As American captain Keegan Bradley admitted, the course format at this year’s Ryder Cup backfired on the Americans. In the eyes of many architecture enthusiasts, it also did Bethpage Black no favors. Soft grass and rougher fairways muted many of the layout’s features – proof that even A-list designs can lose their edge when conditions clash with an architect’s intentions.
Bethpage was brought up on a recent episode of the Destination wave podcast, where my co-host Simon Holt and I discussed a broader, presentation-related question: does conditioning affect rankings? It’s a hot topic as GOLF prepares to announce its latest World Top 100 list on November 19.
GOLF does not impose strict criteria for its rankings. Evaluators bring their own judgment to the task. One of the many factors they take into account is the relationship between conditioning and design. In theory, they should be able to take context into account. For example, a course like Brora, in Scotland, naturally tends towards rustic conditioning. As Simon notes in the video, that dirtier presentation wouldn’t cloud his view of the architecture itself.
Still, presentation is important. A course shown in its best light makes the design ‘sing’. Simon cited Royal Melbourne as the perfect example. Its brilliance comes to life when the fairways are firm and flowing, when a ball slightly out of alignment lands in an awkward position or angle – just as the architect intended. Take away that bouncing and rolling, and you take away a lot of the fun and strategy.
No conversation about course conditions is complete without a nod to the Augusta effect. For decades, golfers have been conditioned to equate “great” with “green,” seeking the velvety tones of the Masters. The consequences can cut both ways. Augusta has the resources to preserve its turf like a blanket of unbroken emerald, and at the same time keep the soil sufficiently firm. Not every club can achieve that. Many courses that strive for that emerald glow end up masking their own natural character – and sometimes their architectural merits.
Presentation shapes perception. It also affects the game. How much this tilts the rankings may be difficult to quantify, but there is little doubt that it is part of the equation.
You can hear the full conversation in the video above.
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