Secrets of the Great Golf Course Architects: A Treasury of the World's Greatest Golf Courses by History's Master Designers

391 Pages·2008·48.66 MB·English

by  The American Society of Golf Course Architects

Secrets of the Great Golf Course
Architects
The Creation of the World's Greatest Golf Courses in the
Words and Images of History's Master Designers
Michael Patrick Shiels
American Society of Golf Course Architects
Copyright © 2008 by Michael Patrick Shiels and the American Society of Golf
Course Architects
All Rights Reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any manner
without the express written consent of the publisher, except in the case of brief
excerpts in critical reviews or articles. All inquiries should be addressed to
Skyhorse Publishing, 555 Eighth Avenue, Suite 903, New York, NY 10018.
Skyhorse Publishing books may be purchased in bulk at special discounts for
sales promotion, corporate gifts, fund-raising, or educational purposes. Special
editions can also be created to specifications. For details, contact Special Sales
Department, Skyhorse Publishing, 555 Eighth Avenue, Suite 903, New York, NY
10018 or [email protected].
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Shiels, Michael
Secrets of the great golf course architects: the creation of the world’s greatest
golf courses in the words and images of history’s master designers / Michael
Patrick Shiels & the American Society of Golf Course Architects. p. cm.
9781602393264
1. Golf courses—Design and construction. 2. Golf course architects. I. American
Society of Golf Course Architects II. Title
GV975.S534 2008
796.352’068—dc22
2008027153
Printed in China
This book is dedicated to the memory of Bruce Borland, ASGCA—our friend and
colleague whose career was cut much too short while on a golf course site
exploration mission with golfer Payne Stewart in October, 1999.

Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
INTRODUCTION
WELCOME
CHAPTER 1 - HORSES FOR COURSES
CHAPTER 2 - BULL FIGHTING
CHAPTER 3 - THE BEAR NECESSITIES
CHAPTER 4 - THAT DAMNED YANKEE
CHAPTER 5 - CLIENT CAPERS
CHAPTER 6 - CASHING OUT IN KOREA
CHAPTER 7 - PERSISTENCE PAYS OFF!
CHAPTER 8 - TIMING AND DESTINY LED ME TO FAZIO
CHAPTER 9 - FROM DOODLES TO DESTINY
CHAPTER 10 - BIG DIG . . . BIG BANG
CHAPTER 11 - HE HAD ALREADY KILLED A MAN
CHAPTER 12 - A MEMORABLE SEPTEMBER DAY
CHAPTER 13 - LEARNING FROM ROBERT TRENT JONES
CHAPTER 14 - LEARNING FROM THE PROS AND HANDLING
CRITICISM
CHAPTER 15 - WHY DID IT HAVE TO BE SNAKES?
CHAPTER 16 - PUTTING THE PUZZLE TOGETHER
CHAPTER 17 - A ROYAL FLUSH AND A ROYAL HONOR
CHAPTER 18 - GOURMET DINING BY A MASTER CHEF? OR FAST
FOOD FROM A FRY COOK?
CHAPTER 19 - THE SWIMMING MOOSE
CHAPTER 20 - SAM SNEAD AND CEREMONIAL GOLF COURSE
OPENINGS GONE BAD
CHAPTER 21 - IT’S ALL IN THE PRESENTATION
CHAPTER 22 - WE’RE IN THE POT
CHAPTER 23 - DANGEROUS LIAISONS
CHAPTER 24 - WORLD WAR II WORKS IN PROGRESS
CHAPTER 25 - NAKED MEETINGS, SNAKES, AND BUZZARDS
CHAPTER 26 - FACING JUST ANOTHER EPIPHANY
CHAPTER 27 - FROM PEBBLE BEACH TO THE FAR EAST
CHAPTER 28 - READING THE GRAIN IN BERMUDA GRASS GREENS
CHAPTER 29 - THE TRUE GRIT ABOUT GOLF COURSE
ARCHITECTURE
CHAPTER 30 - SPEAK TO YOUR CLIENTS IN THEIR LANGUAGE
CHAPTER 31 - DIRTY JOBS
CHAPTER 32 - DUBIOUS DYE DEBUT
CHAPTER 33 - AFTER THE BALL
CHAPTER 34 - THE REWARDS OF COLD CALLING
CHAPTER 35 - NO ONE LIKES TO BE TURNED DOWN
CHAPTER 36 - HUNGARIAN GOOSE CHASE
CHAPTER 37 - BACK TO THE FUTURE
CHAPTER 38 - ADMONISHED BY ONE OF GOLF’SGREATEST
CHAPTER 39 - CONTINENTAL COMPLICATIONS
CHAPTER 4 0 - MY FATHER IS NOT JACK NICKLAUS
CHAPTER 41 - NEARLY FATAL EXPERIENCES
CHAPTER 42 - YOU CANNOT FAIL TO BE A SUCCESS
CHAPTER 43 - ETERNAL OPTIMISM—MOVING HEAVEN AND
EARTH
CHAPTER 44 - THE CLIENT KNOWS BEST . . . OR DOES HE?
CHAPTER 45 - WORKING TOGETHER TO OVERCOME—AND
INCORPORATE—CHALLENGES
CHAPTER 46 - FAR OUT FAR EAST
CHAPTER 47 - VIVE LA DIFFÉRENCE!
CHAPTER 48 - MORNING IN INDIA
CHAPTER 49 - LOOK AT CHALLENGES FROM A NEW ANGLE: PLAY
GOLF BACKWARDS
CHAPTER 50 - WHAT A TRIP!
CHAPTER 51 - GOLF COURSE C RATIONS CREATED A GOURMET
FRIENDSHIP
CHAPTER 52 - SONGS AND STORIES
CHAPTER 53 - BUGGED BY BUGS
CHAPTER 54 - WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?
CHAPTER 55 - FATHER’S DAY
CHAPTER 56 - ONC E IN A LIFETIME JOB TURNED LABOR OF LOVE
CHAPTER 57 - TO DREAM THE IMPOSSIBLE DEADLINE
CHAPTER 58 - WE ARE NOT ALONE
CHAPTER 59 - MY MAGNOLIA LANE MASTERS MEMORIES
CHAPTER 60 - ARNOLD PALMER’S DAM IDEA
CHAPTER 61 - JACK AND GARY
CHAPTER 62 - GOING GREEN IN GOLF: THE LESSON OF LINKS
CHAPTER 63 - THE FIRST STEP’S A DOOZY!
CHAPTER 64 - CLOUD NINE OR FIELD OF DREAMS?
CHAPTER 65 - LETTING THE SITE CREATE THE NATURE OF A
COURSE
CHAPTER 66 - ADVENTURELAND
CHAPTER 67 - DON’T BE AFRAID TO GET DIRTY
CHAPTER 68 - LISTENING CAN OVERCOME BARRIERS AND EARN
RESPECT
CHAPTER 69 - ARTISTIC COMPOSITIONS PAINTED BY ARCHITECTS
AND NATURE
CHAPTER 70 - HOG HEAVEN
CHAPTER 71 - WHY AM I IN THIS BUSINESS?
CHAPTER 72 - A FAMILY LABOR OF LOVE
CHAPTER 73 - GROUNDBREAKING DESIGN
CHAPTER 74 - A BENEVOLENT KING
CHAPTER 75 - SIZE MATTERS
CHAPTER 76 - WILD RIDE
CHAPTER 77 - HIDDEN VIEWS AND NATURAL FEATURES
CHAPTER 78 - STORMY WEATHER
CHAPTER 79 - HOW A BAD AIRPLANE SEAT TAUGHT ME COURAGE
CHAPTER 80 - URBAN LEGEND IN THE FAR EAST
CHAPTER 81 - TYPHOON TROUBLE
CHAPTER 82 - A GOLDEN AGE FOR THE GOLDEN BEAR
CHAPTER 83 - BEAR TRACKS AND CLAW PRINTS IN THE MUD
CHAPTER 84 - CULTURAL CURIOSITIES AND DANGEROUS
DECISIONS
CHAPTER 85 - QUESTIONS WITH THE KING
CHAPTER 86 - HOW TO SPOT GOOD GOLF COURSE DESIGN
CHAPTER 87 - THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY
CHAPTER 88 - BEGIN IN DOUBT, END IN CERTAINTY
CHAPTER 89 - DOING BUSINESS IN JAPAN
CHAPTER 90 - BEHIND THE IRON CURTAIN
CHAPTER 91 - FORTUNE, FATE, OR JUST LUCK? SOME VERY CLOSE
CALLS
CHAPTER 92 - SANDBOX TECHNOLOGY—FEELING MY WAY
THROUGH IT
CHAPTER 93 - COSTA RICAN CORNER CUTTING
CHAPTER 94 - FACING DOWN “THE DONALD” TRUMP
CHAPTER 95 - THE TIME I ALMOST QUIT ON ROBERT TRENT JONES
CHAPTER 96 - AN EXPLOSIVE SITUATION
CHAPTER 97 - CLIMBING THE CADDY LADDER
CHAPTER 98 - A TALE OF TWO COURSES
CHAPTER 99 - “ONLY ONE CHANGE,” HE SAID
CHAPTER 100 - TELLING JACK NICKLAUS “NO, THANK YOU”
CHAPTER 101 - BIG TROUBLE ON THE BIG ISLAND
CHAPTER 102 - WHY SO MANY TEES?
CHAPTER 103 - COLLEGE REUNION TURNED HAPPY HOMECOMING
CHAPTER 104 - SNAKEBITTEN, BUT YOU PROBABLY WON’T DIE
CHAPTER 105 - MOO - VING EXPERIENCE
CHAPTER 106 - JACK NICKLAUS DOESN’T HAVE TO PUT UP WITH
THIS!
CHAPTER 107 - EVEN BLEARY EYES CAN YIELD A FRESH LOOK
CHAPTER 108 - MY FIELD OF DREAMS MOMENT
CHAPTER 109 - ANY PORT IN A STORM
CHAPTER 110 - ARE WE SPEAKING THE SAME LANGUAGE?
CHAPTER 111 - INTERSTATE FAIRWAY
CHAPTER 112 - SEPARATION ANXIETY
CHAPTER 113 - TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT
CHAPTER 114 - PECAN PIE
CHAPTER 115 - DANGER OR INTRIGUE ? INSPIRATION ON THE
ROAD
CHAPTER 116 - ODE TO ED SEAY
CHAPTER 117 - HACHI! A JAPANESE COWBOY IN ARIZONA
CHAPTER 118 - WHEN NATURE CALLED
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
ABOUT ASGCA