"A Simpler Game"

Now posted is my winter Links Magazine look at how golf got to the mess it's in and ways in which costs can be cut. Included are quotes from architects like Bruce Hepner, developer Jim Taylor of Clear Creek and superintendent Rusty Mercer of Cuscowilla. As always, thoughts welcomed

Meanwhile Ryan Ballengee plays Coore and Crenshaw's Sugarloaf Mountain, part of a failing central Florida real estate development, and comes away wondering if people would ever buy a home on a minimalist design. 

Comments

[LiquidKaos]

Great article Geoff - thanks.


-LK

[Jordan]

Geoff:

Great article. And really well-written.

Let's hope that the Common Ground model spreads.

Also, I find it ironic that Bobby Jones intended Augusta to play like a links course. It's now anithesis of a links course.

[Ky Laffoon's Ghost]

Superb, Geoff!

Augusta did play similarly to a links course until fairly recently. The first time I saw it in person 25 years ago it was so green it made you eyes hurt, but the fairways were firm and fast and if you didn't actually play golf instead of bomb&gouge, your shots ended up in the trees. It was also just a shade under 7000 yards from the tournament tees. Not that the maintenance budget is a factor there...

[Steven T.]

If a C&C course can't sell lots in Florida at Sugarloaf Mountain, how are sales doing at C&C's Colorado GC? I think CGC is doing much better. The answer must be that Florida buyers would rather buy lots/houses with a "prettier" course designed by Nicklaus, Arthur Hills or Fazio.

[AA]

Hepner works for Doak? I like the Ultra Simple design concept moniker! Very snazzy! Who's concept is it and how does it relate to what it may have derived from - Minimalist which seems to get a bad rap due to its connotation.

[sir real]

Personally, I wasn't that inspired by what I saw playing at Sugarloaf. It was decent golf, but nothing exceptional and lacked the charm that one usually find at other minimalist type courses. I admire most of what I've seen and played that C&C have done..this one didn't stand out. There was a waste-land feel to that entire real estate project setting...tough for anyone to get very excited about "investing" in that presentation.

[Raising Hell For Jesus]

All you goobs who've been moaning about all the Tiger news and your desire to see more golf items ... chime in. Get righteous! Let's hear from you!

[Brad Ford]

Why would anyone name a course in Florida "Sugarloaf Mountain?" I have never seen a mountain anywhere in that state.

[OWGR Fan]

Geoff another fine article. Thanks.

@ Sir Real... Have you had the chance to play C&C Warren Course at Notre Dame? If so thoughts on it. Have always wanted to give it a try when I travel out that way. Probably the only C&C course I could play.

[Bill Greene]

Great article, Geoff. Now, if we could just get players to WALK the courses, think of how much less wear & tear there'd be on those formerly-manicured grounds!

Sigh...

[Spence]

Sugarloaf Mountain is a fantastic course when played in tournament conditions. As a PGA Memeber, we play a Section stableford event there each summer.

I have played numerous practice rounds and tournament rounds there, and having learned the course, I am learning new ways to play holes each time I play. Not only do 'angles of approach' come into play, but also the descending trajectories of your approaches are important (the dirty secret of great designs). Using the lay of the land, there are so many differing length of holes, it keeps you on your toes.

One of the best courses I've ever played. But, literally in the middle of nowhere. I wouldn't buy there because the closest grocery store/convenience store is more than 15 minutes away...but if I had only one course to play, it's get my approval.

[Gotta Ask Why]

Great article. I live near Atlanta and one of my favorite layouts, that has now since disappeared was Hidden Hills in Stone Mountain. The design of the holes was great, but the course was a little brown and played ffffast, so traffic decreased to the point of extinction. (In fairness bad management also had something to do with it.)

Another daily fee course, The Oaks in Covington, is also one of my favorites. The greens are hard and fast with fairways to match, and I always love how that forces a change to strategy and shot making. It's great to watch players who are out "slumming" it with me shoot big numbers because they don't know how to adjust and account for what the ball does on the ground.

If anything comes out of this lousy economy, it'll be nice if golfing as a recreation moves its economics more in line with the vast majority of its participants. Keep spreading the gospel.

[Kevin C.]

Geoff- Great article, and I like the idea of less thrills. One comment I hear from a lot of people in my area ( Philadelphia), is that while the idea of maintaining a course for firm & fast conditions sounds great, it is not really possible in our area due to the soil and the climate ( hot, humid,, etc). People say, "Hey, we're not a seasiide links with sandy soil."

What would you say in response to that?

[AA]

I would say go play Cobbs, FDR, or Walnut Lane where the maintenance budget or lack there of and mom nature dictates the playing conditions!

[jay gannaway]

I enjoyed playing Brackenridge in san antonio and Hancock ( the original Austin Country Club) off rubber mat tee boxes.

[Tighthead]

Stone Eagle now sleeps with the fishes.

[HW]

Tighthead,
I did find that a bit ironic in terms of timing with this article. There are 4 highly manicured Fazio courses within a few miles that are doing just fine (which were well established before the downturn). That said, I think Stone Eagle will be fine. It's always the second or third owner that makes it work.

[sir real]

Spence, God Bless ya...glad you get to play it in tournament conditions. As to the "if I only had one course to play"...I suggest you sample a bit more golf, your diet there is undernourished.

[sir real]

OWGR, I've not played at ND yet...but plan to shortly, as a good buddy of mine has a son who will play golf for them beginning next year. I've heard good things and that it is a solid test. Go play it...I doubt you'll regret it.

[Ky Laffoon's Ghost]

Yeah, the second or third owner gets it for free, more or less. When I was elsewhere, a local semi-private 27-hole track was sold to one of those "high-end" operators who added 9-holes, had the "big" 18 remodeled by a famous architect, rebuilt the club house, all to the tune of about six million. They subsequently had a hard time trying to attract members at way more than the market would bear, and sold the whole thing back to the original owner for less than they paid him in the first place. Pretty sweet deal for owner #1 who became owner #3, and the place is doing OK now. Not great, but good enough to attract the state open and similar events.

[OWGR Fan]

@ sir real..... I *should* be in the South Bend area at some point late summer. If I am out there I will play the Warren Course. Have actually played one other course in that area (Blackthorne) while in South Bend to see a ND/Pitt football game. Hope you enjoy your round at the Warren Course. Report back on it. Thanks.