Golf Club Atlas

GolfClubAtlas.com => Golf Course Architecture => Topic started by: Mike Hendren on August 17, 2014, 07:05:33 PM

Title: Please comment on these photographs.
Post by: Mike Hendren on August 17, 2014, 07:05:33 PM
(http://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp261/mehendren/RollingHills050_zpsf24377b7.jpg)

(http://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp261/mehendren/RollingHills031_zps6879963f.jpg)

(http://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp261/mehendren/RollingHills018_zpsd33d94da.jpg)

Bogey
Title: Re: Please comment on these photographs.
Post by: Sean_A on August 17, 2014, 07:17:14 PM
Greens look simple, yet effective.  Odd cut line on the 2nd pic.

Ciao
Title: Re: Please comment on these photographs.
Post by: PCCraig on August 17, 2014, 07:21:06 PM
Chainsaws needed...
Title: Re: Please comment on these photographs.
Post by: Tommy Williamsen on August 17, 2014, 07:27:28 PM
Greens are pretty small, round, and quite honestly boring. I can understand the idea behind them and the ground game would work.  But it sure looks dull.
A few more tree would be nice.  
No bunkers or rough?
Love the effect of the first picture.
Title: Re: Please comment on these photographs.
Post by: Patrick_Mucci on August 17, 2014, 07:44:54 PM
Mike,

Is that the same green ?

Is it in NC ?
Title: Re: Please comment on these photographs.
Post by: Joe Bausch on August 17, 2014, 08:14:49 PM
Mike,

Is that the same green ?

Is it in NC ?

Need more data, but I suspect these are three photos from different years of the same green.
Title: Re: Please comment on these photographs.
Post by: RJ_Daley on August 17, 2014, 08:28:53 PM
It depends how the shots play into the/these greens.  What are the angle-line of play and yardages.  It appears there are a nice series of 'Maxwell rolls' showing in the first.  That always makes for some fun.  I think the first and third photo are same green, but middle photo (if that is the same green) looks like it was reduced in size.  I think the low profile-ground level green when done sparingly can be a fun feature for a hole or two on a course.
Title: Re: Please comment on these photographs.
Post by: Tim_Weiman on August 17, 2014, 10:00:09 PM
Looks pretty interesting to me. Hardly dull.
Title: Re: Please comment on these photographs.
Post by: Sam Morrow on August 17, 2014, 10:25:10 PM
Simple looking but looks like fun.
Title: Re: Please comment on these photographs.
Post by: Mike Hendren on August 17, 2014, 10:33:23 PM
3 different greens.   Not in NC.

Anyone willing to guess the decade they were built?

More to follow Monday.

Bogey
Title: Re: Please comment on these photographs.
Post by: Rees Milikin on August 17, 2014, 10:58:41 PM
Back to Front slope, receptive to ground and aerial, lots of pin placements for relatively small greens, might have been built in the early 30's.
Title: Re: Please comment on these photographs.
Post by: Sam Morrow on August 17, 2014, 11:01:02 PM
The course was built in the 90's.
Title: Re: Please comment on these photographs.
Post by: Dave McCollum on August 17, 2014, 11:18:05 PM
My guess is the greens were built in the 1950's or early 60's.
Title: Re: Please comment on these photographs.
Post by: Charlie_Bell on August 17, 2014, 11:41:29 PM
1)  Doesn't look like Ireland.
2)  Easy to maintain.
3)  Better to be short than long.
Title: Re: Please comment on these photographs.
Post by: Mike Sweeney on August 18, 2014, 07:02:29 AM
My guess is the greens were built in the 1950's or early 60's.

and I am guessing this is the course that Mike grew up on? Interested to hear your reflections if this is accurate.
Title: Re: Please comment on these photographs.
Post by: Michael Moore on August 18, 2014, 07:22:02 AM
The first photograph is overexposed and has an inappropriate filter applied to it.

The second photo is poorly composed and is out of focus perhaps due to zooming effects.

The third photo features a compelling mise-en-scene with a fully textured backdrop and a profound contrast between the medieval darkness of the forest and the enduring hope of the flagstick.
Title: Re: Please comment on these photographs.
Post by: Bill Brightly on August 18, 2014, 07:48:01 AM
The greens are not defended by bunkers.
They are very small and require great accuracy to approach the hole.
I'd guess these are par 5 greens, or perhaps short par three holes.
Title: Re: Please comment on these photographs.
Post by: Gene Greco on August 18, 2014, 08:17:59 AM
2nd picture looks like the 8th at Bridgehampton Club built early 1900s
Title: Re: Please comment on these photographs.
Post by: Jeff Taylor on August 18, 2014, 09:08:38 AM
The first photograph is overexposed and has an inappropriate filter applied to it.

The second photo is poorly composed and is out of focus perhaps due to zooming effects.

The third photo features a compelling mise-en-scene with a fully textured backdrop and a profound contrast between the medieval darkness of the forest and the enduring hope of the flagstick.

Bingo.
Also, should have cloned out the power lines.
Title: Re: Please comment on these photographs.
Post by: Eric Smith on August 18, 2014, 10:01:57 AM
This crowd has gone deadly silent, the Cinderella story, outta no where, a former greenskeeper now - about to become the Masters champion. It looks like a mirac - It's in the Hole!
Title: Re: Please comment on these photographs.
Post by: RussBaribault on August 18, 2014, 10:12:14 AM
Thee second and third photo looks like cobbs creek.
Title: Re: Please comment on these photographs.
Post by: Mike Hendren on August 18, 2014, 11:01:24 AM
My guess is the greens were built in the 1950's or early 60's.

and I am guessing this is the course that Mike grew up on? Interested to hear your reflections if this is accurate.

Correct.   In order, these are the 8th (440 yards), 5th (502 yards) and 2nd (191 yards) greens at Rolling Hills Country club in rural West Tennessee where I learned the game and won the men's championship twice while in high school.   The 9 hole course opened in 1970.   I remember monthly dues of $15.  I believe they're $85 today.

I returned last weekend for the first time in over 25 years and found the course much as I remembered it, with the exception of unfortunate tree plantings and some grassed over greenside bunkers.  It confirmed my belief that the green pads are exceptional and my theory that there is great architecture to be found in the most unlikely of places, albeit in limited doses.  

I was tempted to forward these photographs to Sean and have him introduce them just for fun.

If okay, I'd like to post a tour of the course.  I cannot begin to describe the emotional connection I have with this place.

Bogey
Title: Re: Please comment on these photographs.
Post by: Sven Nilsen on August 18, 2014, 11:06:19 AM
Not just okay, a tour is demanded, including comments on how it played back then vs. now.
Title: Re: Please comment on these photographs.
Post by: Bill_McBride on August 18, 2014, 04:14:39 PM
Was there a sprinkler system?  I think I recall from the talk I asked you to give at the Bandon Kings Putter, that the answer is no. It must have been tough to keep approaches on those tiny greens if ultra firm, so I'm guessing you were a great chipper. 
Title: Re: Please comment on these photographs.
Post by: Mike Hendren on August 18, 2014, 04:34:58 PM
Bill, still no irrigation.  6 of the 9 holes were approached with wedges back when I had game.  Otherwise the play was often to take one less club and plan on the one-hopper.  Either that or carry the ball barely onto the front edge. In between was the frustrating shot as any ball landing into the slight front banks invariably hopped straight up and rolled back down.  Front pins were brutal and as I'll show soon long was death.

Bogey
Title: Re: Please comment on these photographs.
Post by: Dave McCollum on August 18, 2014, 05:04:13 PM
The greens reminded me of the greens at our local Muni.  The course was there when I was a kid and very much of a product of a simpler time in golf (dark ages to some).  They play much as you describe:  crowned, tilted back to front, small, and you’re completely dead if you go long.  Play to the front, hope you roll up and on and not off the sides or rear. 
Title: Re: Please comment on these photographs.
Post by: Bill_McBride on August 18, 2014, 07:55:42 PM
Reminds me a bit of my dad's home course, the Newnan (Georgia) Country Club. Nine holes, no irrigation, small domed greens so firm it was like hitting an iron and trying to stop the ball on a VW Beetle.  The hood!   It's been NLE for 40 years, plowed under for a soulless modern. Actually it's pretty okay but it ain't the old nine holes.