As captain of the USA Keegan Bradley accepted, the organization of the course in this year Ryder Cup turned against the Americans. In the eyes of many architecture lovers, this did not happen Black Bethpage any favor or. The gentler terrain and less rough roads muted many of the layout’s quirks – proof that even A-list designs can lose their edge when conditions conflict with an architect’s intent.
Bethpage appeared on a recent episode of Destination golf podcast, where my co-host Simon Holt and I discussed a broader, presentation-related question: does conditioning affect ranking? It’s a timely topic, as GOLF is set to release its latest World Top 100 list on November 19.
GOLF does not set any strict criteria for its ranking. Evaluators bring their own judgment to the task. Among the many factors they consider is the relationship between conditioning and design. In theory, they should be able to take context into account. A course like Brotherin Scotland, for example, it naturally tends towards rural conditioning. As Simon points out in the video, that weaker presentation wouldn’t cloud his view of the architecture itself.
However, presentation matters. A course shown in its best light allows its design to “sing”. Simon offered Royal Melbourne as a perfect example. It shines when fairways are hard and run, when a ball that’s slightly off line slides into an awkward stance or awkward angle—just as the architect intended. Take away that jumping and flipping, 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 “big” with “green,” following the velvety hues of the Masters. Consequences can cut both ways. Augusta has the resources to preserve his turf as an unbroken emerald blanket by keeping the earth properly. Not every club can do that. Many courses that aspire to that emerald glow end up masking their natural character—and sometimes, their architectural merits.
Presentation shapes perception. It also affects the game. To what extent the ranking is skewed 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.
