Wow. It was only two weeks into the project. I was very excited about the prospects and details. Here were my constraints: very private, don't loose a ball in long grasses, very fun, very windy site, raw materials nearby - sand, challenging, lots of land and wind! Today it still sounds like The Old Course at St. Andrews.
Today and for the next two weeks I'll be detailing the evolution of the routing plan at Wolf Point Club as recently published in Paul Daley's new Golf Architecture - A Worldwide Perspective - Yesterday's Blog.
The above image is my first routing plan to get a feel for the client and the land requirements. My goals were to minimize expenses - I keep the holes in the cleared areas and tried to locate the lake where some sand could be excavated. There was also an preference for the motts of live oaks on the site. Note how the 4th hole plays around a large Oak.
This first solutions high points are that the holes play in a variety of directions and are varied in length. The fairways are also wide. I definately stayed in the cleared area - the 12th hole is in an old drilling area - note the fairway mimics the clearing - that is what I'd call fitting a hole to the site. The 18th hole at NGLA finishes along the clubhouse - so did this version.
Early routings generally have a looser hole spacing - I tighten them as they evolve - but I have no idea why I kept 7 green so far from 8 tee other than the walk from 13 to 14. Early routings usually also have lots of big bunkers - it looks better on a drawing. Unfortunately many times they get built that way too. I think the best method is to keep the best ones and lose the rest - Don Mahaffey even more so!
What I learned from this version: Keep away from the property lines - there was going to be no free golf views for neighbors - a 400' buffer was requested. And keep out of the smaller cattle ranch - area below fence line in picture - holes 2 through 6 had to move north.
I called it the R routing for its shape. I love the routing process.
Paul Daley's next volume got to my office last week. I was very pleased to have the pictorial essay entitled "Wolf Point Club Routing, USA — An Evolutionary Case Study" included. As our process for designing and building Wolf Point has included digital records, I thought it would be very interesting to show the evolution of the routing plan. Actually it is one of the first things I thought would work well on this blog.So after one year of blogging, tomorrow I am going to begin sharing the routing plan's progression - I will probably show more versions than are in the book. I always enjoyed looking back at the iterations - I hope you do as well.The above is the cover image and here is Fullswing Golf Publishing's website .All of his books are excellent. I recommend picking up his past volumes, especially Volume 3 which included my inclusion: "Non-traditional paths to becoming a golf course designer".
The above image is a more recent version of this one from earlier in the year.
A few more people have seen the course to see our grass and play with our client. It is all extremely positive - they have been blown away.
There is a great fund raiser going on this week in New Hampshire for golf historian and writer Bob Labbance. He has authored a number of great books and is a continual contributor to various industry magazines including a regular historical article in Superintendent Magazine.
From the 4th tee it appears as if the bunkers on 1 surround the fourth green. One of the benefits of having holes wrap around each other.
While a playoff round on a U.S. Open course doesn't usually equate to fun - this picture sure tells a different story. If they can have fun here, why not let everyone else have fun on thier own home course - instead of making them too difficult.
It was riveting competition!
If you can carry the bunkers and keep it out of the left rough on your tee shot, your are greatly rewarded. The par five green is reachable if you've come this far. Usually the play is to the right as the hole heads into the prevailing wind. Our client has definately grown to appreciate the benefit of keeping the ball left. The second photo below shows the path a little better. This construction aerial helps too.
The bunkers in the distance hug the green's right side and approach. So far I haven't carried the bunkers, or gotten home in two.
Wow. It was only two weeks into the project. I was very excited about the prospects and details. Here were my constraints: very private, don't loose a ball in long grasses, very fun, very windy site, raw materials nearby - sand, challenging, lots of land and wind! Today it still sounds like The Old Course at St. Andrews.
