Brian Decker
Very few things make me happier than taking some interested folks around the course to explain what I’m talking about. I try to show course raters around personally as much as I can for that reason. Be careful what you wish for, though - I don’t really stop talking!
Re: Technical goals of the renovation, that is indeed what we were aiming for - at least partially. We started with an extremely wide resort course and the mission was to make it a credible Tour course. The other part though is, it’s a public course and we want people to see it and say ‘I want to play there.’ The early returns were certainly good, based on tee time and event demand. We’ll see how the reaction continues to evolve after this year’s event. I’d really like if we didn’t have a spring from hell and wildfire smoke hanging around the whole week, because I think the course can show a lot better than it did in ‘25 (and even getting to that point was a huge achievement by the turf team).
Link to commentBrian Decker
Hey thanks! Yes, the aerial broadcast shots did elicit some commentary on the sameness of the bunkers. It doesn’t help that the course is on a relatively narrow piece of land, so those aerial shots always show a few holes at the same time. I will say that we are expecting the bunkers to soften and adjust their shape over time. I am making sure to take lots of same-angle photos yearly to see whether that is indeed the case. We were also initially expecting 2027, not 2025, to be our first Canadian Open so the world got a look at them in a bit more ‘raw’ of a state than expected.
Link to commentWill Knights
Only reason I haven't yet is because I didn't play it during my days on property. Very cool place though. Will be done this year!
Link to commentDale Miller
I would be interested in reading a full course profile for this course!
Link to commentMatthew Schoolfield
I'm definitely not trying to criticize Joseph here. In fact, in all honesty, I'm trying to have it both ways. I'm quite certain I would probably not enjoy TPC Toronto much. It's not designed for a player like me. It's not the type of aesthetic I like. And finally, it's a "championship"-style course, which I generally don't have much fun at, by design.
Still I can appreciate that the post, because it's pointing to a very specific goal for the course which comes with what seems to be reasonable data. I think that stuff is super technical and interesting, and it would make me want to go walk the course with Brian to better understand what he's talking about. If that technical stuff was the goal and it got the result they were seeking, kudos on execution. On the other hand, if the PGA Tour fans don't like the way it plays, looks, and feels, then yea, that seems like a missed opportunity, because that has to be part of the meta-level goal of the course as a tour destination.
Link to commentMatthew Schoolfield
I'm definitely not trying to criticize Joseph here. In fact, in all honesty, I'm trying to have it both ways. I'm quite certain I would probably not enjoy TPC Toronto much. It's not designed for a player like me. It's not the type of aesthetic I like. And finally, it's a "championship"-style course, which I generally don't have much fun at, by design.
Still I enjoyed the read is that it's pointing to a very specific goal of the course which comes with what seems to be reasonable data. I think that stuff is super technical and interesting, and it would make me want to go walk the course with Brian to better understand what he's talking about. If that technical stuff was the goal and it got the result they were seeking, kudos on execution. On the other hand, if the PGA Tour fans don't like the way it plays, looks, and feels, then yea, that seems like a missed opportunity, because that has to be part of the meta-level goal of the course as a tour destination.
Link to commentMike Clayton
Stephanie,
I'm probably around those dates. Lloyd Cole has a concert in Melbourne on the 17th - if you're into his music. He also has one on Hobart - I think added just so he can play 7MB!
We pretty much live at St AB now - a mile down the road from the course - so let's play on the 25th. I assuming you're playing at Portsea?
0417 853 835.Give me a call when you get here.
Link to commentBrian Decker
I have always enjoyed whenever your work wades into the realm of media criticism, since you’ve worked at both legacy media and independent shops. How has your ability to develop relationships with subjects and sources changed, if at all, since being at FEG and NLU vs. The Sun or ESPN?
Link to commentGarrett Morrison
Re: #2 — in Joseph's defense, he thinks and talks about the "game design" aspects of a course very frequently.
Link to commentMike Ihm
Its a part of the package, we added Eden also. Everyone Ive ever talked to who has played it, including brother and buddy say it is not even close to a 0. Hoping its not wet.
Link to commentBen Denison
Piggybacking to say that making a course interesting architecturally and challenging to pros these days is so difficult (and hamstrung by rules enforced by tour on course setup) that I do not pity anyone trying to do it. From watching, I'd take Toronto over Minneapolis any day, though!
Link to commentBen Denison
Make sure to add the famous Doak 0 when you're in Scotland!
Link to commentKevin Merfeld
To me, a good course asks golfers interesting questions in a variety of interesting ways. The best also enhance the 4-plus hours you are spending in nature in a way that is unique to that site.
Of course, asking PROS interesting questions in a variety of interesting ways is incredibly challenging today. The best tournament courses ask the best players in the world to show off their world-class skills. (Wind and firm conditions greatly enhance this.) The worst ask a question that everyone has already solved for, and leave little room for the game’s best to show off their genius through shotmaking and high-variance recovery shots.
So I wouldn’t necessarily ask if a course is bad. I would look at what the course is asking.
Link to commentMatthew Schoolfield
I can’t say whether I agree or not (I’ve never played the course), but I will say that my thoughts course ratings lend themselves to your takes.
1. There is no accounting for taste.
2. People rate courses after a few plays at most. This, by definition, ignores nuances unless they’ve been explained by a member/regular.
3. You are specifically talking about game design aspects of the course, a topic mostly glossed over or at most treated as secondary to shaping these days.
I’m fine with haters, as long as the framing is “I think it’s bad” and not “it is bad,” because people appreciate different things.
Link to commentMike Ihm
Well put together. I think bad is always an aggressive term for courses. Very few are true Doak 0s. Even the worst courses have some merit. I'm sure there are better synonyms to use.
I haven't played the course and honestly didn't watch much of the tourney last year. I do remember the comical aerials with bunker Cs dotting the landscape. I think where everyone tends to fall on TPCs, Joneses, Fazes, Nicklaus, etc, is that they tend to be fast food, edible but lacking. Copy paste deep bunkers on inside of doglegs and fronting flatter occasionally tiered dartboard greens. What "tests" pros for non-majors is typically not interesting because of the sameness pros prefer.
I would guess why it gets so much crap, its hosting a historic National Open and is held to a higher standard.
Hoping the new tour schedule starts to force interesting varied venues.
Link to commentBrent Accurso
How are you navigating golf parenthood with a pretty skilled junior golfer?
Link to commentStephanie Martone
Mike, hi! Will be in Melbourne March 15-20 and Sorrento March 21-25 before heading down to Tasmania. If your schedule allows, would love to coordinate. Right now have St. Andrews Beach scheduled for the 25th but should definitely have flexibility to shuffle things around.
Link to commentJordan Smith
This is a really interesting insight. Great write up as always.
I agree that spring 2027 could be a massive opportunity for the tour. I also have to imagine that baseball fans would be the easiest sports fans to convert to golf. Baseball is another slow paced, low action, high skill/mental game (relative to basketball/football/hockey).
Link to commentCullen Robbins
I would think the problem with allowing play during the winter would be lack of predictability? People can’t plan trips there based on the random days of decent weather, so unless they just open it up to “local” members or allow daily fee (which seems very unlikely), I don’t know how they would do it.
Link to commentStephen Gronsbell
Hi everyone! I’m 42 with little interest in fighting. I live in Buford and grew up in Marietta.
Grew up mostly as a baseball player but played some AJGA (the real AJGA-Atlanta). Spent a lot of time at Legacy, Fox Creek, Marietta City, and Indian Hills. Was lucky to have friends at Atlanta Country Club, and worked the Bellsouth Classic before it moved to Sugarloaf.
I was a member at Hamilton Mill CC for ~5 years but resigned last fall for a variety of reasons. Now enjoying the freedom of playing wherever I want, without the guilt of playing away from my home course. I’ve really enjoyed playing The Chimneys a few times recently. Their conditioning has been outstanding since getting a new GM from Chateau. It’s a far cry from when it was the backup/drinking option when I was at UGA.
I’m new to FEGC and excited to be around other like-minded golf sickos!
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