Topic: Golf Architecture / Forest Resort, Creswick

Hi Midlander

Uncertain when the ‘official’ date for opening will be but we feel that the resort will need some time to operate before the course will be allowed the type of water required to make it playable and good. Assuming we get a good Winter rainfall and a warm Spring, I’d say it would be ready for play in about November/December this year.

However, there is a lot of finishing work required – for example, landscaping around tee surrounds, installation of pathways, tree planting in critical nodes, planting of wetland areas etc – before the golf course will be completely ‘finished’ to our satisfaction. This may take another year or two.

As for Robert, he has had a significant involvement in the design of this course. He spent a considerable amount of time on site with Tony and our team and I really feel the course is better for his involvement.

Cheers
James

Topic: Golf Architecture / Why are they stuffing up 13th Beach?

Sad day to be honest; not only seeing such insulting and hurtful comments being made about my father but now it seems that I am fair game as well. I’m truly at a loss and amazed by such diatribe.

Judge; I find your comments deeply offensive. I came to that ISG Golf day so I could come and meet you guys face to face. Not in anger, but to listen to some of your comments and concerns first hand. I came thinking that the game I love would somehow enable us to be civil and enjoy each others’ company. And now you’re suggesting that I was dishonest in victory that day? You couldn’t insult me more if you had tried.

That’s it. you’ve won.. I’m pulling our involvement from here from this point on. I’ll be instructing the site owner to remove this forum and you can get another patsy to abuse. Tony’s only contribution will be in the form of articles and those who really want to ask him some questions can send him a private email.

Let me say finally that the low way that some of you guys have conducted themselves is beneath the belly of a shark. It’s a real pity that the great game of golf could have somehow involved you in any way. You don’t deserve the honour of playing it; and you certainly don’t deserve anymore of mine or my father’s time.

Topic: Golf Architecture / Why are they stuffing up 13th Beach?

Hi guys

Thanks for your kind words. It’s great to hear the armchair architects so vocal. On 13th Beach, I was down there recently and it looked sensational to me. A couple of changes have been done here and there which I think adds even more to the place.

As for Tony, well he’s been busy working at courses we have under contruction in China. Also, the rude nature of some here has made him feel like you’re not really inteested in hearing from him. Have another look at the comments and tell me what else you’d like him to do.

If there are sensible questions or comments that you want Tony to answer then I’ll have him respond. But don’t expect to get much of his time when you insult him.

James

Topic: Your Favourite Golf Courses / Vietnam golf courses

Hi Tee See

I’m not sure Ocean Dunes has finished construction yet – if it’s the course I’m thinking of, it hadn’t when I was there a month or so ago. The Dalat Country Club (some 80 years old) is a sensational track. Some great holes on it and interesting strategy. Probably needs a bit of work in the not to distant future but overall a good experience. You’ll love Dalat as well – really beautiful city.

Cheers James

Topic: Your Favourite Golf Courses / Portsea

Guys

Let me start by saying that change to Portsea is a difficult thing for anyone to accept; particularly when the course is in as good a condition as it is now. But I think we all need to be a little reasonable and think about the reasons behind the decision to do the subdivision and relocate the clubhouse. Many Clubs around Australia are struggling for the moment; the introduction of many excellent pay-for-play courses has had a huge impact on member based clubs and Portsea is no exception. Just look at the Mornington Peninsula; 20 odd clubs of varying quality and Portsea is at the very end of the line. What is the club to do? Sit on its hands and hope that there will be a sudden surge in memberships when historically the exact opposite has taken place? Hope that it can attract the type of corporate dollar available for conferences and trade days when its current clubhouse just isn’t up to the mark? We all need to face the fact that the cost in maintenance is increasing and the amount of revenue available to clubs is diminishing. And this isn’t a new phenomenon either; for decades, courses have been forced to sell some of its land to ensure the viability of the club as a whole. And that’s really what a committee is tasked with doing; ensuring the Club is viable.

Mac makes a good point in wondering why the incumbent architects haven’t been asked to continue in their role at the Club. There’s no doubt that they’ve done a terrific job over the years and the Club is better for it. The changes done so far have been very well received and there is no doubt they know the course backwards. So why not them? I would suggest it might be the following:

1. The Club has realized for some time that in order to be financially secure in the long term, they will need a huge cash injection. They have land available with existing permits that can ensure that will happen. The incumbent firm has been extremely vocal in its disagreement to the change and so therefore the Club would see that they are at odds with its future plans. How could the Club reinstate them on that basis? It would be very difficult at best.

2. The requirement at the Club now is mainly a planning exercise; no longer a restoration programme. While the previous firm has done a sensational job at restoration, they may not necessarily have been the best fit for a planning exercise. Certainly the Club should expect that they would tender on that basis and provide detailed plans on how a potential solution might work. I personally think it’s a big call to just expect that because they have been great on one front, they shouldn’t have to demonstrate the other. Conversely, our firm has extensive experience in masterplanning for golf and residential estates; in fact there probably isn’t a company in Australia with our golf planning experience. We worked tirelessly to produce the sort of solution that could work on that site and we received the job because of it.

On the topic of whether it’s minor change or other, I guess you could argue that any change to that fantastic course is major. However my comments are really in comparison to many other Clubs who have done work recently; if you consider it on that basis, then maybe you’ll agree.

Lastly; we understand the passion that people have for Portsea. We take the responsibility seriously and look forward to the challenge. It’s going to be a fair time away before any courses changes are done and detailed plans will no doubt be on display for all to see. Who knows, as those changes are being done we might ask Mike to come and give his thoughts and advice. I certainly wouldn’t have an issue with it and either would Tony; ultimately we’ll do whatever is best for the Club.

Cheers
James

Topic: Your Favourite Golf Courses / Portsea

Guys;

*The Club is looking to realize some significant revenue by selling some residential blocks off Relph Avenue; this was unanimously agreed to by its members. There is an existing planning approval for this subdivision.

*We tendered for the work (as did others).

*We made a presentation to the Club (as did others).

*We were appointed.

*The new clubhouse will not be 'taking a huge chunk' out of the existing course; it is instead being proposed to be placed near the current 6th tee.

*There will be

minor

changes required to the course as a result of the new clubhouse location and the subdivision.

*Obviously, the routing of the golf holes will be different because there is a new starting point and to enable two returning nine’s to the new proposed clubhouse location.

James

Topic: Your Favourite Golf Courses / California Golf Courses - Must see

Faldos lovechild

There are so many great tracks in California; many have been mentioned already. In my opinion, you can't go there without checking out The Valley Club of Montecito in Santa Barbara. It's a Mackenzie special. The members there are sensational and the golf is about as good as it gets.

Cheers
James

Topic: Golf Architecture / John Hoy

Nice one lads

Looking to start 2007 a little more positively. Tony will mainly concentrate on articles and questions directed at golf design. He said what he wanted to say; now's the time for more constructive posting.

Tithers, Tony knows that mate; quite a few have said many good and postive things. Might be a little unfair on the extent of his early questions - go back and have a read; some great information there. I think his point is more that a select few are just plain rude and disrespectful - and sit in ivory towers behind the mask of an alias. Surely you can see that's not productive and does little for the profession.

For the life of me I can't understand why you don't ask Tony questions about golf design. This Hoy note is a scoop for you guys; can't we just say - 'thanks Tony'?

J

Topic: Golf Architecture / Awards

I stand by it and so does our company. Tony is an award winning golf designer and an award winning architect (buildings that is). He's won awards for building design back in the 70's - he was certainly awarded with something directly for Goonawarra (which is a golf course) in the 80's. I could list the amount of awards that his courses have received but I just don't have enough time to find them all and them type them all. Needless to say; the guy's great, his courses are great, he's an award winning golf designer; one of the best in the world today. Undisputed.

Move on.

J

Topic: Golf Architecture / Awards

Guys

Here is a link to the same question on the forum some time ago.

http://www.iseekgolf.com/fo...

The response hasn't changed (or deleted as was inferred by one) - many of the courses that Tony has designed over many years have been given so many different accolades (and awards) that he is often referred to as an award winning golf designer.

This is the case in nearly every industry you care to look at.

James

Topic: Golf Architecture / John Hoy

Fred et al.

Tony never said he had that letter; but simply he knew of its contents. Tony is one of the world's foremost experts on MacKenzie and has spent a lifetime doing his own research. He's given you a name; want him to drink the water for you as well?.

James

Topic: Golf Architecture / Overseas Projects

QUOTE: fredd_k @ Nov 15 2006, 06:36 PM

Tony / James,

You guys seem to be away a lot overseas. Any chance you could give us an update on the projects you are working on? I seem to recall a course in Greece was mentioned. Would love to hear about your worldly travels.

Cheers, Freddy

Fred

You're right, we do have some great things going on for the moment overseas (and in Australia as well). This is great time for our company and for promoting Australian golf design on a international stage. We'll share some of projects as they are announced publically by our clients.

Cheers
James

Topic: Golf Architecture / Bethpage Black

Cheers all

Matty, favourite hole was probably 4 or 7. 4 because you have to think about how much of the front bunkers you want to flirt with and then again on the approach past the deep and expansive second ones to an uphill (again very bunkered) green. No easy shots that made you think all the time - one of the guys I played with took an 8 there by being too aggressive. 7 because it's a great hole - when I'm back I'll post some of the yardage book - you'll understand why.

Beancounter, I hit my first tee shot into those trees on the right and I can tell you it wasn't easy to find my ball, let alone get to the green from there. Made bogey there.

Hookedongolf - we played from the whites and on most holes, my smashed drive was short of his from the tips. Call it at least 40 to 50 metres on every drive. Scary...

Judge; didn't play or get a chance to see the Red - how was it?

Blade; I couldn't agree more. I just couldn't believe what I was hearing as the caddy in our group mentioned it. In fairness, you can take a fair bit of distance of it if you can hit through the dogleg.. but still...

James

Topic: Golf Architecture / Henley Update

Hi Michswiss

As I'm in NY I'm unsure exactly the date of opening. Having said that I also understand it to be in October and I can assure you that Tony will be there with bells on. It's been a long time coming - in my opinion, it'll be well worth the wait.

In early next year, I'm going to try and arrange a special ISG Vase day at Henley for all our main forum contributors. It'll be interesting to see what you all think of it.

Cheers
James

Topic: Golf Architecture / Bethpage Black

Andrew, Jeffrey

It's hard to say how I feel about the course. Bethpage, as you know, is set on vast grounds in Long Island. There are 5 courses there and that's really unusual in nearly all parts of the world. What I like most about the Black course was the use of the land from a routing perspective, but also that the course made you think about every shot from tee to green. The strategic positioning of bunkers (and the intimidation of them) was evident throughout the entire round. Quite possibly, many modern day architects miss the opportunity to introduce this type of design into their courses, leaving many golfers with far too many options to avoid trouble. Bethpage on the other hand requires precision play from tee to green and provided as much enjoyment as any course I've played anywhere in the world. You know that to score well you need to play the round of your life - how many other courses can we say that of? I also like the ability for the course to be lengthened at will to reflect the modern game - take hole 7 which they are building a back tee for now; the plan is for it to be 565 yard par 4!!

We played from the white tees and that was hard enough - from the blues it is as true a test as I think available anywhere in the world today.

Jeffrey, I played Woodlands (Donald Ross) in Boston and will be hopefully playing Bel Air and Cypress Point while in California. Very understanding wife.

Cheers
James

Hole 7 - Currently a 553 yard par-5

Topic: Golf Architecture / Bethpage Black

Hi guys

I was fortunate enough to play Bethpage Black yesterday; one because it's very hard to get onto it and the other because I'm on my Honeymoon and my wife was not that keen on the idea.

Got there at 6am and was the third group out. The course is sensational - visually intimidating and a true strategic test. No real easy holes on the course at all and the rough was brutal. It'll be very interesting to see what the scores will be there in 2009 when they grow it even more.

For interest, they had markers on the fairways to show where Tiger hit his drives on his Sunday round at the 2002 Open. I still can't believe some of them.

I'll write more about it when I get back.

Cheers
James

Topic: Golf Architecture / The role of an architect

Alright lads

Let's not get our knickers in a twist. I'm away in NY for the moment on my Honeymoon and Tony has just returned from a major trip in Asia. I'll respond in detail on my return. Meanwhile, I'll have Tony and Ben look at a few things for you.

James

Topic: Your Favourite Golf Courses / The role of an architect

QUOTE: Jack @ Sep 21 2006, 08:15 AM

Only the members of my Gentlemens Club aren't allowed to express our honest opinions in there. Besides, dont you wanna see how much James C manipulates the thread to suit his own needs?

Jack et al. I've got no problem with answering the hard questions. It's just the way it's put; that's all. There's just no need for senseless comments that are put in a very rude and disrespectful way. I delete those comments that are demeaning and disrespectful because I'd like the quality of the posts in Tony's forum to rise above the gutter. Also, I have too much respect for my father to have him read such tripe.

Jack, you have the option to post under your real name so everybody can see who is actually making the comments. You're banned because it seems you're incapable of saying anything even remotely productive. You're no doubt posting under another alias so I'm sure you're not without comment.

Peter, I'll get Tony to have a look at your question and respond.

Cheers
James

Topic: Golf Architecture / Commonwealth GC

Fredd.

That post could be just about the most insensitive thing I've ever come across. I find it extraordinary that you feel the need to kick my father like that; obviously the game of golf has never taught you any of the lessons that most people cherish and understand.

Enough wasted breath.

Topic: Golf Architecture / Commonwealth GC

Hi Freddy

I hope you understand that it's not my place to announce a decision made by the Club on a public forum. There are protocols in place; no doubt the information will flow through in the next few days.

I think the Club needed to see what was a right for them and made the decision accordingly. We enjoyed working there very much and would have liked it to continue but we also appreciate that the evolution of a Club may use several designers before they find one that will suit their overall vision. On this occasion that wasn't us. Pretty simple really.

Thanks for your interest though Freddy; hope you find some valuable information within this forum as there as some terrific posters here.

Cheers
James

Alphonse; very productive comments there - you truly personify the spirit of the game in every post you write. Keep it up!

Topic: Golf Architecture / Commonwealth GC

Thanks Freddy; great to have you on board.

Commonwealth is not one we can really talk about right now. The Club is in the process of selecting a golf architect for all ongoing works and from their correspondance to me this morning, it will not be us.

While deeply disappointing for our firm, the chosen architect will no doubt do a fine job there and could better brief you on what he and the Club might have in mind. PM me and I'll shoot you his details.

James

Topic: Rules of Golf / Apple thrown onto green - what would have happened if...

Cheers St Andrews - I seem to remember something like that but wasn't sure. To follow that scenario, if the apple had been thrown and come to rest before Tiger's moving ball had hit it, then deflected - rub of green - right? Could have been a totally different result.

Can't believe anyone would be so stupid to do something like that - I'm all for spectators getting close to play but we've got to stamp that behaviour right out of the game IMO.

Topic: Rules of Golf / Apple thrown onto green - what would have happened if...

it had hit Tiger's ball? For those that didn't see it, Tiger was on the 17th green this morning putting for birdie. He hit his putt and was watching it tracking left of the hole when an apple (obviously thrown by a spectator) came fairly close to his ball while it was rolling. If the apple had hit his ball and say gone off the green into a bunker, what would have been the ruling?

Anyone?

J

Topic: Golf Architecture / The Dunes

Up and down

Great question; the answer is invariably NO. The conditioning of any course obviously comes down to the time of year and the availability of resources at the disposal of ground staff. The strategy set is another story all together. There are usually recommendations that the course architect will leave to the incoming maintenance staff but the reality is that they will often set their own way of doing things based on traffic on the course, maintenance budgets allowed and what they perceive is appropriate based on their experience. Generally on new projects we have a superintendent engaged before the first turn of soil and they will work together with the architect throughout the construction period. Doing this usually enables a ‘meeting of minds’ and limits the 'Maverick' approach considerably.

The Dunes is another whole thing entirely. The staff really has done a terrific job out there when you consider how many rounds are being played on it per year; it’s still the most successful course down on the Mornington Peninsula. I’ll put a couple of calls out to get you some more information of the status of their mowing patterns. Certainly 3 metres seems extraordinary.

Glad you enjoyed your round. How did you play?

Cheers
James

Topic: Ask Bruce / Steve Wiliams discusses Tiger's victory

Great interview Bruce

Love to see you roaming the green fields on TV; that would definitely be worth watching.

Well done
James