I am often asked about golf course Architecture and how we create distinctive courses. After the first 5 minutes of explanation they begin to drift and after 20 minutes they are nearly comatose. Seriously, most people are only interested in a "sound bite" rather than a full explanation of the subject.
Very early in my career, I was watching the debut of PGA West. Pete Dye (the Architect) was a guest commentator. At a commercial break, they put the camera on Mr. Dye and asked him to explain his philosophy behind the radical design. (I remember thinking - what a golden opportunity for an architect.) Mr. Dye made an especially forgetable comment about how the golf course was designed for these professional players and how good these players are. I remember howling out loud at the total absence of meaning, the absurdity of the comment. I thought he had completely botched a once in a lifetime opportunity to deliver the ultimate sermon on golf course Architecture.
What I didn't understand, at that early point in my career, is Mr. Dye had about 15 seconds to say something pithy and meaningful. An impossible task. So, my reaction at the time was probably mis-guided (since I nearly guffawed myself out of a chair).
So, what is Golf Course Architecture - in sound bite form?
Creating distinctive golf courses means: Having the restraint to preserve natural beauty, the aptitude to accentuate nature when needed and the courage to create drama where it does not exist.
This sound bite still doesn't fully explain golf course architecture. But, it does summarize the approach, in my opinion.
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