Principles of Course Design By Jack Nicklaus
Feb 27, 2015 7:38:49 GMT -5
schatuk, Brionne, and 1 more like this
Post by foolinjection on Feb 27, 2015 7:38:49 GMT -5
I found the old manual for my copy of Jack Nicklaus 6: Golden Bear Challenge the other day.
At the back where it talks about the Course Designer tool it came with, you get a little section on the "Principles of Course Design By Jack Nicklaus".
I thought I'd post the text here as it might be of use to some folks.
Principles of Course Design By Jack Nicklaus
Introduction
Jack Nicklaus is one of the great "shotmakers" in the history of golf. Swing, stroke, the pure mechanics of hitting the ball - these elements of his game have certainly served him well over the years. But Jack's greatest skill as a golfer is his mastery of what he calls "game management" - the ability to analyze the demands of any given course or hole. Jack realized quite early in his career that the actual topography of a course - grass, trees, water, sand, the shape and texture of the land itself - ultimately determines shotmaking values. As Jack puts it, "Intense observation improved my strategic approach to shotmaking, which led to better scoring, which encouraged me to develop an ultra-analytical approach to the game." It also led, quite naturally, to a growing interest in golf course design, which, in turn, led to the establishment of Nicklaus Design.
Jack's Design Philosophy
Jack does not have a set philosophy when it comes to design, but there are several constants to his approach.
Golf is a game of precision more than power.
As Jack always says, "It's a thinking man's game. That's what makes it fun." His belief is that length in itself does not constitute quality, or enjoyment. Nicklaus Design courses demand that a golfer employ power only as an occasional variation from playing accurately and with finesse. "I design layouts that challenge golfers to play intelligently rather than ones that test their strength," says Jack. "So I try to use the richest possible mix of shot values." Every hole should require the golfer to play one very good shot to make par and one great shot to make birdie. Adds Jack, "There lies the essence of great design, and the fundamental design challenge as far as I am concerned." Oblige the golfer to do two things: THINK and CONTROL THE BALL.
One way Jack does this is by changing the fairway direction in the landing areas. "In other words," he says, "I avoid dead-straight holes whenever possible." Says Jack, "I like to give the golfer options, and design holes that reward the player who can hit the difficult shot. I also try to avoid penal design--that is, design that severely punishes the golfer for wayward shots."
Respect the natural lay of the land.
Use land contour, woodland, water, wetlands and rock outcropping in ways that seem entirely consistent with the intention of Mother Nature. "All first-class golf courses and all outstanding golf holes have one thing in common to the golfer's eye," says Jack. "They look absolutely natural, as if the terrain had always been that way, waiting to be discovered for golf. Never try to force an idea onto a piece of land."
Avoid "blind" shots.
A blind shot is simply one where you have no exact sense of your shot's destination. Like deceptive contouring, blind shots tend to reward lucky guessing rather than thoughtful, strategic planning.
One of the hallmarks of Nicklaus courses is visibility. "A good strategic course must provide visible hazards so the golfer can weigh his options," says Jack. Therefore, he goes to great lengths to achieve tee to green visibility of target areas and hazards.
Nicklaus' Practical Design Tips
Routing
Jack likes to challenge the golfer's repertoire of shots by mixing up a good variety of par 3's, 4's and 5's. "The standard is two par-3's per nine, two par-5's per nine, and the rest 4's," he says. "The 3's and 5's should be balanced between long, short and medium lengths. Open with a gentle hole, usually a medium-length par-4. Golfers shouldn't have to tackle tough par-3's or par-5's until they are fully warmed up. Design par-3's that can be reached with iron clubs. "Most of the par-3's I've designed are between 160 to 210 yards; is as far as I go unless the hole plays extremely downhill," says Jack. "I like par-4's that are within the reach of most golfers if they hit two good shots. And I prefer par-5's that aren't automatic two shotters for the strong hitter, yet offer the average player a birdie opportunity if he thinks and plays well."
Avoid "runway" holes; holes that offer a simple, straight, uncomplicated shot to the pin. As Jack says, "The good Lord never drew a straight line. And you'll never find a straight line on a Nicklaus Design course." Of course, holes that dogleg demand "ball movement" (fade or draw) in the shot. Doglegs should vary both left and right from hole to hole to avoid favoring one type of hitter over another.
"Balance is a critical element of superior course design," says Jack. "You have places where you can make heroic shots, but also places where you can make softer shots to offset the more difficult ones."
"Designing holes to play downhill, provides a natural solution to insure total visibility. "We'll route courses to play as many holes downhill as possible. Another trick is to allow for an elevation change on the site between the connection of a green and the next tee."
"A site may have two or three obvious great holes. But the challenge is connecting 18 holes together to allow for balance, variety and natural beauty as the design evolves. Routing a golf course is a puzzle with many pieces including 18 holes, a practice area, clubhouse, etc., that must all work together."
Tees
Tee placement is important. Jack prefers five sets of tees. The center line of your hole should start at the back or pro tee. The next tee is 95% of that distance, the next one 90%, and the forward tees in the front are 80% and 70% of the maximum hole distance. Tees and landing areas on Nicklaus-designed courses are usually located on high points that give great visibility, another Nicklaus Design trademark.
Fairways
Jack likes to flare his fairways out from the tee to a relatively wide landing area so that the player is not penalized for a good drive. Landing areas should be "collecting" rather than "repelling" to reward well-placed shots. This is done by making them concave rather than convex, and by adding appropriately placed grassy hollows, bunkers, etc. "You don't need tight driving zones or ultra-narrow approaches on every hole," says Jack. Good golf, even tournament-level golf, doesn't call for long strings of exceptionally tough holes. Jack also likes to make liberal use of "bail-out areas" near heavily protected greens. These areas provide an alternative for players who are unable to carry a tough approach shot over sand or water. From a "bail-out area," players usually have an open pitch shot to the pin.
Greens
Jack likes to design greens that are concave (bowl-like) and feature gentle hollows and slopes rather than severe undulations, so that shots are collected into the green or towards the hole. "It just makes the golf course more enjoyable," he says. "Nobody likes to see a well-placed shot carom off into trouble."
One principle Jack continually reinforces is the "Nothing Blind" rule. On holes where the putting surface is elevated well above the level of the fairway (and therefore out of sight), Jack frequently employs what he calls a "false front"— an unpinable area as the front of the green; to provide a reliable visual target.
Jack also dislikes huge, flat, generic greens; what he calls "turf nurseries." Huge greens, he feels, can significantly erode the quality of play. The larger the green, the fewer chips, pitches and sand shots the golfer is called upon to play. "In other words," says Jack, "the bigger the green, the smaller the premium on finesse shots."
Jack likes to incorporate at least four distinct pin placement areas per green to subtly vary the character and difficulty of the hole. "If the golfer is forced to think about placement, the hole will remain fresh and challenging no matter how many times he plays it," he says.
Balance the distribution of hazards around greens to provide proportionate penalties for missing the green front, back, or either side. Always allow the average golfer a "way out" if he plays a good recovery shot.
Finally, avoid excesses. You don't need 18 roller-coaster greens. Tailor the size, shape and contour of greens to each individual hole according to the character and difficulty of the shots that will precede putting. "If a longer hole will require a 2 or 3 iron from the fairway I'll set the green up 'deep' or parallel to the shot line to allow room for the shot. In contrast on a shorter hole, requiring a wedge or 9 iron, the green can run perpendicular or 'narrow' to the shot line and be heavily bunkered in front."
Bunkers
Vary the location, configuration and "purpose" of fairway bunkers by using some for directional purposes (to visually guide golfers toward the green) and others for strategic purposes (to force golfers to play different types of shots).
In general, Jack likes his bunkers visible and strategic. Jack also likes to use bunkers to frame his greens. "In the green area," he says, "every bunker should relate to the flow of the green and its adjacent terrain." He also uses them to contain errant shots—that is, to keep them from caroming into irrecoverable positions. "The worst sight in golf," he says, "is to see a ball bounce over the green and keep rolling and rolling away."
Jack has incorporated many different styles of bunkers over the years. Styles depend on the nature of the site, the purpose of the golf course (private, resort or daily fee) and factors regarding climate and terrain. For example, a site with many trees may lend itself to smaller bunkers. A site with no trees sometimes requires larger bunkers to establish strategy, contrast and framing of the golf course.
Typically bunkers can be more complex and sand can "flash" or flow more in arid or desert climates. Wetter climates call for simpler, flatter bunkers that are easier to maintain, especially after significant rainfall.
Bunker sizes should vary throughout the golf course. Nature does not lend itself to repetition in form or shape. Therefore, bunkers should change in size as they relate to each other. "Nothing is more visually disturbing to me than a complex of bunkers that are all approximately the same size," says Jack.
Water
Jack always tries to avoid water on the first hole because it slows down play and can intimidate some golfers before they warm up. He also likes to put water on the inside of a dog-legged fairway. "Partly, it's just a preference," he says. "But it also keeps the hazard in clear view of the player. Nothing's blind."
As with all strategic factors affecting a golf course, there should be an element of balance concerning placement of water. "We always try to mix it up as much as possible. You don't want three or four holes in a row with water." Water should be balanced concerning placement near the green or fairway as the course evolves. For example, if two par-3's will have water associated with the green, alternate which side of the green the water will be located on to provide balance and variety.
At the back where it talks about the Course Designer tool it came with, you get a little section on the "Principles of Course Design By Jack Nicklaus".
I thought I'd post the text here as it might be of use to some folks.
Principles of Course Design By Jack Nicklaus
Introduction
Jack Nicklaus is one of the great "shotmakers" in the history of golf. Swing, stroke, the pure mechanics of hitting the ball - these elements of his game have certainly served him well over the years. But Jack's greatest skill as a golfer is his mastery of what he calls "game management" - the ability to analyze the demands of any given course or hole. Jack realized quite early in his career that the actual topography of a course - grass, trees, water, sand, the shape and texture of the land itself - ultimately determines shotmaking values. As Jack puts it, "Intense observation improved my strategic approach to shotmaking, which led to better scoring, which encouraged me to develop an ultra-analytical approach to the game." It also led, quite naturally, to a growing interest in golf course design, which, in turn, led to the establishment of Nicklaus Design.
"Building a golf course is my total expression. My golf game can only go on so long. But what I have learned can be put into a piece of ground and that will last beyond me." -- Jack Nicklaus
Jack's Design Philosophy
Jack does not have a set philosophy when it comes to design, but there are several constants to his approach.
Golf is a game of precision more than power.
As Jack always says, "It's a thinking man's game. That's what makes it fun." His belief is that length in itself does not constitute quality, or enjoyment. Nicklaus Design courses demand that a golfer employ power only as an occasional variation from playing accurately and with finesse. "I design layouts that challenge golfers to play intelligently rather than ones that test their strength," says Jack. "So I try to use the richest possible mix of shot values." Every hole should require the golfer to play one very good shot to make par and one great shot to make birdie. Adds Jack, "There lies the essence of great design, and the fundamental design challenge as far as I am concerned." Oblige the golfer to do two things: THINK and CONTROL THE BALL.
One way Jack does this is by changing the fairway direction in the landing areas. "In other words," he says, "I avoid dead-straight holes whenever possible." Says Jack, "I like to give the golfer options, and design holes that reward the player who can hit the difficult shot. I also try to avoid penal design--that is, design that severely punishes the golfer for wayward shots."
Respect the natural lay of the land.
Use land contour, woodland, water, wetlands and rock outcropping in ways that seem entirely consistent with the intention of Mother Nature. "All first-class golf courses and all outstanding golf holes have one thing in common to the golfer's eye," says Jack. "They look absolutely natural, as if the terrain had always been that way, waiting to be discovered for golf. Never try to force an idea onto a piece of land."
Avoid "blind" shots.
A blind shot is simply one where you have no exact sense of your shot's destination. Like deceptive contouring, blind shots tend to reward lucky guessing rather than thoughtful, strategic planning.
One of the hallmarks of Nicklaus courses is visibility. "A good strategic course must provide visible hazards so the golfer can weigh his options," says Jack. Therefore, he goes to great lengths to achieve tee to green visibility of target areas and hazards.
Nicklaus' Practical Design Tips
Routing
Jack likes to challenge the golfer's repertoire of shots by mixing up a good variety of par 3's, 4's and 5's. "The standard is two par-3's per nine, two par-5's per nine, and the rest 4's," he says. "The 3's and 5's should be balanced between long, short and medium lengths. Open with a gentle hole, usually a medium-length par-4. Golfers shouldn't have to tackle tough par-3's or par-5's until they are fully warmed up. Design par-3's that can be reached with iron clubs. "Most of the par-3's I've designed are between 160 to 210 yards; is as far as I go unless the hole plays extremely downhill," says Jack. "I like par-4's that are within the reach of most golfers if they hit two good shots. And I prefer par-5's that aren't automatic two shotters for the strong hitter, yet offer the average player a birdie opportunity if he thinks and plays well."
Avoid "runway" holes; holes that offer a simple, straight, uncomplicated shot to the pin. As Jack says, "The good Lord never drew a straight line. And you'll never find a straight line on a Nicklaus Design course." Of course, holes that dogleg demand "ball movement" (fade or draw) in the shot. Doglegs should vary both left and right from hole to hole to avoid favoring one type of hitter over another.
"Balance is a critical element of superior course design," says Jack. "You have places where you can make heroic shots, but also places where you can make softer shots to offset the more difficult ones."
"Designing holes to play downhill, provides a natural solution to insure total visibility. "We'll route courses to play as many holes downhill as possible. Another trick is to allow for an elevation change on the site between the connection of a green and the next tee."
"A site may have two or three obvious great holes. But the challenge is connecting 18 holes together to allow for balance, variety and natural beauty as the design evolves. Routing a golf course is a puzzle with many pieces including 18 holes, a practice area, clubhouse, etc., that must all work together."
Tees
Tee placement is important. Jack prefers five sets of tees. The center line of your hole should start at the back or pro tee. The next tee is 95% of that distance, the next one 90%, and the forward tees in the front are 80% and 70% of the maximum hole distance. Tees and landing areas on Nicklaus-designed courses are usually located on high points that give great visibility, another Nicklaus Design trademark.
Fairways
Jack likes to flare his fairways out from the tee to a relatively wide landing area so that the player is not penalized for a good drive. Landing areas should be "collecting" rather than "repelling" to reward well-placed shots. This is done by making them concave rather than convex, and by adding appropriately placed grassy hollows, bunkers, etc. "You don't need tight driving zones or ultra-narrow approaches on every hole," says Jack. Good golf, even tournament-level golf, doesn't call for long strings of exceptionally tough holes. Jack also likes to make liberal use of "bail-out areas" near heavily protected greens. These areas provide an alternative for players who are unable to carry a tough approach shot over sand or water. From a "bail-out area," players usually have an open pitch shot to the pin.
Greens
Jack likes to design greens that are concave (bowl-like) and feature gentle hollows and slopes rather than severe undulations, so that shots are collected into the green or towards the hole. "It just makes the golf course more enjoyable," he says. "Nobody likes to see a well-placed shot carom off into trouble."
One principle Jack continually reinforces is the "Nothing Blind" rule. On holes where the putting surface is elevated well above the level of the fairway (and therefore out of sight), Jack frequently employs what he calls a "false front"— an unpinable area as the front of the green; to provide a reliable visual target.
Jack also dislikes huge, flat, generic greens; what he calls "turf nurseries." Huge greens, he feels, can significantly erode the quality of play. The larger the green, the fewer chips, pitches and sand shots the golfer is called upon to play. "In other words," says Jack, "the bigger the green, the smaller the premium on finesse shots."
Jack likes to incorporate at least four distinct pin placement areas per green to subtly vary the character and difficulty of the hole. "If the golfer is forced to think about placement, the hole will remain fresh and challenging no matter how many times he plays it," he says.
Balance the distribution of hazards around greens to provide proportionate penalties for missing the green front, back, or either side. Always allow the average golfer a "way out" if he plays a good recovery shot.
Finally, avoid excesses. You don't need 18 roller-coaster greens. Tailor the size, shape and contour of greens to each individual hole according to the character and difficulty of the shots that will precede putting. "If a longer hole will require a 2 or 3 iron from the fairway I'll set the green up 'deep' or parallel to the shot line to allow room for the shot. In contrast on a shorter hole, requiring a wedge or 9 iron, the green can run perpendicular or 'narrow' to the shot line and be heavily bunkered in front."
Bunkers
Vary the location, configuration and "purpose" of fairway bunkers by using some for directional purposes (to visually guide golfers toward the green) and others for strategic purposes (to force golfers to play different types of shots).
In general, Jack likes his bunkers visible and strategic. Jack also likes to use bunkers to frame his greens. "In the green area," he says, "every bunker should relate to the flow of the green and its adjacent terrain." He also uses them to contain errant shots—that is, to keep them from caroming into irrecoverable positions. "The worst sight in golf," he says, "is to see a ball bounce over the green and keep rolling and rolling away."
Jack has incorporated many different styles of bunkers over the years. Styles depend on the nature of the site, the purpose of the golf course (private, resort or daily fee) and factors regarding climate and terrain. For example, a site with many trees may lend itself to smaller bunkers. A site with no trees sometimes requires larger bunkers to establish strategy, contrast and framing of the golf course.
Typically bunkers can be more complex and sand can "flash" or flow more in arid or desert climates. Wetter climates call for simpler, flatter bunkers that are easier to maintain, especially after significant rainfall.
Bunker sizes should vary throughout the golf course. Nature does not lend itself to repetition in form or shape. Therefore, bunkers should change in size as they relate to each other. "Nothing is more visually disturbing to me than a complex of bunkers that are all approximately the same size," says Jack.
Water
Jack always tries to avoid water on the first hole because it slows down play and can intimidate some golfers before they warm up. He also likes to put water on the inside of a dog-legged fairway. "Partly, it's just a preference," he says. "But it also keeps the hazard in clear view of the player. Nothing's blind."
As with all strategic factors affecting a golf course, there should be an element of balance concerning placement of water. "We always try to mix it up as much as possible. You don't want three or four holes in a row with water." Water should be balanced concerning placement near the green or fairway as the course evolves. For example, if two par-3's will have water associated with the green, alternate which side of the green the water will be located on to provide balance and variety.
