Golfadelphia

6,668 yards, 131 Slope from the Scarlet tees

“Anyone here who enrolled thinking this is a party school should think again. This school is moving away from that kind of reputation. We’re no longer the number 1 party school in the country. We’re now number 3.” That was some official at my college orientation. University of California at Santa Barbara. I drove up for the weekend to get acquainted a couple months before school actually started. The ocean glistened nearby. I met a bunch of people I suppose would be my classmates. They seemed nice. It was a big college, I had no idea if I would see any of them again. It turns out I would not. They meshed into the faceless throngs I likely walked or skated by without knowing it. Yet at that moment in time when that lady official proclaimed we should some how reconsider whether we were going to a party school, we all had the same thundering thought. It’s time we get back up to number 1! And we did. It took a lot of hard partying work but damned if we didn’t rise up to #1 yet again. Some schools had their football teams (not us, students voted against having one a couple years before I arrived because they didn’t want to pay an extra $30 a quarter), some schools had their basketball and some schools had their ivy. We had our unparalleled party scene. And none of us would ever come across anything like it ever again. Sublime played at my fraternity house. As did Blink 187. There were hundreds at the parties, our parties, hundreds others walking down the streets looking for parties. Parties at bars, in Isla Vista, Goleta, downtown, the beach. A wine and cheese event with a sorority would turn into seeing how much we could wine bong. Vegas was close enough, Chumash Casino was closer. Tahoe and Reno turned into one big Hot Tub Time Machine once a year. Also, the beach. It went on and on. I’m not really doing the scene adequate justice in just how fun it was but you get the picture. Graduating in four years was a badge of honor. Who knows if it was a good or bad thing. The academic reputation of the school grew along with its party acumen and we all realized there was some truth to the moniker, “U Can Study Buzzed.” One could venture to say I left it altogether and headed out east knowing I needed a lot more stability if I was gonna in fact grow up. It was time to leave it behind. Yet the more you grow older, the more you realize it never really leaves. And if you didn’t have it in college, you likely chase it afterwards, sooner or later. Regardless, there was really nothing quite like college. I’m sure each one has their distinct experience but mine was Paradise Found. In more ways than one.

I was blithely unaware about most mega college bravado until I moved back east. Ohio State is among those I didn’t know much about. That changed as I met some who graduated there. It always baffled me when they, or others who graduated from places like Auburn or Clemson, would not golf when their football team was playing so they could watch the game. Yet it seems fun, having that kind of culture. Those Saturdays in the fall have to be something. For Ohio State, it turns out the football program helped in forming the golf course. 1922 saw the opening of its new, larger than life at the time, football stadium, capable of hosting an unprecedented 70,000. While the revenue from that type of capacity certainly cannot be ignored, it is important to recognize the competitive aspect prevalent among colleges. Ohio State made sure its stadium was larger than the famed Yale Bowl. And five years later, Michigan made sure its stadium was larger than Ohio State (capacity 80,000).

This type of construction arms race finally moved to golf courses in the 1920’s, which just so happened to fall within the Golden Age. Midland Hills CC initially opened as the University of Minnestoa Golf Club, designed by Raynor in 1920. Penn State opened their campus course designed by Robert Pryde in 1920. Dartmouth opened Hanover Country Club in 1922, designed by Orrin Jones (unfortunately NLE since 2020). Yale opened their esteemed course designed by Mcdonald and Raynor in 1926. Taconic Golf Club designed by Wayne Stiles and John Van Kleek opened in 1927 on the campus of Williams College. Stanford had theirs designed by George Thomas and Billy Bell, which opened in 1930. While Alistair Mackenzie designed a course for Michigan in the late 1920’s, it didn’t open until 1931.

The surge of college golf course openings, along with nearby Scioto hosting the 1926 U.S. Open, created a burgeoning interest in golf among those in Columbus and at Ohio State. The athletic department of the college formed a committee with the intent of constructing its own golf course. The athletic director at the time, Lynn W. St. John, consulted with several impressive men associated with the game, including Bobby Jones. St. John and the committee ulitmately decided on Mackenzie to design the course. While it appears unresolved what led to the actual selection of Mackenzie and one can surmise that those consulted had favorable suggestions to use him, one can’t help but wonder whether Mackenzie’s involvement with Michigan’s golf course had anything to do with it. Regardless, Mackenize and Maxwell arrived in August 1929. It was at this meeting that St. John told Mackenzie of his intent to build not one but two golf courses (perhaps another one upmanship to Michigan and all the other colleges with their measly one course). One was to be a championship test (“Scarlet”) while the other was to be shorter and sportier (“Gray”). Mackenzie drafted design plans shortly thereafter and sent them to his construction foreman, Wendell Miller. Mackenzie and Maxwell returned in October 1929 where Mackenzie presented to the athletic board and golf committee. His plan was immediately approved.

Mackenzie thereafter drafted more detailed and formal design plans for the courses based on his further studies of the site in 1930. There was some kind of back and forth whether formal plans were ever received, however, which seemed to cause some delay in the project moving forward. The formal plans for both the Scarlet and Gray were finally received in January 1931 but this, coupled with the economic downturn of the Great Depression, sputtered progress. Unfortunately, Mackenzie died in 1934, before construction began. The college then turned to Miller. Yet as they were in the process of obtaining further plans Mackenzie had drafted of the greens (those plans would be received after negotiations with Mrs. Mackenzie) as well as obtaining sufficient funding, Miller died of a heart attack in 1935 while building Southern Hills.

The dynamics of college operations, especially of a public university, has its advantages and disadvantages when it comes to something like building a golf course. Colleges such as Ohio State have the resources but also have their protocols in order to decide on direction. The set backs sustained during the formation of the Scarlet and Gray courses are due to a myriad of circumstances, some of fortune and some of misfortune, as well as a little of both from the organizational infrastructure involved. At any rate, faced with the death of the originating architect and construction manager, St. John turned to Professor George McClure, an expert Argonomist who prepared the site for the golf course in the first instance. McClure would work with Maxwell in the construction of the course, which began in late 1935. Apparently the working relationship between the two was complicated, with both men feeling they were in charge. McClure finally gained the upper hand with college management, which ended up ultimately alienating Maxwell from the project. It does appear, however, that Maxwell finished the design plans before leaving the project for good. St. John reached out to John McCoy, who was Miller’s right hand man, to lead construction efforts with McClure. The two followed the design plans, which included a full set of green plans. While there was a point in time when St. John started looking for an architect to ensure the course exuded as much Mackenzie character as possible, that never transpired. McClure and McCoy were able to complete construction of the Scarlet in 1937, which opened in 1938.

A saga indeed yet the determination of the university and St. John to stay true to the design plans, and continually insisting on them from Mackenzie and Maxwell, helped ensure the course would keep in line with original design intent. Interestingly, the Scarlet opened without any fairway bunkers. With limited funding, McClure and McCoy decided to wait on the bunkers and instead focus on the routing greens upon opening. McCoy installed the bunkering in later years as superintendent of the course under direction from the college’s golf coach. Regardless, the story of the Scarlet and Gray is a great example of just how much influence and effect the client or owner can have on the formation of the course. Here, St. John’s efforts and his dedication to Mackenzie are the reason the courses are as close to that design character as possible under the prolonged circumstances of time, mortality, hubris and endured vision.

Much of the historical content of the course is from an article written by the late Thomas MacWood. My host was college friends with him and passed the article along to me. For those interested in a lot more detail of how the Scarlet and Gray came to be, I’d give it a read. https://golfclubatlas.com/in-my-opinion/ohio-state-golf/ The article has a fantastic description of Mackenzie that is here verbatim: “[MacKenzie] had been a physician who had turned to Golf Architecture after returning from the Boer War. Dr. MacKenzie’s designs were a combination of sound strategies and flamboyant images, not unlike his personality. A highly educated man and a gifted writer, MacKenzie was best known for his entertaining charm, sharp whit and legendary drinking ability.” Cheers is certainly in order for Mackenzie any time one sits down for a pint.

The routing and greens are tremendous, utilizing the terrain about as well as possible. It is the longest Mackenzie designed course, at 6,850 yards at the time of opening. There is lots of variety and strategic decisions at all points of the course while I found the bunkering especially challenging. The bunkering was considered one of the weaker points of the course prior to Nicklaus’ “modernization” renovation project in 2005 – 06 and he focused on completely overhauling them. Nicklaus referred to their style as “NiKenzie;” which is his interpretation of Mackenzie’s style. Nicklaus also altered the greens even though they exhibited Mackenzie the most, claiming they had been flattened and worn over the years. Nicklaus focused on contours that demanded precise, target-oriented approaches. Nicklaus also lengthened the course approximately 300 yards and changed it from a par 72 to 71. He also engaged in a tree plan, removing and planting depending on playing corridors. Regardless, the detail and quality one would expect of Mackenzie and Maxwell still shine through here while the work Nicklaus performed (particularly the first par 5) lessened its overall architectural brilliance in some ways, while admittedly strengthening the bunker scheme. It does ensure, however, sufficient challenge for the college tournaments it holds. As it stands, the Scarlet is one of the better college courses one comes across and brings forth a nice combination of interesting challenge and splendid routing.

I found golf while I was in college and am glad I did. As the good time of the last four years began to subside and thoughts of what lay ahead in the real world, the refuge of the golf course helped ease the transition as I pondered where I would be living next and probably starting the rest of my life. There was no way of knowing just how much refuge I would actually find within those fairways back then. Those students at Ohio State have two courses at their disposal and hope they find some kind of similar peace, as St. John endeavored for them so long ago.

The First is a 415 yard par 4 (from the Scarlet tees). A dog leg right with bunkering lining most of the right side. Trees lined both sides at the tee, which lets the golfer know early on they’re in for a driving challenge. The green is pushed up with two bunkers on the right and one on the left. Lots of latitude in getting to the green but those looking to score need to position their tee shots based on the pin location for an appropriate approach based on the green contours.

The Second is a 427 yard par 4. The corridor only looks wide off the tee but one really needs to get the tee shot rather straight. While Mackenzie and Maxwell designed the course, it is very much set up for competitive college play. The green has a nice inviting entry point through the center while the sides are built up with bunkering. Anyone off to the sides with their tee shot means carrying either set depending on the side they’re on. Trees on the right and the driving range on the left only complicate the sideways tee shot.

The Third is a 399 yard par 4. A slight dog leg left where trees crowd the sides closely. The demands of the tee shot seem to increase at each hole and here, it is fairly stiff needling through the trees. The trees don’t really go away other than thin out a bit while a bunker guards each side of the front corner of the green. The tee shot determines all here.

The Fourth is a 527 yard par 5. Nicklaus changed this hole a lot, as it was a par 3 with the green off to the left before the creek. Now, the tee shot must avoid the bunker on the left and get between the trees as close to the creek as possible. This presents the golfer with some straightforward strategy of whether to go for the green in two or keep moving up the fairway on the left. Those going for the green need to carry the water then a bunker before it to a wide green sitting perpendicular to the fairway. A short grass collection area is off to the rear right. Moving up the fairway to the left means getting pin high then wedging on to the green.

The Fifth is a 159 yard par 3. A more classic par 3 with bunkering on each side of the green while leaving the center open. There is an apron before the green worth bailing out on if one feels the need. Otherwise, the recovery character seems to be different for each miss here.

The Sixth is a 568 yard par 5. The tee shot needs to carry Ohio State University Golf Course Lake, avoid the bunkering on the left and trees on the right. Other than that, swing away. The fairway is on the narrow side leading to the green while trees narrow it further closer to the green. The gofer needs to commit to a second shot position considering the confining nature of the sides. The green is slightly raised and a delight.

The Seventh is a 379 yard par 4. The bunker complex on the left is the prominent feature of the hole. One needs to figure out whether it’s best to carry, move around or lay up to off the tee. Laying up means a blind approach to the green while trees closer to the green could block out those who opted to move around, so those who confront the bunker more directly will be rewarded with the more favorable approaches. The green widens as it moves towards the rear while bunkers are on either side. It is possible for shots to move from the green right in to the bunkers so favorable approach scenarios in the first instance are a bit more advantageous than one may first conceive.

The Eighth is a 174 yard par 3. A forced carry over the water with bunkers in front as well, there is plenty of room off to the right for the less bold among us. The left and rear slope away from the green and bunkering is at the front and rear. Precision at the tee and/or at the recovery shot is politely insisted upon here.

The Ninth is a 410 yard par 4. Trees clear for the most part yet the bunkering on either side ensures sufficient challenge for the tee shot. The green is a good one; long and slender yet narrow with bunkering off to the sides and below. It’s a delightfully challenging approach that livens up the recoveries, especially for those who miss to the sides.

The front nine starts off inviting yet quickly gets into challenging character with the bunkering and trees. The greens have interest and variety and the par 3’s and 4’s stand out. I would rank them 5, 2, 9, 8, 7, 6, 1, 3, 4.

The back nine starts with the 402 yard par 4 Tenth. Similar to the First, the start of the back nine allows one to acclimate, albeit briefly. A wide fairway with bunkering on the left and trees on the right, the pushed up green is consistent in theme; open entry point in the center with bunkering fanning out off to the sides. The green has subtle and strong undulations depending on location.

The Eleventh is a 403 yard par 4. We now start to see the hillier portions of the property as the left side of the fairway moves way downhill towards the water. A slight dogleg left off the tee and then a rumples fairway heading to the green. If one were to ask, I’d say there are remnants of Maxwell on the back with this hole being prominent in that. There’s a single bunker on the front right side and that is all that is needed to challenge the approaches from any angle in.

The Twelfth is a 505 yard par 5. The routing does its work here as we move into the valley that the hole prior was riding along the top of. The tee shot starts in on the downhill while the second shot bears the decision whether to go for the green in the distance or lay up to the base of the hill before it. There is some angular consideration on the approach, as the green is splayed out along the hillside and the fairway is wide enough to attack it from a spectrum of positions. The approach must carry the creek to reach the green on the other side, bunkered on the sides and running back to front and some right to left.

The Thirteenth is a 187 yard par 3. The hole looks decidedly Mackenzie, reminding me of the Third at Pasatiempo in how the bunkering is draped about the hillside and the green is casually caught amongst it all. The terrain moves left to right, strongest the further left one is. Turkey Run (the creek) needs to be carried but comes more into play for those shots short of the green and bunkers where it may roll back towards it and in. The golfer must account for the left to right movement the ball will take upon landing and may counteract such movement with a nice draw if he has it at his disposal. One doesn’t want to be above or to the left of the hole if it can be avoided. It’s the best par 3 if not hole on the course.

The Fourteenth is a 403 yard par 4. The trees feel neglected so impose their presence about the sides and the tee shot needs to stay relatively straight for a manageable approach. The green is widest at the rear while bunkers on either side some what cut into the center of it. It should be said that there are five par 4’s on the inward nine at about 400 yards. This means that some kind of rhythm can be established with the tee shot and approach configuration and relied upon. some will feel comfortable laying off the tee shot short of the trouble and settle for a longer approach in while others will be fine with a longer riskier tee shot for a more advantageous approach.

The Fifteenth is a 390 yard par 4. Incidentally, McCoy Road runs along the left side of the hole and I wonder whether it is named for the McCoy that helped build the course. My guess is yes (the answer is actually no after a quick google search). The left fairway bunker pinches on the width before and after it, yet seems to be at the perfect distance to collect tee shots. Those that hedge to the right of it will need to deal with a large greenside bunker to the right and a narrow green pushed up above the fairway. Fairway swales lead up to the green, once again reminding me of Maxwell. The green has some complexity to it, falling off towards the edges in spots. Very solid.

The Sixteenth is a 353 yard par 4. The fairway crooks to the left for the tee shot, falling off left and towards the green. The golfer needs to shape the shot off to the left or get their distance in order to stay on the fairway. The green is to the left and downhill from the fairway, a smaller affair guarded at each corner by a bunker. It’s a very well shaped green about the hillside, bringing in left to right and back to front movement. Another really well done par 4 taking its cues from the land.

The Seventeenth is a 176 yard par 3. The final par 3 crosses Turkey Run early on then climbs up the hill to a wide green with bunkers on either side. The green is well sized and the hole is very much a matter of putting, a dominant right to left movement influencing most every shot.

The Eighteenth is a 391 yard par 4. A long gradual dog leg left to close out the round, the golfer must first commit to a line off the tee that accounts for the turn and achieves a clear approach to the green. The fairway also narrows once it begins turning and stays narrow all the way to the green. The green widens at its center with a bunker on either side of it. The approach will need to be true and at the right quadrant in order to keep par in play. It’s a tough closer emphasizing the themes of challenge the golfer comes across throughout the round.

The back nine is better than the front, more varied and on better terrain. I would rank it 13, 11, 16, 15, 18, 12, 17, 10, 14.

The classic courses that were designed and intended for championship and competitive play face a general dichotomy as time wears on. They must constantly change in order to stay relevant and within the championship context and this constant change can run the risk of compromising its historical integrity and character. It’s a tale as old as time. How architects, courses and course leadership handle this dichotomy does much to determine its overall identity. Scarlet is not the only Mackenzie designed course that has compromised its original design character yielding to competitive strains for today’s modern game. Yet it was always intended to be a championship layout for the college players and it certainly accomplishes that. There is Mackenzie and Maxwell character, especially at the routing, greens and a lot on the back nine, that has the golfer thinking and requiring some elegant touch near and on the greens. The other charge by St. John was for the Scarlet to exude as much Mackenzie character as possible. With the plans accessible, it is possible to achieve both missions of the course much finer than Nicklaus did with his work but as it stands, the Scarlet is a pleasurable challenge that takes advantage of the natural features for strategy and recovery character near the greens. It was always meant to be a challenging Mackenzie design and in this respect, it does just that. Challenging, yet not one dimensional, and provides options for any class of golfer. No doubt that this confluence of challenge, strategy and pedigree makes for a lively round every time the golfer steps to that opening tee.

Clubhouse/Pro Shop: Fits in to the setting just right.

Practice area: Driving range, short game area and putting green, as one would expect. We flew from car to First tee, so did not have the pleasure of using any of it.