Historical classic courses of the Continent is paid to attention again

                                                     Kawana Fuji #15  1937


C.H.Alison visited Japan in Dec 1930 -1931
He designed Hirono, Kawana, and Tokyo GCAsaka cse(missing links).
And, he advised redesign work of Kasumigaseki, Naruo, Ibaraki, and Fujisawa.
He is course designer who has been worshiped most in Japan.
The deep bunker made in sand flash is called "Alison 's bunker" in Japan.
An amusing name, there is such a bunker anywhere in the world.

                                              Missing Links Fujisawa CC #18


Alison told the definition of classic design in Japan.
But, it was quoted by mistake by the few course designer after the war.
It is a gospel passed on mistaking it like the story of The DaVinci Code of Dan Brown.
In fact, golf course established after the war, and course equal to the world level
has only little.

                                                Tokyo GC 1941 original designed by Komyo Ohtani

Alison told the composition of layout (routing) of 18 holes.
and, the strategic classic theory by cross-fairway bunkering to Japanese.
However, many of Japanese paid attention only to the sense of beauty of green and bunkers.
The Japanese who correctly understands the theory of the Alison might be only Komyo Ohtani.
He was original designer of present Tokyo GC 1941.
also, he made Kawana fuji course based on the drawing of Alison with Kinya Fujita.
and Prof. Marumo.
but, to our regret, many of original works of him are remodeled.
They deleted cross-fairway bunkers of Ohtani.
It was the most important point of his classic concept

                                                       Golf de St.Germain #7     Colt &Alison

                                                        Hamburger GC Falkenstein    Colt&Alison&Morrison


I recommended the work of Colt & Company of the Continent and UK heathland to be
inspected to the Japanese to correct it.
The reason for there is that the site scale of golf course is almost the same as Japan.
However, a lot of Japanese visit to Scotland links and US Top100 courses.
And, they are comparing own discernment with land in Japan.
They had made a mistake in the place that had to be learnt.

                                                             Golf de Chiberta  #18    Tom Simpson


When Tom Doak contributed for Top100 ranking editor of Golf Magazine 1990's.
He asked me, nomination couse list from the Continent.
At that time, I already played 358 courses in the Continent so.

Hamburger Falkenstien, Frankfurter from Germany,
Utrechtse De Pan, Kennemer, Haagsches(Royal Hague)from Netherland,
St.Germain, Le Touquet(Mer), Granville, Chantilly, Fontainebleau,
Chiberta, Hardelot Pins  from France
Royal Zoute, Royal Antwerp, Royal Belgique, Roayl Fagnes from Belgium
Bielle le Betulle,I Roveri, Torino Mandria, Milano,Circolo Venezia from Italy.
These courses that I recommended,
There were a lot of works of Colt & Company and Tom Simpson.
However, the high appraisal was not able to be received from panelists.
The cause was maintenance & course conditioning.
An important part of Esthetics was insufficient.
It was considerably inferior compared with golf course of the United States.
It is true in them to have valued original design.
But, any good golf courses need  improve and renovation some time.

                                                     Royal Blegique  #1&#2      Tom Simpson 

                                    Golf de Granville    Colt&Alison        George Peper's  favorite


Recently, old golf courses of the Continent accomplished big evolution.
My friend's Noel Freeman & other few panelists traveled around
the Continent.few years ago
And, they have reported on the value of classic design of St.Germain,
Royal Hague,and De Pan to us.
Noel & Ran Morrissett reported on it in detail with web-site of Golf Club Atlas.
Also, Brian Schneider who the partner of Tom also visited the Netherlands
and he researched the work of Colt & Company.
The experience in his Continent might surely be useful for the future.

To the inspection report from panelists
Joe Passov who is our ranking editor kept the door open to
historical courses of the Continent again.

                                                      Haagsches(Royal Hague)  # 7

                                                           Kennemer     #17

                                                      Utrechtse GC De Pan #10

One that offers us the topic of Continent is Frank Pont.
He is Dutch course designer.
And, he is an expert who has been researching the work of Colt and Simpson.
Frank renovated work Royal Hague and De Pan,Kennemer,Roayl Fagnes etc.
And, important esthetics revived by his work.
Golf course has a correct capture route and the strategy there.

Historical classic courses of the Continent is paid to attention again now.


MASA

Old Macdonald vs Castle Stuart

                                                           Old Macdonald GL #8

Old Macdonald and Castle Stuart paid attention to most in this year's course ranking.
A lot of journalists & specialists had visited either courses before pre open.
And, their evaluation was high like promising the Top100 rank.
We are interested that which course obtains a high ranking
Old Macdonald or Castle Stuart,Which course do you evaluate high?
It is common that the name of two architects has been described by the course design.
Old Madonald designed by Tom Doak and Jim Urbina.
Castle Stuart is Gil Hanse and Mark Persinen.
Jim contributed as project foreman with Pacific Dunes and Sebonack.
And, his name is described for the first time as architect in Old Macdonald.

                                                            Castle Stuart  #10

Gil was a design partner of Tom until 1993.
The last joint work of them was Stonewall GC of Pennsylvania.
They were doing both joys and sorrows when they were young.
And, they were absorbed in the research of classic design.
Therefore, their design has commonness to classic concept.
It is to entrust 70% of the design to geographical features in land.
They do not move a large amount of soil by the layout.
They importantly take contour of nature to the design.
Slope line of nature is the most important in golf course design.

                                      L) Gil Hanse  R) Tom Doak  The Creek Club NY 1989

What should make a special mention most in the talent of Tom is "routing plan".
You will be able to learn it with Pacific dunes, Ballyneal, and Cape Kidnappers,etc.
It is the most important part in greatest course.
Tom demonstrates a talented ability there.

                                                           Pacific Dunes #11

As you know, Pacific dunes is route plan of one loop.
However, Tom put in the idea of two loops,
Do you remember, #7 green and #8 tee box are laid out to the left of #1 tee box?
In a word ,the composition of two loops is as follows.
#1-#2-#3-#13-#14-#15-#16-#17-#18,
#8-#9-#10-#11-#12-#4-#5-#6-#7
He is a genius.

Wonderful of the work of Gil is in the construction of green complex 's.
You will be impressed by it with Castle Stuart and The Boston GC.

                                                            Boston GC #15

We can see the talent of Gil also with his renovation work.
I give praise to his renovated work of LA CC North,Sleepy Hollow CC,
and Tokyo GC of Japan.
However, I was small disappointed at course maintenance of Tokyo GC.
It is damage of turf by the intense heat of the summer of last year.
The problem continues this year,...why?
Is the technology of the maintenance of the Japan insufficient?

                                                              Tokyo GC #1

                                                                LA CC North

                                                               Sleepy Hollow CC


While Old Macdonald receives the high appraisal,
I was disappointed at the article on one golf journalist.
He wrote about Old Macdonald as the replica of Lido GC.
Lido GC was course of C.B.Macdonald that had become "Missing Links"
during the world war II.
However, if the material of Lido GC is examined, we understand it is
different clearly.

                                                             Old Macdonald #6

Old Macdonald is not a replica of course of which C.B. Macdonald either.
There is Old Macdonald with capture and the strategic characteristic as the theme
of famous holes, Double Plateau, Biarritz, Eden, Cape, Redan , Road etc
It is necessary to evaluate Old Macdonald correctly.
You may learn it by DVD "A Journey to Golf Past.Cresting Old Macdonald"
 produced by Michael Robin.

Tom Doak, Gil Hanse
They are authorities of modern classic design.
And, they are important friends of mine a long time.
Especially, Tom and his wife Jenny.
and his son Michael Doak


MASA


**********************************

TRAVEL TIP

It was almost 30 years ago.
I stay at Dornoch Castle Hotel.
And, the hotel owner invited me to links of Dornoch.
The experience of first Links course for me.

                                              Dornoch Castle Hotel  1983

A lot of friends say.
"Your first links is Royal Dornoch? ! You were the luckiest man in the world ! "
I return to Royal Dornoch whenever going to Scotland.
And, I stay again in Dornoch Castle Hotel.
When I stayed for the first time there, an old tower house(Bishop's palace)with history
from the 16th century
However, it is redecorated to the luxury hotel of four stars now.

.                                            Present Dornoch Castle Hotel   2010.

MASA

***********************************

Recent situation of golf course development of Asia

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　StoneForest Leaders Peak(C)  #15 PAR4 382yrds

 A central government of China announced
the golf course development ban officially again
It was already announced officially in 2004.
However, after 2004, 300courses has been born
in China.
The many are the one that the development permit was obtained from the local government.
The golf population of China has increased rapidly.
but,  a lot of Golfer will not be able to pay member fee of high priced.

                                             Stone Forest Leaders Peak(C) #12 PAR3 201yrds

Excellent public course is necessary for China of the future.
Stone Forest GC that exists in World Heritage of Shilin.
One and Leader Peaks C course in that are masterpieces of Brian Curley.
However, the suspension of business instruction was given from a central government in June.
The news struck close to home to Golf course mania all over the world.
It is told that the leased land problem of the farmland is a cause.
but, is the problem only it? I don't think so.
There must be a right to see everyone in the wonderful scenery as much as
Shilin StoneForest Park of World Heritage.
Leader Peaks course should be open to the public.
It offers the hefty profit to the town of Shilin.
Does a Chinese government request suspension of business even so?

                                                          Great Sand Dunes DaNang


The golf course development of Vietnam is a resort project that the government
combines with the enterprise. DaNang was the starting point.
A grand sand dune belt continues to the coastline.
The development of wonderful golf course can be expected there in the future.

                                                         Danang GC #5  PAR5 575yrds

                                                         Danang GC #8  PAR3 175yrds

Danang golf club was nominated to the Asian amateur championship.
Starting holes(#1-#3) of Danang is wonderful.
The design concept in the sand dune belt is expressed with these 3 holes.
4 holes is drive-able 4. two holes becomes possible by the season.
This is an interesting idea.

                                                         Danang GC #16  PAR3 148yrds

The regrettable one is to be done laid out only 1hole to ocean front.
It's signature hole of #16 Par3..
Developer gave priority to the villa development.
However, Danang GC and Dalat Palace GC of Vietnam are great courses that represents Asia.

                                                       Dalat Palace GC #7 Split Fairway                 

Montgomerie Links located in the next door of Danang GC.
The course was a modern style.  Good course,too

                                                        Montgomerie Links

    

Wonderful Golf course was born in Thailand.
It is Ayodhya Links.
Ayodhya is in the distance of only one hour from Bangkok.
Golf course around Bangkok is in flat geographical features.
It is difficult to make excellent golf course in flat land.
However, Ayodhya has wonderful terrian.
Our panelists are evaluating as best course of Thailand.


MASA


***************************************************

TRAVEL TIP

There is a village of World Heritage by which it should stop when you go to Danang.
It's Hoi An.  just 17km south from Danang GC there.
Hoi An prospered because of the trade of Asia in the 17th century.
Famous bridge of the 17th century. It is called "Japan Bridge".
The Japanese, Chinese, and the Vietnamese jointly built this bridge.
There is a small shrine in the bridge.

The building of the cultural heritage is used also for the hotel, the restaurant, and the cafe.
My friend's Howie Roberts invited me to supper in Hoi An.
He ordered fresh King Prawn.
We were surprised that size.!
The size was almost the same as the lobster. Thanks Howie !!

Please stop by HoiAn after Danang GC and Montgomerie GC.
Memories of your travel are decorated there.


MASA