An in-depth look at the design synergies created by the work of Perry and Press Maxwell at Prairie Dunes Country Club When the membership of Prairie Dunes Country Club decided, almost 20 years after the opening of what was described as the greatest nine hole golf course in America, to have Press Maxwell complete theContinue reading “GREATER THAN THE SUM OF ITS PARTS – PRAIRIE DUNES”
Category Archives: Golf Course Tours
HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT – CROOKED STICK
The fifth edition of this season’s Upping My Dye-Q series asserts that Crooked Stick is among the three most important courses in the history of golf architecture in America Golf course architecture in America has been marked by several eras, each with a short list of courses that epitomize the craft in their time. EarlyContinue reading “HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT – CROOKED STICK”
CREATIVITY WITHIN CONSTRAINTS AT LOST DUNES
A look at the relationship between design constraints and creativity at the Tom Doak designed Lost Dunes Golf Club Spend any time on GolfClubAtlas or Twitter, and it becomes apparent that many armchair architects live in their own world. It’s a place without limits, where any tree can be cut, budgets are infinite, interpersonal politicsContinue reading “CREATIVITY WITHIN CONSTRAINTS AT LOST DUNES”
THE WELCOME MAT IS OUT AT AIKEN
A look at what makes the McNair family’s Aiken Golf Club a place that any geek would love to call home A knock against golf in America is that it is unwelcoming. The game itself is intimidating for beginners. Just getting the ball airborne and ultimately into the hole is hard enough, but there areContinue reading “THE WELCOME MAT IS OUT AT AIKEN”
SUNSET SPECTACULAR AT ARCADIA BLUFFS
How to experience the magic of twilight golf on the water at the Warren Henderson designed Arcadia Bluffs Who doesn’t love chasing the sun on a golf course? As the golden hour gives way to the gloaming, the game’s most magical moments have a way of materializing. Add to that time of day a largeContinue reading “SUNSET SPECTACULAR AT ARCADIA BLUFFS”
STEAM SHOVEL SCULPTING AT MAXINKUCKEE
The fourth edition of this season’s Upping My Dye-Q Series speculates on the influence of Langford & Moreau’s work at Maxinkuckee Country Club on the Dyes In order to truly understand and appreciate the work of an architect, it is necessary to look at their sources of inspiration. After all, there are very few (ifContinue reading “STEAM SHOVEL SCULPTING AT MAXINKUCKEE”
FROM CHRISTMAS TREES TO GREEN FEES AT CHAMPION HILL
The story of the Stone family’s Northern Michigan journey into golf course construction and ownership at Pinecroft and Champion Hill “Are you going to play Champion Hill this time?” My golf buddy Ben knew that I was making trips to Northern Michigan and he would text me this question every time I posted a photoContinue reading “FROM CHRISTMAS TREES TO GREEN FEES AT CHAMPION HILL”
WHAT’S IN A NAME – LONGUE VUE
A LinksGems course tour and appreciation of the Robert White designed Longue Vue Club by Jon Cavalier Much attention is paid to National Golf Links, Oakmont, Cypress Point and their peers, and for good reason. But it also useful and enjoyable to shine a light on a lesser known, but very worthy golf course. LongueContinue reading “WHAT’S IN A NAME – LONGUE VUE”
LIGHT BULB MOMENTS AT THE LOOP
A look at Tom Doak’s brilliant reversible design, The Loop at Forest Dunes Golf Club “Golf is a science, the study of a lifetime, in which you can exhaust yourself but never your subject.” – David Forgan A golf course that can be readily grasped after a single round is not likely to ever beContinue reading “LIGHT BULB MOMENTS AT THE LOOP”
COURSE WORK AT KAMPEN
The third edition of this season’s Upping My Dye-Q series takes a look into the multi-dimensional Kampen Course at Purdue University’s Birck Boilermaker Golf Complex As an alum of the University of Illinois, it is not easy to give praise to Purdue. The simple truth, however, is that the golf geeks in West Lafayette haveContinue reading “COURSE WORK AT KAMPEN”