So Johnny Miller used irons and a 3-wood from 1945, a pre-war 4-wood and a twelve year-old driver to shoot one of the best rounds ever in 1973… what’s the big deal?
My uber-talented friend and co-worker, Don Placek, has a unique way of adding depth and life in two dimensions, as demonstrated by this in-progress plan for
@Old_Barnwell
On to the hole-by-hole descriptions of Augusta National, as described by Dr MacKenzie in the first Masters program... here are the original 1st and 2nd Holes (which are now the 10th and 11th, as the nines have been reversed). Not much has changed, right?
@SHistorians
@tullfescue
I’m calling BS on the “designed for match play” marketing angle. Can anyone explain how this is different than simply creating fun, interesting golf? The best architects have done exactly that for over a century.
Restoration gets complicated when the plan from 1918 doesn't match the plan from 1916... and the earliest aerial photo doesn't match either of those... and the plans for changes proposed in 1934 are dramatically different from what was designed in 1915... all by the same guy?!
I’m very appreciative and excited for the opportunity to work with the club on their beautiful piece of land. So much potential there… and a great place to spend a winter!
San Diego CC is hiring
@bschneider126
to create a master plan. Originally designed by William Watson and later worked on by Billy Bell, SDCC occupies a great golf property. As it moves on from some of its later renovation work, this course could become the best south of LA.
My list of the top 9- hole courses I’ve seen in the US is something like this:
Culver
Whitinsville
Hooper
Edgartown
The Dunes
Sewanee
Eagle Springs
Winter Park
Sweetens Cove
Hotchkiss
Quogue Field
Birchwood
Merchantville
Fenwick
Marion
What am I missing?
I wouldn’t have said this a year ago but I’m increasingly convinced that CB Macdonald was the best and most sophisticated golf architect of all time. The man was on a different level.
Thanks to all who offered tips on golf in Maine. 5 days, 26 courses, 369 holes later… feeling inspired and appreciative. Great to find old courses that are neglected but not “restored”, bunkers grassed over but not destroyed, and cool greens that are shrunken but not softened.
Some of you might be familiar with the 12th and 13th Holes at Augusta National, but here’s how they looked when they were the 3rd and 4th Holes for the first Masters in 1934... the hole descriptions are from Alister MacKenzie himself.
By request, here’s a few from Old Barnwell, the excellent new Brian Schneider design outside Aiken, SC, starting with hole no. 10, which might be my favorite hole on the golf course, though there are truly many to choose from…
The distance issue in golf gets a lot of attention and deservedly so, but the never-ending quest for tighter turf and excessive green speed has been far more destructive.
The 4th hole at Lido is unlike any I’ve ever seen, posing questions that have no obvious answers. I dare say even
@scottfawcett
might struggle to figure it out.
In lieu of a legitimate Masters Week, let’s have a look at the original version of Augusta National through the words of Dr. Mackenzie himself, as found in the program for the “First Annual Invitation Tournament”.
A question for golf turf folk:
Greens built to USGA specs create a perched water table. Some new USGA greens are built with Sub-Air type systems designed to pull water out of the profile.
Is the latter just a costly solution to an unnecessary problem created by the former?
@LouStagner
Lou, why do you believe a rollback would increase the level of frustration? How will golf become more difficult as a result of a rollback?
You’re concerned with the health of the business of golf whereas those favoring a rollback are concerned with the health of the game itself.
Extremely excited and proud to be a part of this project… and thanks to Derek for describing its mission so well!
How Old Barnwell, a new course in South Carolina, intends to change what a private club looks like | Courses | Golf Digest
@JasonSobelTAN
Nonsense.
This isn’t just for the pros and elite ams. Clubs will require competitors to use conforming equipment for club events so we’ll all be enjoying the new balls soon. Contrary to what some are preaching, the transition will be quick and painless.
@LouStagner
How to be a golf performance coach.
1. Tell players to avoid losing golf balls.
2. Tell players to hit driver really far and preferably straight.
3. Tell players to avoid deep bunkers and aim for the center of the green.
Golf can be so easy.
Today was Blake’s (
@dundeegolf
) last day on site for this half of the renovation at Llanerch CC. I can’t overstate the value and quality of his contributions throughout this project... and admire his courage in embracing the consequences of a lost bet. Go Badgers!
@LlanerchCC
Going around Cobb’s Creek with
@jwbausch
, Mike Cirba and
@MFreyPGA
today was fantastic... many thanks to these gentlemen for spearheading the restoration of a really special place and for sharing that vision with me. I can’t wait to play the result of their efforts!
@PasatiempoGolf
@birdiejp
Is it necessary to rebuild to USGA specs or could you simply strip the sod and carefully remove the sand build-up to restore MacKenzie’s original contours?
A lot of people are invested in making golf a simpler, more sustainable game but the biggest obstacle might be golfers’ expectations regarding course maintenance. Another is the golf industry itself… beware those looking to “grow the game”.
The approach to the 3rd green at Llanerch CC, featuring a super fancy bunker by super fancy Blake Conant
@Dundee_Golf
(pic by appropriately fancy Chris Wilkinson)
I sure wish I could write (and think) as concisely and eloquently as my boss:
“The thrill of golf is not a function of how far you hit the ball but how well”
@GreenMontclair
Why some golfers (who are all too quick to jump in a cart) are bothered by a bit of bare ground in out-of-play areas is puzzling. After all, the term “rough” isn’t limited to thick, green grass and can happily include dirt and thin turf.
Wrapping up our tour of Augusta National circa the 1934 Masters with the current 8th and 9th, which played as the finishing holes for that event... the nines would be reversed the following year.
Okay, Dunes defenders... I was really fortunate to arrange an unexpected return to the club today and confirmed two things:
1. It’s a very good golf course, certainly one of the best nine-holers in the game
2. I still prefer Culver.
Anyone who’s seen pics of the beautiful artwork
@evalu18golf
and
@joemmcdonne11
are putting out knows how great it looks, but I can now attest that it’s even more spectacular in person. Their rendition of The Old Course is also accurate and informative. Tremendous stuff, gents!
Year 👌🏽.
Underrated Golf Tour, presented by
@KPMG_US
, is back for a third season. A mix of old and new faces, five incredible courses, and of course, a continued push for Equity, Access, and Opportunity!
@underratedgolf
#UGTour
#KPMGPartner
@golfcourses101
The tree would be far more tolerable if there weren’t a pond and bunker in front of the green. As it is, playing a running shot under the tree onto the putting surface isn’t an option. No good.
@chambleebrandel
No one should be criticizing his power, which is very impressive. The thing to be criticized is the equipment that allows his power to translate into 373 yards.
@PreetBharara
@PreetBharara
Can you please explain how re-electing president Trump will fix all the awful things that are actually- right now- happening under president Trump?
The newly restored 17th at Hollywood Golf Club
As you guys know, I don’t do a lot of video. But I thought you might like this perspective on Brian Schneider’s outstanding restoration of this par-3 originally by Walter Travis. It’s a perfect match for the other 17 holes at HGC.
Nick has ambitious and admirable goals for Old Barnwell and I’ve no doubt that he’ll surpass them. Many thanks to Jonathan Cummings for sharing the story… i look forward to wearing out my welcome there for years to come!
Today we make it to the back nine of the first Masters, after a quick look at the current 18th... note the central fairway bunker and how the green extends well down the hill alongside the left greenside bunker.
Driven Golf Podcast Episode 7 with Brian Schneider is live!
- Old Barnwell w/ Blake Conant
- Getting started and learning from Tom Doak
- How a “lucky” broken ankle led to the start of his golf career
- The Lido
- Walter Travis
- Ballyneal
- The Rollback
@AdrianLogue
@GreenMontclair
I’d love to know when “rough” became synonymous with long, dense turf. Golf would be better off if rough was simply anything less desirable than green or fairway… the more variety the better.
It was cool to get back to Stonehouse today, where I first saw the work of Mike Strantz in 1997. Both Stonehouse and Royal New Kent are again open for business so think about paying them a visit post-quarantine. It’s such a shame he wasn’t able to share more of himself with us.
On to the 1934 versions of the 7th and 8th Holes at Augusta National, both of which have changed dramatically over the years. In the late 1940s, Robert Trent Jones dammed up the creek on what’s now the 16th, shifting the tees and flipping the green to the other side of the water.
The original 13th and 14th Holes at Augusta National (now the 4th and 5th) were both modeled after great holes from The Old Course, as was the spirit of the course itself. The par-3 13th was a loose replica of the famed Eden 11th and the 14th a version of the infamous Road Hole.
The 1st and 16th at Hoylake are fantastic, I adore the 2nd and 9th at Muirfield, and 13 at North Berwick and 2 at Talking Stick are two of the coolest holes on the planet. What are some other great holes defined by straight lines (stone walls, cops, out of bounds, etc)?