20 Architects’ Choice Top 100 Golf Courses Tobacco Road North Carolina, USA Mike Strantz, 1998 Tobacco Road is a thrilling and unconventional neighbour to Pinehurst on the site of a former sand quarry. Brandon Johnson of Arnold Palmer Design Company says: “This is the most fresh and unique twist or interpretation of golf course design I have experienced. I love how the reinterpreted aesthetic vision balances sound strategic principles with new or daring ways to play the course and holds this truly remarkable vision together. It is also incredibly fun to play. The visual intimidation or ‘play on optics’ burned images in my mind that are still crystal clear almost ten years later. Truly a masterpiece.” Friar’s Head New York, USA Bill Coore, Ben Crenshaw, 2003 Friar’s Head is the newest of the cluster of Long Island courses that feature in our Top 100. First viewing the site in 1997, it took Coore and Crenshaw multiple visits and many months to finalise the routing, which transitions between natural rolling sand dunes and former farmland. Metropolitan Victoria, Australia JB Mackenzie, 1908 Metropolitan was initially designed by a lesser known Mackenzie, JB, but Dr Alister left his mark after visiting in 1926. Randy Russell says: “I consider it the best relatively flat golf course I have ever played. Its bunkers not only create interesting strategic choices but are some of the most interesting and beautiful I have ever seen.” The Evel Knievel of golf architecture Robin Hiseman of European Golf Design explains why he voted Tobacco Road as his number one course I’m giving my number one vote to Tobacco Road, because it was the course that transformed what I understood to be possible with golf architecture. There are several very creative contemporary golf architects recognised on my list, whose egos really don’t need stoking. Creative and imaginative they may be, but Mike Strantz was all that and a genius to boot. He had the nerve and commitment to try things that others would never dare to. He was the Evel Knievel of golf architects, always looking to jump more buses than anyone thought possible. Sometimes he didn’t make the jump and metaphorically splattered himself all over the field, but he never stopped trying to push the boundaries and ‘The Road’ is his masterpiece. The most entertaining and inspirational course I have ever played. ARCHITECTS’ CHOICE #50 “ I consider it the best relatively flat golf course I have ever played” Randy Russell on Metropolitan ARCHITECTS’ CHOICE #50 ARCHITECTS’ CHOICE #49 ARCHITECTS’ CHOICE #48
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