My Philosophy on Golf Course Architecture

Let me start off by saying that I can be a bit of a golf "snob". Not in the sense that I get frustrated if the cart barn guys don't sufficiently clean my clubs after my round, or that I complain if my Arnold Palmer beverage doesn't have the right mix of lemonade and ice tea, but more in the sense that I truly appreciate nice golf courses. When I spend 4 or more hours of my weekend out on a course, I want it to be somewhere that I am inspired, not somewhere that is unimaginative and poorly maintained.

In May of this year, I played the Canyons Course at BigHorn Country Club in Palm Desert and immediately crowned it as my all time favorite golf course. It was the type of golf course where you want to take a photo on every tee box because of the sheer beauty. Every detail of this course is thought out. I would even argue that every blade of grass is thought of. They probably have sit down meetings with blades of grass to make sure overall course morale is at all time highs. But let's not forget what it takes to be a member at this course, a $350k initiation and over $30k a in anual dues. This isn't for the 1%, this isn't for millionaires, this is for multi-millionaires and billionaires.

The Canyons Course at Bighorn Golf Club - 11th Hole

Aside from being an incredibly exclusive club, the overall design of the course was what really stuck out to me. It was a Fazio masterpiece. From the opening hole to the 18th, every shot was intriguing.

The following day I played Stone Eagle Golf Club, which happens to be across the street. This course is a Tom Doak design and is almost completely different than any Fazio design I have seen. At Stone Eagle, I was paired up with a golf design enthusiast and I began to boast about how phenomenal the Canyons course was. The playing partner looked at me completely unemotional and said, "you like Fazio, huh?".  I really didn't know how to respond, other than to say yes, but I was more curious as to why he responded that way as I felt it was an odd response.

He went on to talk about Coore and Crenshaw and Doak as if they were on a completely different level than Fazio. I really couldn't say much because I hadn't played a Coore and Crenshaw, and we were only a few holes in on the Doak designed Stone Eagle.

Stone Eagle Golf Club

Following the round, I went online to see what the knocks were on Fazio, if any. I felt Planet Golf had an interesting outlook of his work, instead of oohing and aaahing over the top 100 courses, they will provide some critique which I respect. They claim that golf connoisseurs "blame him for escalating course construction costs", and that "at times his layouts start to look fairly similar".

Tom Fazio is the most awarded active American architect in the game.  He as more top 100 courses than any other modern architect. In a game that has so much complexity, I feel that Fazio does an incredible job to relax the mind on the golf course. I have had my most enjoyable rounds of golf playing his courses.

Now that I have played one of Coore and Crenshaws most highly touted golf courses, Streamsong Red, as well as two of Tom Doaks designs, Streamsong Blue and Stone Eagle, I feel that I would have been better equipped to rebuttal my playing partner.

Streamsong Red Course - Coore and Crenshaw

I think I would have asked him, "do you like Blondes or Brunettes"? There is no right answer, they are both great, it just comes down to preference.

The main difference that I have found is that at a Coore and Crenshaw or Doak design, you are dealing with a minimalistic appearance, with a tremendous amount of strategy. It is essentially golf's version of a rubik's cube. You are picking targets and your heart doesn't stop thumping until the final putt goes in on 18.

With Fazio, you must keep your camera nearby because you will never know when you will come across a picture perfect view. The course also sets up with many shots where you are licking your chops.

In the end, what makes golf so great is that it is up to the golfers interpretation to judge.