Favourite architect

[petter7]

Donald Ross and Alister MacKenzie

[wmhipple]

donald ross.... only becaue I play at a ross course......

[Titleist1455]

Nicklaus.

Very "simple" but not easy!!

[JVill]

Old: Donald Ross.

Current: Dr. Martin Hawtree (the fellow Donald Trump hired).

[teejaywhy]

[quote name='Mainlinegolfer' timestamp='1293482492' post='2861145']
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[quote name='Mainlinegolfer' timestamp='1293465159' post='2860710']

LOL. What I think I most admire is how Rees Jones takes the old courses designed by, say, A.W. Tillinghast, and really puts his mark on them; really getting rid of all those old-fashioned quirks and converting them into the Neo-U.S. Open/PGA Tour Style that we all love.
[/quote]

And for the exact same reason, many revile his work.

Not everyone loves the brutal slogs that characterize what US Open and PGA Tour setups have become. Personally, I prefer quirk and character and fun to play golf courses.
[/quote]

[b]I'M SORRY, I'M SORRY.[/b] I was being sarcastic. I am one who pretty much reviles Rees Jones' work in "modernizing" and "toughing" old courses so they can withstand the onslaught of today's pros. I believe he too often puts his "signature" on old course designs and the original playing charateristics are lost. (I had remarked in Post #10 that Rees Jones was not a favorite).

Where is the sarcasm emoticon when I need it?
[/quote]

Ha ha, threw out the bait and reeled me in! I just re-read your earlier post. Thing is, what you posted as a joke probably reflects the majority viewpoint for the average golfer.

big sigh...

[ahl3bomber]

THE BEST OF THE PAST:
MacDonald-Raynor-Banks
Mackenzie
Thomas
Colt
Old Tom Morris
Ross
Tillinghast
Flynn
Emmett
Travis

MODERN (POST 1950s)
Doak
Coore-Crenshaw
Hanse
McLay Kidd
Dye

[Body_Visions]

Ross
Fazio
Nicklaus
Dye
RT Jones

I think Tom Jackson is a very underrated architect.

I have yet to play any courses by Doak, Kidd, or Coore, but I am sure I would love them as well.



But seriously, has anyone ever seen a truly bad golf course? That means all architects must at least be good.

[JD3]

Most Ross are really nice, hard to find a bad one ... Plainfield is the best. Tillinghast is a bit more hit or miss, but generally very good quality. Curiously, some of his lesser known like Philadelphia Cricket Club are real gems. And some of his famous ones like Winged Foot West are clunkers (except the par 3 10th). Raynor did Fishers Island, the course I most like.

On the other end of the spectrum, nearly every Nicklaus course I've played was a waste of what had been nice unspoiled property.

Best current designers are Coore and Crenshaw by a mile.

[pearsonified]

Mackenzie for all-timers, Keith Foster for modern gems.

[ratspros]

I don't have a lot of experience playing courses by the ODG's but since calgary golf and country club and jasper park lodge are my two favorite courses around here I will say Willie Park Jr and Stanley Thompson

For the new breads I will say Jim Engh does some really fun courses. I'll give him my vote for new guy public course you play occasionally. I can see his courses and the gimmicks in them going from fun to tiresome fairly quickly if you were a member at one of his courses.

For new breed private course I would have to say Fazio, I know he's not a popular pick with the traditionalists but I enjoy a course where you can just stand up and rip it from the tee. With the right owner willing pay what it costs to maintain the property after his building is done it does result in some beautiful scenery.

[sabram]

 

I'm certainly not trying to recruit posters here for golfclubatlas.com but if you want to see some insane pictures of Old MacDonald I would go peruse the DG over there. The place looks off the charts. Old MacDonald might end up being the best course on the property.

 

As for Rustic Canyon... it's architectural genius.

 

If you ever get out to the Phoenix area, go play Talking Stick (especially the North Course). That is a great entry level Coore/Crenshaw course with tons of good architecture and it's open to the public.

 

-40-

 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/golfcoursepix/sets/72157631879262419 Old Mac pix

 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/golfcoursepix/sets/72157631899158691 Fustic Canyon pix

 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/golfcoursepix/sets/72157650870733865 Talking Stick North pix

 

Old Mac #14 - Maiden - view back to fairwy - tough putts if above hole r

 

Rustic Canyon #13 Green - 2007

 

Talking Stick North #5 view back P1060646

[KevCarter]

I like Ross - Raynor - MacKenzie - Nicklaus - Fazio

I didn't mention Crenshaw - Coore as I've not had the pleasure of playing their courses...

[MarkCPA]

[quote name='elrey23' timestamp='1271646225' post='2387239']
[quote name='BoomBoomLarry' date='18 April 2010 - 08:55 PM' timestamp='1271642127' post='2387121']
Art Vandelay
[/quote]

From Vandelay Industries, I presume.
[/quote]

From latex sales to golf course design. That's a stretch.

[ratspros]

[quote name='Forty' timestamp='1284736935' post='2701589']
[quote name='TML' timestamp='1284735172' post='2701545']
40, thanks for the info on Gil Hanse. I'm going to be driving by Rustic Canyon and am psyched about playing there. The only thing that detracts from Coore/Crenshaw for me, is Bandon Trails. I just think that they tried to hard to move earth around and some of the holes should be redesigned. Of course, I've only played Plantation and Bandon Trails from their portfolio. Having played Pacific Dunes and Cape Kidnappers, I consider Doak to be a god of modern design. Can't wait to play Old Mac.
[/quote]

I'm certainly not trying to recruit posters here for golfclubatlas.com but if you want to see some insane pictures of Old MacDonald I would go peruse the DG over there. The place looks off the charts. I have yet to make a trip to Bandon so can't comment on personal experience, but being the huge fan of C.B. MacDonald that I am, Old MacDonald looks unreal. Doak had the help of a guy named George Bahto, basically THE authority on all things CB MacDonald who even wrote a biography on MacDonald. From all I have heard Old MacDonald might end up being the best course on the property.

As for Rustic Canyon... it's architectural genius. I can't speak for the conditions as it is a public course that gets heavy play and I haven't been there for 4 years or so. As for the skeletal bones of the course, it is one of the best 5 courses in Southern California, IMO. The place oozes strategy. So many options. Most course architecture nimwits would knock it for having wide fairways, no trees, not enough waterfalls, and any other host of artificial detraction. It amazes me how people can love the game of golf so much and yet be so ignorant of good architecture. I wish the great classic courses would open their doors to the non-wealthy, unconnected golfer and let them see what they are missing. If your favorite courses are designed by Fazio or Nicklaus, you simply haven't been exposed to the true essence of course architecture and the game itself, for that matter. Golf has become too much about TPC style courses, which for the most part, is quite the antithesis of what the forefathers of the game intended for the grounds on which we play on.

If you ever get out to the Phoenix area, go play Talking Stick (especially the North Course). That is a great entry level Coore/Crenshaw course with tons of good architecture and it's open to the public.


-40-
[/quote]

I agree on golfclubatlas. Although I am not a member of the site I love going there and reading the boards. I love the course reviews and photo tours as you can basically "walk" some of the greatest golf courses in the world right from the comfort of your office.

[MarkCPA]

My favorite is Mike Strantz. He gets more out of what most would consider unusable land for golf than any other designer I've come across. Tobacco Road is a PERFECT example of this.

Jerry Pate is underrated. I'd like to see him get more opportunities. I've played two of his tracks and was very impressed with both.

Coore Crenshaw's minimalist approach to design has produced some terrific courses and in this economy will become the norm. I really like their course at Streamsong.

Jack Nicklaus is my all time favorite golfer, but I sure have a love - hate relationship with his courses. Too many of his designs seem to favor the high power fade which is the way he played. I either love it (Spring Creek Ranch, for example) or really don't like it (Grand Bear).

[prsgtrman]

2nd for strantz.fun courses and memorable holes.

[freehb]

Haven't seen Arthur Hills mentioned. Not many super high end courses but every one of his designs I've played have been strategic, challenging and beautiful.

[mshills]

Donald Ross, miles ahead of anyone else.

Coore & Crenshaw are the modern magicians.

I have liked every Dick Wilson course I've played.

[Thunder Dan]

Arthur Hills. Always find his courses to be fun and fair.

Donald Ross is another

[Hammerboy]

Seth Raynor by a longshot!

[BUCKEYERBALL88]

Not a c & c Fan. I'm getting to like dye more with time.

golf course designers (courses-min 2)

1) Donald Ross (Manakiki, Hawthorne, Fort Myers CC)
2) Arthur Hills (Longaberger, TPC Treviso Bay, El Conquistador, Shepherds Hollow, Stonecreek)
3) Jack Nicklaus (PGA West-Nicklaus Tournament, Old Corkscrew, Coyote Springs)
4) Weiskopf & Moorish (The Boulders-South, Troon North-Pinnacle & Monument)
5) Arnold Palmer (Coyote Preserve, Wildfire, Crescent Pointe, Kapalua-plantation, Stonewall)
6) Rees Jones (Totteridge, Quintero, Duke-Renovation, Torrey Pines South-Renovation)
7) Brian Huntley
8) Pete Dye (Paiute-Wolf, Paiute-Sun Mountain, Pete Dye GC, Fowlers Mill, Royal Hawaiian)

[MaxBuck]

Ross, Mackenzie, Raynor in the old school.

Hills, RTJ Sr., some of Pete Dye in the new. And Jack Nicklaus's best (Muirfield Village, Shoal Creek) are terrific; he however has also designed a lot of dreck.

[driveandputtmachine]

Old School - For me it has to be Ross. I grew up with Pinehurst an hour away and played quite a bit of golf on Ross courses throughout my years.

Now-adays - Mike Strantz. Without question and anyone who has played more than one of his courses will agree. He never build two courses the same, or try to shove a philosophy into each tract of land. Caledonia, Bulls Bay, True Blue, Tobacco Road, Tot Hill Farm. None of them are the same he took the land available and crafted a course to fit the land.

[taywig]

Not a whole lot of talk about Perry Maxwell, but I have a fondness to his work. Maxwell had a lot of success with his solo work before joining Alister MacKenzie, clearly an architect who garners a lot of respect here. He's also had a hand in designing, co-designing, or renovating many of this country's best courses.

Colonial
Southern Hills
Pine Valley
Augusta National
Merion
Maidstone
Saucon Valley

[ruascott]

Hard to beat Ross. He built so many courses, and they are still great fun to play a century later.

[birdiebeggar]

Stanley Thompson - Being a Canadian resident, I have been fortunate to be able to play several of his courses and they are always great designs with fantastic bunkering.

As for modern architects, Coore and Crenshaw are my favourite and I look forward to playing Cabot Cliffs when it opens.

[golfdaddy01]

In no particular order my favs are MacKenzie, Rees jones, fazio. Have not been on Doak or Coor/Crenshaw course so I can't compare. Recently got to play Nantucket Golf Club which is a rees jones design absolutely loved it.

[Rock Chalk Jayhawk]

Perry Maxwell and Tom Doak.[quote name='taywig' timestamp='1435253867' post='11833686']Not a whole lot of talk about Perry Maxwell, but I have a fondness to his work. Maxwell had a lot of success with his solo work before joining Alister MacKenzie, clearly an architect who garners a lot of respect here. He's also had a hand in designing, co-designing, or renovating many of this country's best courses.

Colonial
Southern Hills
Pine Valley
Augusta National
Merion
Maidstone
Saucon Valley[/quote]

You forgot Prairie Dunes, which is much better than Southern. Also, you can't really consider Colonial to be a Maxwell course.

[sheppy335]

Mike Strantz is my favorite architect, he was taken from us to soon.

[dlygrisse]

Ross
Coore/Crenshaw