A Quiet Week for the Blog

St. Thomas's 14th

I just got back last night after being out west for two full weeks. I have quite a few more trips still to make and I’m not getting any time to write. Well actually I am getting time to write, but it’s not for the blog. I’ve been working on a very large project with lots of writing due later in August – it has taken priority over all my free time.

September 1st has become my focus for quite some time now. I will have three major construction projects (all with new greens) ending at that point – and I do expect to free up some time. Then I can work on Master Plans for Plymouth and St. Thomas. I will enjoy a stretch of work done out of the house. My fall construction work is largely in Ontario which will also allow me to be around the home more and this will give me more time for my family, golf and the blog. So needless to say I have looked at this summer as a long and tough one to get through. The travel and workload are very high – but the end of this run is very near.

I won’t be writing this week unless something important comes up. I’ll continue to post photos of what I’m doing but writing for the blog is going to have to wait until I have more time.

10 Most Expensive Courses to Play

Here's the List of the 10 Most Expensive Courses to play in the World


Here is the article for you to read: http://www.abcnews.go.com/Travel/BusinessTravel/Story?id=5333212&page=1

1. Shadow Creek - will never play it - it has no appeal to me

2. Pebble Beach - played it twice - probably would again - its that good!

3. Old Head - no interest - don't like Dumb Blonds

4. Pinehurst -played it twice, walked it twice more - the price is too high for me to return - I recommend you play it once in your lifetime

5. Royal Birkdale - I'll likely pay at some point -but not high on my list - there are much better links courses to play

6. Trump National - never will play it ever on principle - I hate the man

7. Royal Melbourne - will pay to play each and every time I'm in Melbourne - probaly more than one round

8. Sunningdale (old) - played - won't again at that price - again worth playing once in your life

9. The Ocean Course - I will likely walk it in the future but that's too rich for my blood - the course interests me but I have other courses to see before that one.

10. Spyglass Hill - played it once - won't ever play it again - good but not great - don"t waste your money

The 10 Most Expensive Rounds I have paid for in order
Pebble Beach (325 US)
Pinehurst #2
Pine Needles
Royal County Down
Royal Troon - the only one on this list that I wouldn't do again
Turnberry
St. Andrew's
Sunningdale
Gleneagles
Riviera (100 US)

Working on the Road

Today I spent a lot of time walking through a course and making notes on what I think should be done. Since I can’t fly out till tomorrow, I made sure I had some space to set out some drawings so that I could begin to work on the Master Plan. What you can see is my notes laid over the property as I slowly work my way through all the possible ideas. I find a usually work this through a few times before committing to the final plan.

I work like this a few times a year. Most of this is done at home where I’m more comfortable – but with a situation like this and too much time on my hands – I find I enjoy the opportunity to spread out and work. My charette at Red Deer was an example where I went to the club and worked through everything and then presented the club with my recommendations. I will do something similar at Plymouth next week – except I only plan to provide my written report before I leave. The plan will come later – and from home.

I’m a little too early into this one to share anything from today’s walk around – but eventually I’m sure I’ll have lots to share.

p.s. that was a commercial on the TV

Saskatoon #6 and #7 Ready for Seed

The 6th Hole - the reverse redan - ready for seed

The tee shot on the 7th - 270 to carry the water or...

...face this approach shot from the right side - this is from 175

Saskatoon Holes #1 and #2

Finally updated - I'm sure the state of topsoiling will confuse some - but others may enjoy the rough state.

The First Hole

The Opening tee shot



The green site for the first hole




This is the back of the green





The second Hole


The tee shot on number two

The 2nd green with topsoil just spread - it hides too much probably

Where I’m at Right Now

I know your probably tired on my talking about being busy and making decsions but 20 hours of driving leaves you mainly contemplating big issues - rather than design ideas. I find this a most interesting time in my life and that's what I seem to talk about most right now - since that's front and centre in my life.

Back in March I agreed to do a project in China so that I would finally build some courses – I can’t say that the location would have been my first choice – but the opportunity of new work was too enticing to pass on. Or at least it was at that time. China as it turns out is not dead and may come back to life in 18 months. The question is will I still want to be involved at that point – particularly with what’s come up lately.

I’m finding it interesting that China is not the only opportunities of this type. I have been approached about collaborating on two separate projects and each one has captured my interest. At the same time I’m looking square in the face at two surprising opportunities to work with high profile courses that have called me directly. Both are clearly interested in my services and I would be honoured to work with either of them.

The restoration/renovation end of things is going so well that I often wonder whether I should settle down into this area and be happy with what I’m doing. It would make life simple if I did. The only nagging question would be how much I would regret not building a new course if I did this. I’m enjoying Saskatoon a great deal - and having even more design flexibility is what I’ve always wanted.

Do I need to pursue collaborations and other similar opportunities – or should I show the patience and wait – wait for something that is an Ian Andrew design?

I’m at a cross roads in my life trying to decide what is most important – and that is why I just took my kids to the mountains for a long week-end together. Do I want to be part of a bigger entity – or do I really like this small little operation that I have. The tough problem I’m facing currently – and the reason I’m so busy - is that I have to see each opportunity through to the end to be able to make that decision. It’s not smart to make a decision without knowing everything that it will entail - so I find myself attending meetings, going to interviews and putting proposals together in rapid succession trying to put myself in the best position to make an intelligent decision.

While I don’t have the time to talk about architecture right now – I’m pretty sure a change is going to occur with my business before the end of the year.

I’m at Saskatoon today and will photograph holes and talk about them tomorrow.

There are Places that Golf Shouldn’t Go

The 18th - looking back up the fairway

I write to you from Drumheller, Alberta where I went to see the Royal Tyrrell Museum, the Hoodoos and the Badlands of Alberta. This trip was all about avoiding everything golf and all about enjoying the other things I enjoy the most – particularly my boys.

While at the Tyrrell Museum – an amazing museum built in the badlands just outside Drumheller famous collection of dinosaur bones - I couldn’t help but notice the nearby neighbor. It was Dinosaur Trail Golf Course. I had to have a quick look since it was so close and what I saw kind of bothered me. The original nine is on the river side of the road and over real flat land. The new nine is built right in the badlands itself.














I must point out that the city of Drumheller was once all badlands too - so I get the impression that they aren’t so well protected because it’s seen as lost land by most. The badlands are an area where the soil is all exposed and erosion has slowly pealed away the upper covering layer of sand and exposed a series of layers of clay, sandstone and soil to leave behind a layered and multi-coloured landscape almost completely devoid of vegetation. The only vegetation growing is a combination of sage, grasses and prickly pear cactus. The badlands to me are special and one of Canada’s really unique landscapes.

I had a look at the new nine and I found myself uncomfortable to see a golf course in the badlands when there were lands just down the road that would have made great golf. The land looked like Dunes land and even looked across the road at the badlands. This would have made for great golf and more importantly would not have been “in” this unique landscape. I get why people would enjoy the opportunity to play through such a spectacular land – but I had to ask myself should they?

This is a track found on Fossil Trace Golf Course

I love golf - and I love golf courses that have a unique sense of place – but I’ve always felt that there are places that golf does not belong. I’ve also seen places where agencies have turned down courses where there decision made no sense to me. I was involved with one called Copper Creek where the Conservation Authority resisted the course for close to 15 years before finally changing there mind. I’ve walked an incredibly large number of trails and conservation lands because this is a secondary passion I have – and Copper Creek was not unique or even remotely special.

I looked out over the course - and over the badlands on both sides - and wondered how and why that was ever approved. The proximity to the museum, the fact that this land is rich with fossils made me wonder if this was the right use of that land – and whether there should be golf on that site.

Nine Holes at Saskatoon coming up next

Holy Crap I'm Busy......

I have a few issues to why I'm struggling to post:

1. I'm "stupid" busy and the blog has to take a back seat while I try cope with my current work load. I'm in the air at least twice every week - and I sem to arrive everywhere at midnight - or at least I did every day last week. I'm using the flights to try get some rest rather than write. Although this week I was writing reports on the flight to Saskatoon.

2. I have three major things on the go right now that I can't talk about. I will go into great detail about one of my biggest projects when it finally gets finished. I have confidentiality agreement on a second and I want to wait on the third till I'm sure there is something to share.

3. Other interesting projects - like Plymouth - are a few weeks away from getting going. So I appreciate the patience many of you have for my infrequent posts - but for now - it's the best I can offer.

Saskatoon Update – Shaping is done

2nd tee shot - the first dome was existing and the basis of the domes - the second is created

Today I approved the 1st green (there is no fairway grading since this was the one entire fairway that I kept) and the entire 2nd hole. Both greens are ready for tiling and the disturbed areas can have the topsoil put back ready for finishing. While there are a few tees still requiring some touch ups to get the correct slope and shape – the fill has all been placed. Therefore the designing at Saskatoon has come to an end. Sure I have a range to do and the 11th needs to be finished around the pond – but that’s pretty minor stuff after all the greens and holes.

I walked the holes by myself this morning and was very happy with the way all the holes turned out. I took a couple of risks with ideas the reverse redan and that turned out fantastic. Through tee shots hit by Roger and Randy I was able to determine that my bunkers were in great position and the carries that I wanted to tempt a player into – were possible, enticing and extremely risky. I have explained many times that the greatest thrill comes through temptation – you want the player to consider the risk, weigh their options and then be willing to occasionally roll the dice. That is golf at its best – and there are three shots where all of us felt we would take the risk in the right situation and wind – which is what a designer wants the player to feel.

The second hole approach with the old green still to be turned into a roll and the new green set where the mound complex is

The walk made me feel good – I can be overly self critical at times – but today I was mostly happy with all the decisions from routing, the technique to lose the fill and create undulation in the process, the very limited use of fairway bunkers (three!) the strategies I developed, the risks that worked (the reverse redan is a dandy) and the sometimes wild green contours that do match the old greens well.

The only spot that I went out to over and over was the two tier (upper side left/lower side right) green at number two – it made me wonder if I went too far – but I know it will work. I’ve built one a Copper Creek (#12) - but it’s still quite unconventional to look. I needed to consider putts and approaches from multiple angles before I was absolutely sure that I had not gone too far with this one. The final kicker was a couple of similar examples on the existing course and I always liked those.

Unfortunately I did not have my camera with me and I will supply a couple of photos from last weeks visit to tied you over till I return next week and then I’ll take a series of photos for you to see where the holes have got to.

The Front Nine at St. George's

If you want to know more about how the work was done at St. George's read this article from Paul Daley's Book, Golf Architecture, A Worldwide Perspective, Volume 3: http://thecaddyshack.blogspot.com/2007/01/article-in-golf-architecture-about-st.html

Here is the front nine at St. George's:

(these are old photos unfortunately)

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

The Back Nine of St. George's

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

Rubenstein on St. George's and the Canadian Open

Lorne Rubenstein has an article about the announcement of St. George’s as the 2010 host of the Canadian Open titled - St. George's short on yardage, but long on Quality.

He talks a lot about the set up and the speculation on which hole will be shortened. I add my two cents worth indicating it will be the 4th. I made a three there in my infamous round where I was one over through 13 (from the very back tees) and wound up shooting 90!

I’m quoted in the article including:

"The one thing I can say for sure is they will all say this is the best course they played all year outside the majors and perhaps Riviera [in Los Angeles],"

I really think the players will rave about the course - but unless they can rotate through great old courses like Hamilton and St. George's year after year (and avoid Glen Abbey or Angus Glen) they will never get another decent field.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20080628.RUBE28/TPStory/?query=lorne+rubenstein

The reference he makes to the old 4th is found here:

http://thecaddyshack.blogspot.com/2006/06/18-holes-day-8-4th-at-st-georges-nle.html

It includes a picture of what the old hole looked like.