskanski' date='17 April 2010 - 01:37 PM' timestamp='1271529422' post='2385090']
James Braid for me. Some of the best courses I have played have been his designs and I'm lucky enough to play some of them on a regular basis. His links and heath designs are my favourite type of courses and exclusive big name courses aside, some of his lesser known designs are more accessable to all and much cheaper too.
[/quote]


I've played a few Braid courses in West Yorkshire, Halifax and Woodsome Hall being excellent examples. Problem is cos his courses are so old they've usually been changed beyond recognition.

[shotmark]

[quote name='youraway2' date='17 April 2010 - 01:53 PM' timestamp='1271530411' post='2385111']
Braid, Travis and Mackenzie are superior, but lately; Dick Wilson designer of Mystery Valley in Stone Mountain, GA and I'm a fan of David Kidd, Stonebrae, Haywood, CA. Oh Jerry Pate has done a few really good tracks.
[/quote]

Travis is a new name to me. Is he British or American? Was he as prolific as Braid and Mackenzie or has he only designed a few courses?

David Kidd has designed some courses that appear to be awesome but I haven't had the pleasure of playing any yet.

As for Jerry Pate I didn't know he'd moved into course design.

[shotmark]

[quote name='golf73' date='17 April 2010 - 02:15 PM' timestamp='1271531730' post='2385140']
I mean mackenzie makes great courses, but of the courses i play, i love nicholas designs. He always designs a great course!
[/quote]


I played Moon Palace in Mexico 2 years ago. Fantastic Niclaus design.

The only other Nicklaus courses i've played are on the Jack Nicklaus golf trail in Murcia, Spain - some good, some not so good.

[chasm]

Harry (HS) Colt, Herbert Fowler (under-rated in my view). Kyle Philips from the modern era for various of his courses I've played around Europe.

In the US, CB MacDonald for his work on the National and Shinnecock and William Flynn for helping with the latter and also for the Homestead (Cascades). Pete Dye for Kiawah and Whistling Straits.

would love to get on some of Tom Doak's courses, especially at Bandon or in the southern hemisphere in NZ

[Mainlinegolfer]

[quote name='chasm' date='18 April 2010 - 05:55 PM' timestamp='1271627726' post='2386690']
Harry (HS) Colt, Herbert Fowler (under-rated in my view). Kyle Philips from the modern era for various of his courses I've played around Europe.

In the US, CB MacDonald for his work on the National and Shinnecock and William Flynn for helping with the latter and also for the Homestead (Cascades). Pete Dye for Kiawah and Whistling Straits.

would love to get on some of Tom Doak's courses, especially at Bandon or in the southern hemisphere in NZ
[/quote]
William Flynn did more than just "help" with Shinnecock Hills. The course as it plays today is the work of Toomey & Flynn. By the way, no one has mentioned former members of my club, A.W. Tillinghast and George Thomas? A couple of modern architects have also escaped attention here, Pete Dye and Tom Fazio. Rees Jones is [u]NOT[/u] a favorite.

If you are not already familiar with the website, golf architecture aficionados will enjoy http://golfclubatlas.com/ However, be forewarned, it is a website populated by amateur and professional golf architects who REALLY know their stuff and they can be very opinionated as well as knowledgeable.

[dan360]

Anyone who builds a sub-7,000 yard course with small greens, narrow fairways, and lots of hazards is cool in my book.

[elrey23]

Tillinghast. Has an impressive list of courses that he either designed or made extensive reconstruction to; San Francisco GC, Inverness, Firestone CC, Winged Foot, Bethpage Black and Red, Baltusrol (Upper and Lower courses), Ridgewood CC, Medinah (Number 3), Newport CC, Somerset Hills GC, Quaker Ridge GC, Philadelphia Cricket Club.

MacKenzie is also a genius and his list is equally impressive. IMO there have never been 2 better than these two gentlemen.

Tillinghast for his bunkering and Mackenzie for the way he used the land he was given and incorporated natural terrain into his design.

[KobeRothlisberger]

I love Nicklaus courses(Bear Creek, Muirfield).

Alister MacKenzie(Augusta, Cypress)

Robert Trent Jones(Spyglass)

Pete Dye(PgaWest)

Or any course by Palmer, Couples, Weiskopf, Ross, Faldo... too many to list

 

I like designers that go away from traditional style and put as much beauty as well as trouble into a golf course without making it all retarded.

 

Overall I like Nicklaus courses the most.

[BoomBoomLarry]

Art Vandelay

[elrey23]

[quote name='BoomBoomLarry' date='18 April 2010 - 08:55 PM' timestamp='1271642127' post='2387121']
Art Vandelay
[/quote]

From Vandelay Industries, I presume.

[phil75070]

Pete Dye. The more you play his courses the more appreciation you gain for his design philosophy, railroad ties aside!

[littlepingman]

Donald Ross without a doubt. I believe I'd like Tillinghast's work as well but I've never played a Tillinghast course so I can't really comment. I love the only Mackenzie course I have played and I much preferred the original Mackenzie version of the Augusta National compared to the version we currently have.

I don't normally prefer the modern designs quite as much but I've played several Dye courses including The Ocean Course, Sawgrass and Harbour Town. In my opinion Harbour Town is the best Dye course among those three.

Mike Strantz deserves honorable mention. Caledonia is a masterpiece. I prefer it over his designs such as Tobacco Road and Tot Hill Farm, less tricked up and extreme. Definitely more traditional in nearly every aspect.

[I_HATE_SNOW]

Jim Engh, courses are just plain fun.

[TML]

Tom Doak. Pacific Dunes and Cape Kidnappers. If I could only play 2 courses for the rest of my life, these would be on the list.

[stage1350]

I love old MacKenzie and Tillinghast courses.

Of the modern designers, I've become a big fan of Dr. Michael Hurdzan's courses.

[evanrfid]

[quote name='Mainlinegolfer' date='18 April 2010 - 05:45 PM' timestamp='1271637941' post='2386988']

If you are not already familiar with the website, golf architecture aficionados will enjoy http://golfclubatlas.com/ However, be forewarned, it is a website populated by amateur and professional golf architects who REALLY know their stuff and they can be very opinionated as well as knowledgeable.
[/quote]

GCA is a great site. Tom Doak posts regularly in the forum. Most posters are highly intelligent, not surprising considering how nerdy the subject is. Lots of info.

As for my favorite architects, Doak and Coore(/Crenshaw) are miles ahead of anyone else for the past 80 years.

[youraway2]

[quote name='shotmark' date='18 April 2010 - 11:43 AM' timestamp='1271609011' post='2386323']
[quote name='youraway2' date='17 April 2010 - 01:53 PM' timestamp='1271530411' post='2385111']
Braid, Travis and Mackenzie are superior, but lately; Dick Wilson designer of Mystery Valley in Stone Mountain, GA and I'm a fan of David Kidd, Stonebrae, Haywood, CA. Oh Jerry Pate has done a few really good tracks.
[/quote]

Travis is a new name to me. Is he British or American? Was he as prolific as Braid and Mackenzie or has he only designed a few courses?

David Kidd has designed some courses that appear to be awesome but I haven't had the pleasure of playing any yet.

As for Jerry Pate I didn't know he'd moved into course design.
[/quote]


Walter J Travis - (Ekwanok, Garden City, Pinehurst #2 with Ross, Chevy Chase with Ross, Pine Valley with Crump, Jeykll (9) and Sea Island(9). Reference "The Old man" by Bob Labbance

I thought Pate did Heritage Plantation in Laurel Hills, Fl. A super track but closed after 4 months.

[Mainlinegolfer]

[quote name='evanrfid' date='19 April 2010 - 12:41 PM' timestamp='1271695293' post='2388073']
[quote name='Mainlinegolfer' date='18 April 2010 - 05:45 PM' timestamp='1271637941' post='2386988']

If you are not already familiar with the website, golf architecture aficionados will enjoy http://golfclubatlas.com/ However, be forewarned, it is a website populated by amateur and professional golf architects who REALLY know their stuff and they can be very opinionated as well as knowledgeable.
[/quote]

GCA is a great site. Tom Doak posts regularly in the forum. Most posters are highly intelligent, not surprising considering how nerdy the subject is. Lots of info.

As for my favorite architects, Doak and Coore(/Crenshaw) are miles ahead of anyone else for the past 80 years.
[/quote]

I agree. I know. I agree. Yep.
Can't argue with Doak and Coore/Crenshaw as far as a return to the classic "natural" golf course.
For those who are not as knowledgeable or interested in golf course history and architecture as the frequent posters on GCA, there are still lots of nice pictures and hole descriptions of many of the better golf courses around the world.

[Bonneville85308]

Donald Ross by far.

[swbyps]

Mike Brady

[rlskinne]

Donald Ross.

[crp6]

I'll cast my vote for Doak as well. I've been trying to get my hands on [i]The Confidential Guide to Golf Courses[/i], but the asking price is a little too much for me.

[SpinMill75]

David McKlay Kidd....no question.

All of his courses allow for imagination off the tee rather than forcing you to hit predetermined yardages and shots. A genius.

[teejaywhy]

Having lived most of my adult life in Arizona, I have not had the pleasure of experiencing any of the classic old courses from any of the "Golden Age" architects.

Of the modern day designers, I am a big fan of the work of Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw. These guys really get it.

As for Doak, we have a wonderful example of his work here in Arizona, Apache Stronghold. It is a delightful course but sadly, criminally neglected and possibly soon to be no longer existent.

I am encouraged by the new movement in golf architecture that is essentially a throw-back to the simpler times, with an emphasis on playability and the use of natural elements of the site rather than creating features that are more for aesthetic purposes.

[One_Putt_Blunder]

Im with TJY Coore/Crenshaw are my pick for modern day designers, They make terrific use of the land given to them and give players ample room off the tee and multiple options to play into the greens.

Wekopa Saguaro
Talking Stick North
Bandon Trails
Colorado Golf Club
Sand Hills
Kapalua Plantation
Clear Creek in Tahoe (thank for the Pics TJY)
And currently in the works
Barnbougle Dunes In Australia
plus many others.
[url="http://www.coorecrenshaw.com/portfolio.html"]http://www.coorecrenshaw.com/portfolio.html[/url]