Tepetonka

OCM has my attention. Their original US work is only beginning to come on line at Fall Line and Luling, though not too many will have played them yet. But early images suggest a possible new flavor for where architecture and design can be heading. I sense a middle ground between, say, the camps of Doak and Coore & Crenshaw compared to perhaps King and Collins, Franz, or Jackson Khan. Something maybe closer to Scott Hoffman, though I haven't seen his work yet.

My initial reaction to OCM is that their work is rooted in a naturalism that doesn't err too far into universal playability. A naturalism with teeth. There's width and angles, but moments of constriction, then approaches and green complexes that visually appear more exacting than perhaps what's been produced at many Dream Golf types of examples in recent years.

As an example, Tepetonka provided a flyover of their entire routing on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DQxDCcckYaz/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

It looks quite good to me. Big, broad land with significant slope. Like it could almost be a midwestern skiing area, but with likely less elevation. Par 4s and 5s are often routed over grand scaled corridors, and the par 3s are nestled into amphitheaters of trees. The land has some deeper ravines from glacier retreat, and a good-sized creek comes close to a few greens.

Initial comparison might be something like High Pointe meets CapRock Ranch? No doubt good courses to be in conversation with.

Some notes I made from the flyover:

The routing seems very compelling. There may be a couple moments of directional back and forth, and the creek system seems to have a pattern of guarding the front and left side of greens/holes. But the par 3s appear in beautiful spots and both the opening and closing holes appear very strong.

1 is a big bold par 5 with a elevated forced carry tee shot--a theme that appears on a handful of holes.

3 is a lovely par 3 downhill over the creek.

4, a par 4, looks to have severe slope right to left with bunkers lining the left side to ostensibly save balls from tumbling into the woods. Then it also has an imposing looking green complex with massive bunkers.

6 has a beautiful natural green site.

8 again strikes a balance of beauty and perceived challenge. Long par 5 with what looks like a perimeter running along entire right hand side.

11! Hogs back potentially drivable par 4 with deflecting slopes falling on both sides the closer you get to the green. Great risk and reward, but with real teeth!

12 another intimate par 3 situated in cedars.

14! Shorter par 5 but with the creek heavily guarding the green.

15! Stunning par 3 guarded by creek left and bunkers right.

16 bunkerless maybe for the entire hole. Expansive forced carry over wetlands or bog (?) with a walking/cart bridge. Elevated green.

Wasn't sure whether to title the thread Tepetonka or OCM more generally. Happy to hear thoughts on both course and the architects.