27 Photo: Tripp Davis Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland is widely seen as the greatest work of Harry Colt. The epic par-three sixteenth/fourteenth (the traditional routing has changed since the course was altered to bring the Open Championship back to Portrush) has a deep ravine to the right that so scared the great South African Bobby Locke that he deliberately missed the green to the left every day of the 1951 Open. The depression he played for has been known as Bobby Locke’s Hollow ever since. Mark Mennell, head greenkeeper at Fulford Golf Club, spotted where Sandy was visiting, and was the first entry out of the hat. Mark, your prized GCA shirt is on the way. Sandy has journeyed to a course that is short by modern standards, but it still very highly regarded. It was designed in the mid 1920s by one of golf architecture’s big names. Know where Sandy is and fancy a shirt? Answers to gopher@golfcoursearchitecture.net. GOPHER WATCH Golf course architect Richard Mandell’s fourth book, published last year, sets out the design process in terms of principles, as referenced in the title, and also elements – the ‘building blocks’ used by designers to create a composition. His first eight chapters are devoted to the latter – line, space, shape, form, texture, colour, scale and nature – exploring their meaning, often with reference to art and architecture, then providing examples of their application in golf design. He then devotes a chapter to each of 27 principles. “The fact there are no hard rules – only principles – is what separates the design philosophy of one person from that of another,” he says. Some of Mandell’s principles, such as variety, visibility and playability, might come as no surprise to the reader. Others are less obvious. Chapters on intention, definition and connection, for example, are thought provoking and might find you looking at golf holes with a new perspective. At 278 pages and illustrated throughout, Principles of Golf Architecture has a depth that will see you returning to the bookshelf for more. $35 plus shipping www.golf-architecture.com Principles of Golf Architecture GOOD READ some of the trouble out of their way, while also making the course more strategically interesting for better players by adding sharper angles and more distance control challenges.” Davis restored Dye-style features, including the depth, shape and sizes of bunkers. “While we made changes to every hole, it was always with an eye to what Pete’s design intent was originally, both stylistically and strategically,” said Davis. “We wanted our work to be a tribute to his style and substance.”
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