So big tip of the hat to Golfchick for finding a fascinating piece noting that a new world record hole-in-one was recorded at the 18th hole at Ko’olau in Hawaii. While the distance is listed at 448 yards, the short cut Bret Meson took was surely shorter as he carried to cross-hazards to take the direct line instead of the measured path to the fairway and then...
Yes, that’s right, yesterday the AWITP team sat down and talked with the legendary Pete Dye. (Well, he talked, we just listened!) As soon as editing is completed, some snippets will be published here and at Golf Observer. Our greatest living designer opened up about everything from his brilliant wife Alice and how she made Sawgrass and PGA West more playable...
After spending many years working with Pete Dye, Tim Liddy has made waves with some terrific designs of his own, such as The Trophy Club near Indianapolis. Tim took time out to talk about his formative years. Soon, we’ll have some deep xs and os on his Indiana designs. What were your first memories of the game as a kid? I started playing golf with a grade...
Since forming his own design firm in 1997, Colorado’s Jim Engh has won four “best new course” awards from Golf Digest, been named “Golf Architect of the Year” in 2003 (ahead of such luminaries as Fazio, Dye, Jones and Doak), built a reputation for getting world class work done on time and under budget, landed one gorgeous site after...
Part one of this article is here. Strantz’s eyes light up as he roars “Forrest Fezler, my design partner is a perfect compliment to me. We are brothers in arms. I saw that Fu Manchu moustache and I knew I had my man.” Together, they let it roll as high as it would go, creating scorching, towering golf adventures without being contrived or campy...
I had the chance to catch up with Jim after he returned from his annual vacation to Hawaii with Monie and the kids (Brian 10 and Bailey 8). Here are some of his thoughts. Look for a longer article soon in my column for Golf Observer. Jay: How was the vacation? Jim: Oh it was great. Every year in the winter, we go to Hawaii. I rarely play any golf there. Instead...
Just keep going until you can’t go any further. Then go further, because the moves you make then – when you’ve run out of steam and you’re totally on subconscious and not even thinking about the mechanics – the moves you make then are incredible. – Jeff Buckley Musician Jeff Buckley was talking about himself, but he was speaking...
The first part of my article on Redlands is here. Below, you’ll find the UPDATED star system ratings, based on the SEVEN star system. Most of Engh’s unique design elements are present at Redlands. His trademark squiggly muscle bunkers are placed “randomly” – i.e. where the land accepts them, not at any specific distance from the tee...
Please note: Part one of the interview is here. Tom answered some Qs by email, others by tape. In two cases, we hit the same topic twice. Enjoy. Jay: We know that you love telling people the joys of being a minimalist. What do you do different in building golf courses? What’s unique about a Tom Doak design? Tom: You know it is very had to define. I think I see...
JIM ENGH – PLAYING THE ENGHLES Since forming his own design firm in 1997, Colorado’s Jim Engh has won four “best new course” awards from Golf Digest, been named “Architect of the Year” in 2003 ahead of such luminaries as Fazio, Dye, and Doak, built a reputation for getting world class work done on time and under budget, landed one...
I’m still busy compiling all my notes from the Michigan trip, but after a wonderful round at the charming, refined and eminently natural Crystal Downs (Alistair Mackenzie, 1932) Tom Doak shared some thoughts over chili dogs and root beer at the Frankfort, MI A&W stand. JF: How did you pick Northern Michigan for a home base? Doak: While I was in college, I...
The full interview will follow, but here are some snippets of the interview I did with Jim Engh, Golf Digest’s architect of the year in 2003. JIM ENGH IN HIS OWN WORDS JF: What’s the most important goal for you in creating a successful design. Engh: For me, it’s all about options. The more ways to play a hole and get a ball close to the pin, the...
JF: Tiger, Phil, Ernie and Vijay all challenge each other to a one hole, winner take all televised $1 Million Shootout. What public hole of yours will you take them to play? Silva: #17 at Red Tail. It’s tough to pick your line and it would tempt those long hitters to try to drive the green. Eagle might win! JF: It’s even a challenge for the amateur to...
He’s never at a loss for words, never wanting for a laugh, never lacking a story and never ceases to berate himself with self-deprecating humor. Boston golf course architect Brian Silva calls himself a “golf artichoke.” If he means infinite layers, depth, complexity and great taste, then the analogy is perfect. Silva is only 5’7″ in...
Short on time and long on work, Maples enlisted not one shaper, but four different ones at Little River Farm. He had laid out the basic sites for each of the eighteen holes previously and noted four different terrains, each of which comprised a stretch of four holes. Four shapers would speed the building timetable significantly and each could tackle four holes in...