Yesterday I touched on idea generation for several holes, and the challenges of designing the 4th hole. In Dr. Alan Snyder’s study of idea generation, he found people could generate a burst of new ideas after a short break. The study was about listing as many different uses for a simple piece of paper…he found:
Participants had generally run out of ideas by the end of the first session, yet
they produced a burst of new ideas in the second session, even though conscious
effort on the task was not required during the break (they were told the task was
over) and, in fact, was precluded by performance of a cognitively demanding and
distracting task. Both the number and the pattern of responses, especially the burst
of new ideas produced after the break, indicate that solutions for an original problem
may continue to be generated.
http://www.centreforthemind.com/publications/Nonconscious_idea.pdf
This explains why the truly great courses had the architect leading the effort. Plans only get you to the starting line, as a host of improvements and alterations can be “discovered” as construction progresses. Stuff you just couldn’t foresee at the drawing table. Donald Ross was right on the money when he said “Design on land, not on paper.”
This “burst of new ideas” occurred today on the 4th. Not trusting my memory I had my handy dandy digital Dictaphone at hand to record them. The design is 90% complete...in my mind. Will new ideas come? Surely…and the fun is mining and evaluating these opportunities. It’s like mining gold.
Dr. Snyder’s work is fascinating stuff. You can get more about his research into the genius, champion and autistic mind at: http://www.centreforthemind.com/newsmedia/WHATSHOT/index.cfm
Tony Ristola
agolfarchitect.com
+1 (909) 581 0080
Tony Ristola
- www.tonyristola.com
- A rarity in golf course architecture: Working with the builders, crafting the details of my designs in the field on a daily basis.
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Short Project History; The Good and Bad
This blog reveals a snippet of the daily challenge of building a special golf course. The only value in something like this for future investors and golf architecture aficionados is to tell the truth; warts and all.
Before arriving at Sand Valley the project was being constructed according to the "detailed plans" of another golf architect using a "golf course construction company" that had built a number of courses. They broke ground in June 2006. After 10-months the builder had proceeded to rape 14-holes and was fired.
I have been brought in to fix the problem, using locals to build the course. In the process all plans except the general routing scheme have been abandoned. The current course is being designed in the field, seizing every opportunity to improve the course as we go. That's the value of time. You can see the project from all angles, in all conditions, you have time to think about the problems and come up with the best solutions, and then refine them with the guys doing the building... in real-time. This is how many of the great courses were constructed. It only makes sense. More time, more input, more communication produces the best possible result.
That's why Sand Valley, though it had a rough start (using the "Typical Method") should have a fantastic finish.
Before arriving at Sand Valley the project was being constructed according to the "detailed plans" of another golf architect using a "golf course construction company" that had built a number of courses. They broke ground in June 2006. After 10-months the builder had proceeded to rape 14-holes and was fired.
I have been brought in to fix the problem, using locals to build the course. In the process all plans except the general routing scheme have been abandoned. The current course is being designed in the field, seizing every opportunity to improve the course as we go. That's the value of time. You can see the project from all angles, in all conditions, you have time to think about the problems and come up with the best solutions, and then refine them with the guys doing the building... in real-time. This is how many of the great courses were constructed. It only makes sense. More time, more input, more communication produces the best possible result.
That's why Sand Valley, though it had a rough start (using the "Typical Method") should have a fantastic finish.
