Before his death in 2000, at age 93, Robert Trent Jones designed and remodelled some 400 courses in 45 states in the U.S. and in 35 foreign countries - making him one of the most prolific golf course designers of the 20th century.
The following is an extract from the book ‘Golf’s Magnificent Challenge’ written by Robert Trent Jones with Larry Dennis.
What is it, really, that makes a golf course great?
Bob Jones had perhaps the best definition. He believed that a great course must be a source of pleasure to the greatest possible number of players and that it requires strategy, the use of the mind, as well as skill, the God-given use of muscles. If it lacked these aspects, it could not continue to hold the player’s interest. He also felt that it must give the average golfer a fair chance, at the same time demanding the utmost from the more skilled player.
I could not agree more.
Beauty alone, although it certainly adds to the pleasure of playing, does not necessarily make a course great. One of the best expressions I’ve ever heard is that “there is no golf in some courses.” That means the course is dull. It has no feel to it. It may be flat, the greens not built up, the bunkers are all looking the same. It has no variety, no flexibility, no challenge. It simply lacks character. The basic ingredients of greatness is character, that quality of strong, individual factors that make a hole and a course stand out over others.
It boils down to playing value, which translates into shot values. They are inextricably entwined. Shot value simply means the premium placed on a particular shot, and it is dependant on the ability of an individual to perform that shot. At the same time, the parameters must be clearly defined. A perfect shot must be rewarded. A shot slightly off target should give the player some difficulty in executing his next stroke. A bad shot should carry with it a penalty, forcing the player to make a skilful shot to recover. And the values of a hole should be clearly defined, so that the player can see at a glance what he is faced with, whether it be rough, bunkers, boundaries, trees, water or simply poor position. He should know his opportunities and his restrictions. How he reacts to these determines his worth as a player.
Considering that, we are really talking about degrees of difficulty. And we are talking about fair for all levels of golfers. If a professional can hit an 8-iron 140 yards but you must use a 4-iron to cover the same distance, then a particular hole location on the green might be fine for him but would be terribly unfair for you. So the architect must find a way to get you closer to the green for your approach shot or provide a hole location on the green that you will be able to reach.
