Not everyone is apparently thrilled with Davis Love III’s design work. Speaking about the Forest Oaks course that hosts this week’s PGA Tour stop, apparently not everyone is happy with the work that was done (largely by Love associates Bob Spence and Paul Cowley):
Even the course is being called into question. After opening to rave reviews three years ago, Davis Love’s redesign has lost some of its luster with golfers.
“They made a great course good,” PGA Tour regular Robert Gamez said after playing the course last year.
Sergio Garcia, who recently helped lead Europe to another Ryder Cup victory, said the new course was “a bit too gimmicky,” a common lament among the pros.
This is interesting in a Canadian context because it is the Love team that’s behind the reworking of Angus Glen North for next year’s Canadian Open. Angus Glen North (designed by Doug Carrick and Jay Morrish) has been poorly received since it first opened, criticized for being too wide, with strange tee shots on several holes. Over the past year, Spence and Cowley have reworked the course, removing bunkers, recontouring tees and adding new tees.
However, in a surprise move, Love didn’t bother to show up at this year’s Canadian Open. apparently the RCGA was hoping Love would tell his fellow tour pros about the course and his firm’s work. Instead he stayed home, leaving RCGA officials like Bill Paul (who apparently recommended Love to Angus Glen owner Gord Stollery) to grumble behind the scenes about Love’s abscence.
I’ll be out at the course for a sneak peak on Friday.
The full story on the Forest Oaks saga is here.
