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Golf Course Architecture / Re: So, what is “too big, too bold and too manufactured”?
« Last post by Tim_Weiman on March 26, 2024, 11:58:05 PM »This thread is so good.
Tim, this is a very difficult question. For every “too much” on a modern design, I can probably come up with something pretty big/severe/manufactured on a beloved older design.
I asked a bit tongue in cheek what Tom Simpson might say about some of the American classics where it’s clearly not very natural or minimalist. Tom D replied that of the courses I listed, Simpson would probably approve of Garden City the most. Having never been there, I’d have no reason to debate. But from an aerial, looking at the third hole alone, I’ve rarely seen a more bold and fascinating bunkering of a hole.
I say that to say this—to answer your question—I have no idea.
Ben,
I had the good fortune to play Garden City with Pat Mucci and Tommy Naccarato. That was probably twenty years ago, but I trust my memory enough to say the course was not too big, bold or manufactured.
Honestly, I don’t have a clear answer either. I need to see Tree Farm so I’m at least familiar with two of the courses Zachary Car cited, but based on drone footage it didn’t strike me as “too big, bold and manufactured”.
Rather than taking a swipe at GCA participants and trying too hard to sound academic, Car would have done better to offer a definition of what “too big, bold and manufactured” means or just not used the phase in an article about golf architecture.