THE SECOND PLAYS DOWN TO THE LOWPOINT ON THE PROPERTY - THE GREEN HARD AGAINST THE STONE WALL

THE SIMPLE YET EXCELLENT PAR THREE FOURTH

I had obviously heard great things about this course. One friend who has traveled all over chooses it as his favorite in the world. While I would not go that far, I do believe that it is one of the best I have had the pleasure of playing and easily in the world top 10. I think it has more in common with Shinnecock than the other links courses I played on the trip. The fairways are relatively flat and have very little rumple or small scale contour. The course is very fair which is not a prerequisite for me to like a course, and in fact I often find fair boring and mundane. Where Muirfield shines is the routing. It takes advantage of every aspect of the property and flows seamlessly – one good hole after another.

THE SECOND SHOT AFTER A BLIND TEE SHOT AT THE ELEVENTH (VERY EVOCATIVE OF THE SEVENTEENTH AT YALE)

When you combine the course with the experience – four ball in the AM, an amazing lunch with a few Kummels, and then an foursomes match in the afternoon – and the result is one of the most enjoyable days in my golfing life.

THE SUPERB THIRTEENTH PLAYS TO ONE OF THE LARGER CONTOURS ON PROPERTY

THE HOME HOLE

]]> http://punchbowlgolf.com/2010/08/muirfield/feed/ 7 http://punchbowlgolf.com/2010/04/mach-dunes-the-dmk-tapes-iii/ http://punchbowlgolf.com/2010/04/mach-dunes-the-dmk-tapes-iii/#comments Sat, 24 Apr 2010 16:24:37 +0000 Will Smith http://punchbowlgolf.com/?p=2152

THE SIXTEENTH AT MACH DUNES

In this third and final part of my interview with David McLay Kidd about Mach Dunes (part 1 and part 2, here), the architect refutes one of my and others’ main criticisms of the course- an unwieldy routing with lots of blind shots and long transitions between greens and tees. It was my thought that if David and his team had compacted the routing at Mach Dunes and created a shorter course (7,200 yards was about the yardage from the tips) that wandered over less of the site, than maybe the environmentalists would have been more willing to make a few concessions and allow slightly more grading in the affected areas, resulting in a more playable and walkable course.

David refutes this by saying that he believed that they would look at it in the complete opposite way, that making the affected areas more compact would increase the overall degradation of the natural environment of the site. He also defends the length by saying that Tom Doak has made building shorter courses “half trendy”  and he was trying to build something that would still be a challenge 100 years from now and was different from its 6,400 yard neighbor. If only David was accurate in saying that a trend was developing around shorter courses golf would be in a much better and more sustainable place. (Video after the jump).

Our conversation shifted to the cost of building an extreme minimalist course like Mach Dunes. David shared that the construction cost of the course was half of what Bandon Dunes  cost a decade earlier. This was partly because of the restrictions and also because it was a project without significant backing.

David is very frank in saying that the course may not meet people expectations if they are hoping for a modern, polished golf course- “it could be that people’s expectations are far higher than what the course is not capable of delivering today.” He goes on to say that Mach Dunes is “a step way the hell back in time,” but the fundamentals are there and it will take time for the course to evolve in to greatness.

We also talk about his design at the Gleneagles West development which may open in 2012 and then we talk about an amazing site on the Washington coast that is permitted and was once under construction. Unfortunately the environmental restrictions are such, that in my opinion, a good course could not be built. David poses the question about how far we as golf guys would be willing to go to be able to build a course on sand next to the ocean. And that ultimately is the question. At Mach Dunes, David gives his answer. It is my sincere hope for David and the game of golf, that the course is given the time to evolve and change into the great course that it could be.

THE BEAUTIFUL SETTING AT MACH DUNES

This is the second part of my lengthy discussion with David McLay Kidd about his new course Mach Dunes in Scotland (Part One, here). One aspect of Kidd’s perspective on the course that I really respect is his bravery to put a product out there that he and the rest of the team knows has flaws. As he tells me, he wants the course to be judged on what it will become in fifty years when it has had a chance to evolve through grow in, management and environmentally sensitive alterations and not in one snap shot on opening day. You don’t hear an architect say this very often because it is sign of his lack of control. It is also show of humility that is often wanting in today’s top architects. (Video and Interview after the jump)

As Kidd says, getting the course in the ground was only the first step of many which may be tough story for many golfers to understand after making the trek out to the Mull of Kintyre. I am looking forward to seeing how the course changes over the decades, and I do think that is time frame we are looking at without a major change in environmental regulation.

Mach Dunes is a rarity in modern golf, a throwback to the 19th century where man did not have the ability to move large amounts of earth. Of course many of these course have been altered over the past century to make them more playable. At Mach Dunes, Kidd and team certainly had the technological ability to move dirt, but they were simply not allowed to. The restrictions seemed draconian and it seems like every minor grassing line, bunker, and tee site were endlessly argued over. The question is whether enough golfers will enjoy this rugged and different form of golf to make Mach Dunes a regular stop on their tour of Scotland.

One element that I did not get to experience is the grazing of sheep to control the rough. When I was there the rough was very thick as there had been very little play to thin it out. Kidd points out that the sheep had always been part of the ecology of the site and in fact the construction period was the only time that they not been on the site for as long as he can remember which has led to a denser native rough at opening. “The sheep are not a tourist attraction,” says Kidd. The black faced sheep were chosen because of they type of vegetation that they do or do not eat. As Kidd points out, Mach Dunes is breaking ground when it comes to looking at a site’s ecology and how it functions before and after the construction of the golf course. Golf will only benefit from this holistic approach.

AN ERODED BUNKER AT MACH DUNES

Mach Dunes opened in July of this past year at roughly the same time as Castle Stuart to the north. Neither is in the heart of Scottish golf touring area and so few if any have played them both. I did make it out to the Mull of Kintyre a few weeks before it opened and I had been warned in an email from architect David McLay Kidd, to, “just remember it’s a work in progress not a Fazio-esque insta-course!” I took this to heart and did not worry about conditioning as I played my way around. (Video and Interview with DMK after the jump)

There were some aspects of Mach Dunes that I thoroughly enjoyed. I thought the bunker work was excellent. The hazards look very natural and the chunks and clods of the faces that had fallen away and eroded really gave the course a rustic and ancient feel. Much has been made of the wild contours on the greens at the Kidd’s Castle course on the East coast, and similar contours can be found here. I did not find them overwhelming and if kept at the right speed, they will be enjoyable.

There were other elements of the course that I did not like nearly as much, such as its playability and routing. I knew that Kidd had been under very tight environmental restrictions on this project, and when I left the course, I leaned toward believing that if this was the best that could be produced than maybe the land even though it consisted of beautiful dunes should not have been converted into a golf course. Others who have made the trek out to Mach Dunes have had mixed things to say. This site’s co-creator Colin Sheehan who played the course just after its opening went further by writing a negative post on golfclubatlas.com, which immediately met with criticism from a number of sources.

I decided to go directly to David McLay Kidd and get the whole story. The result was a very interesting conversation that I recorded and have edited into a series of videos. In this first video, David explains in detail the background of the project. You can clearly hear his passion for this project. While each of the videos are long, I do believe that they shed some light on how Mach Dunes came to be, why the course is the way it is and where golf course design and development is heading in the face of stricter and stricter environmental restrictions.

The second video will cover the decision to build Mach Dunes, the expectations of the golfing public, and a discussion of using sheep to manage the roughs.

The third video will cover the routing and the future of environmentally sensitive golf projects.

Welcome to Golf House Club at Elie, you are on the south coast of Fife in Scotland, a stiff forty-five minute drive south from the home of the sport. The spectacle bunkers at that awkward bunker shot distance from the 12th green seem a fitting vantage to view this spectacular yet unheralded links. The two shot 13th in the distance wriggles away from the rocky coast to its green nestled at the base of the cliff, before the routing heads inland and upland.

A truly hospitable links for those who enjoy missing crowds, and reasonably fared to boot. One of the few courses to feature a parascope–a necessary modern addition to safely navigate the rocky crag at the first tee and potential litigation thereafter. Also, the town sports one of the finest restaurants in country–Sangster’s–for you foodies.

As a Macdonald and Raynor fan, I was very keen to see the original redan and it was indeed a treat to see. Many have said that the fourth at National is a better hole and I have to agree. The redan at National is better defined which adds to the uniqueness of it as it is even harder to make the correct play away from the flag when it is right there in front of you.

But the redan is not the only hole at North Berwick that reminded me of National. The cape tee shot on the second is clearly similar to the the fourteenth tee shot at NGLA. The par three sixth is reminiscent of many Macdonald/Raynor short holes and its fronting bunker immediately reminded my of the great bunker in front of the bottle hole at National. Of course the routing is out and back as well. Whatever it is, these two courses are two of my favorites and it is simply because they are a blast to play.

You can find the front nine here and my interview with course manager Stuart Greenwod, here.

Here is a video of the front nine at the West Links at North Berwick. I will hopefully have a some time to write up a few thoughts with the back nine video.

Also, check out my interview with course manager Stuart Greenwood.

THE HOME GREEN AT NORTH BERWICK

One of my favorite rounds this year was at North Berwick, a course I would be content to play the rest of my life. While there, I caught up with course manager Stuart Greenwood, the course manger. The interview can be seen after the jump. I am on the road so I will keep this brief. I just want to commend  Mr. Greenwood for the amazing job he  does preparing a course that gets 52,000 rounds a year. He is engaging man and I wish I had been able to spend more time with him. (Video after the jump)

THE BEAUTIFUL SHISHKINE GOLF & TENNIS CLUB

On the Isle of Arran there are a number of golf courses, but none better than Shishkine Golf & Tennis Club. This Willie Park design consists of only twelve holes, seven of which are par threes, but it packs serious golf holes and amazing views into its truncated routing. While the course affords some of the prettiest scenery in golf, it would be hard to recommend anyone passing up a round at Prestwick or Turnberry to make the trek out to Shishkine. But if one finds themselves on the Isle of Arran, it is not to be missed. (more photos and review after the jump)

The course sits among some rolling dunes beneath a row of cliffs. The first hole (386 yards) plays along the bay to a bowling alley fairway. A ridge runs the entire length of the hole and often blocks a players view to the green. It is an adequate hole with a fair bit of quirk, setting the tone for the day.

The approach to the first

The second is another nice par four (391 yards) that routed on the backside of the dunes. The approach is blind to a green set on the far side of a burn.

The hole is fair because of the bowl like setting of the green. An up and down is possible from anywhere over the burn. This hole continues the unusual feel of Shishkine.

The third is the "signature hole" according to the club's website. While it is certainly dramatic and unusual, the 128-yard par three fails to meet the standard of being a good golf hole. The very uphill shot is in to a blind green that slopes hard from right to left. While the hole may be a little severe, the view is worth the climb.

Looking back from the third green

The fourth is another par three that plays down from this great perch. The 146 yard, drop shot features yet another jaw-dropping view. While the hole is not strategically very interesting, it rates very high on memorability. It is possible to knock a ball off of the cliff, if a big hook is your preferred ball flight.

The fifth may be the strongest hole on the course, measuring 243 yards. It plays out to the end of a point and requires a well struck running approach. As to be expected at Shishkine the backdrop is magnificent. It as at this point that the golfer realizes just what a special place Shishkine is.

The sixth hole may be my favorite. This drivable par four (275 yards) plays over the brow of a hill, into a green set in a bowl beneath a hillside covered in gorse. With out of bounds right and gorse left, a solid tee shot is a must. The fairway is the most rumpled in golf and will add a level of difficulty to the approach shot of anyone who decides to lay back. This is just a flat out fun hole.

The green on the sixth

The 172 yard seventh is appropriately called the Himalayas- another blind shot to a green devoid of hazards

The seventh green from on high. Short right is clearly the place to miss.

The eighth is listed as a par four even though it is only six yards longer than the fifth at 249 yards. The gorse on the left is obviously dead. The green is protected by a small pot bunker on the right but will allow a ball to be run on from the left.

The 506-yard ninth is a wonderful short par five. The hole features a burn that crosses the fairway about 100 yards from the green and some big bold contours including one that will shed balls trying to run onto the left side of the green.

The beautiful vegetation along the burn that crosses the 9th and 2nd holes.

The ninth at Shishkine could hold its own on any course in the world

The most straight-forward hole at Shishkine, the 163 yard tenth is just a short iron if down wind. Into the wind keeping the ball below the wind from this elevated tee can be a challenge.

A view of the tenth green from the right side.

The 209-yard 11th is a long par three that plays to a classic punchbowl green. A long iron or hybrid is necessary to carry the ridge and feed the ball onto the green. Another fun hole

Unfortunately, the light failed on the last, so no images. The 12th is a little par three to a green set on a ridge and guarded by bunkers- a fitting end to a quirky, short, and fun golf course.

For more visuals on Shishkine:

If you find yourself on Arran, Shishkine is located on the opposite side of the island from Brodick, where the main ferry lets out. The Blackwaterfoot Lodge is a nice place to stay and has a quaint bar in the lobby. Both it and the larger Kinloch Hotel are just a short walk from the course. As for food, I highly recommend Creelers near Brodick- great local seafood prepared simply and expertly.

]]> http://punchbowlgolf.com/2009/07/shishkine-golf-tennis-club/feed/ 1 http://punchbowlgolf.com/2009/07/castle-stuart-bonus-material/ http://punchbowlgolf.com/2009/07/castle-stuart-bonus-material/#comments Wed, 15 Jul 2009 09:35:22 +0000 Will Smith http://punchbowlgolf.com/?p=1362

This week is Open week, so we are all Scotland all the time at PB Golf. Here is a little more material about Castle Stuart, which opened this week on July 13th. It is a stunning looking course and I am sure it plays as well as it looks because it is the product of the collaboration between Mark Parsinen and Gil Hanse, two gentlemen with a track record of producing thoughtful and inspiring courses. For some of the distinctive features of Castle Stuart, check out this additional  video on the course’s website.

While PB Golf will soon feature Colin’s review, we would love to hear the thoughts of anyone lucky enough to have played the course.