Links Corner Forum

I am looking to start another course and I have drawn up the following shortlist:

Course: THE COUNTRY CLUB (Clyde/Squirrel)
Length : 6753
Par: 70
Location: Chestnut Hill, Mass.
Designer(s): Willie Campbell (1895) / Alex Campbell (1902) / Gil Hanse (2012)

Course: THE OLYMPIC CLUB (Lake)
Length : 6934
Par: 71
Location: San Francisco, Ca
Designer(s): Sam Whiting (1924) / Bill Love (2016)

Course: PIKEWOOD NATIONAL G.C.
Length : 7649
Par: 72
Location: Morgantown, W. Va.
Designer(s): J. Robert Gwynne & John Raese (2009)

Course: PASATIEMPO GOLF CLUB
Length : 6500
Par: 70
Location: Santa Cruz, California
Designer(s): Dr. Alister Mackenzie

Before I make my decision, (and it may be none of the above), are there any designers working on any of these courses?

Thank you,

Ian

Eddie Schmidt has made a version of The Country Club, it has been a while since it was released (2003), but while I really wish 18th and perhaps some other hole had better pin options for challenging conditions, I still find it enjoyable. Therefore maybe I would recommend one of the other 3, but thats of course 100% up to you!

I remember seeing a video on Pasatiempo 16th hole and thinking "Wow, that seems like such an amazing hole!", too bad the course is so short overall but I'd still be excited to see it being made, I feel like I've heard good things about Olympic Club so Im sure I'd be excited for that one as well, dont know much about the last one but I bet I wouldnt be less interested in that one either. Good luck with whatever you end up going with, looking forward to it already

Matt Desouza also did a 2K1 version of the Olympic Club. (then there were two )
BTW-whatever happened to those other legendary designers like Eddie?

John Brooks also did a 2003 version of Olympic. I guess I'd vote for Pasatiempo.

Here's hole 16 green in Jack Nicklaus 6

PASATIEMPO GOLF CLUB is my vote

Here's a vote for The Country Club, site of the 2022 US Open.

The Schmidt version seems fairly dated to me. Compared with his more recent courses such as Bull Run and Kill Devil there is a world of difference.
All courses designed in the last 5 years are so much more detailed, it's incredible.

Wade Hampton is a great example of how far course design has come.

I live about 2 miles from the Country Club and have played it, caddied it and watched numerous tournaments there.

I'm not a course designer, so I'm not criticizing but....
- the Tee boxes and greens on the previous version could be greatly improved
- In the most recent US Amateur 2013 held there, 2 holes were changed: # 12 was now a par 5, #14 now a par 4
- Elevation changes could be enhanced on #13 and #15 for example

Just my 2 cents, I don't know how you guys get these courses so close to reality, but I appreciate it.

BL

and heres another vote for pasatiempo
as it has been on my course wish list for YEARS and i'm getting tired of having to play
a different golf game in order to play that course, also yes the other course(s) are old version(s)
but i'd rather have a course thats NOT already availible for links as ian's next project,
then something i've already played several sometimes great rounds on.

I'm with Woody-I like "new blood" to nit pick".
Btw-the are a couple of BETAS that I nit-picked a few months ago.
Just wondering how they're coming along...

Jimbo,
I only have one beta out. Are you thinking of John or Sage?
Ian