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Brown is Beautiful!: An Open Topic
It’s pretty simple. If this photo, taken by Trevor Ray Hart on the seventeenth hole at Royal Ashdown Forest Golf Club, speaks to you, then this is an open topic for you.
I could live in this image. The rich texture of the grasses in the foreground, the scruffy ridges, the mixed palette of vivid and mottled color–I can practically feel every step this Wellie’d golfer takes on his way to the green.
A couple of days ago, in his address at the USGA’s annual meeting, new president Jim Hyler said, “I believe that our definition of playability should include concepts of firm, fast, and yes, even brown.” If I may be so bold as to edit that commendable statement, I’d have it read: “Especially brown.” Brown isn’t something merely to be grudgingly accepted. It should be celebrated as beautiful in its own right, as something that, in its interplay with green grass, draws out the natural contours and unique character of the landscape. Brown grass makes for a richer visual environment, and frequently contributes to a more compelling playing surface.
In this topic, I hope to build a case of visual and textual evidence to support the statement: Brown is beautiful. I’d love to hear from you in the comments section on what this subject means to you, or any ideas on how to raise awareness of the benefits of brown. If you have any favorite photos that show this most-pleasing environmental condition, please send them along, with the course name and any other relevant info you see fit to include, to outandback1@gmail.com, and I will post them as we go. Thanks!
Update: I noticed on geoffshackelford.com that Ron Sirak’s Golf Digest column this week, entitled “Back to Basics”, deals with Hyler’s speech and some of the benefits of brown-is-the-new-green. A quick read and well worthwhile.
#15, Prestwick. Submitted by Yannick Pilon.
#11, Tain. Submitted by Gary Daughters.
#15, Enville GC (Highgate). Submitted by Sean Arble.
#18, Lossiemouth. Submitted by Ian Andrew, via Brian Ewen (?).
#12, Hoylake (#14 in 2006 Open routing). Submitted by Ryan Crago.
#6, Old Macdonald GL. View of "Hell" Bunker. Submitted by Rob Rigg.
#5, Rustic Canyon. Submitted by Geoff Shackelford. "This view from the 5th tee shows what out of play areas could look like on the right soil."
#9, Swinley Forest. Submitted by John Mayhugh.
#4, Ballyneal Golf & Hunt Club. Submitted by Jim Colton.
#3, Duke's Course, St. Andrews. Submitted by Tim Liddy.
Tags: Ballyneal, brown is beautiful, Duke's Course, Lossiemouth, Old Macdonald, Royal Ashdown Forest, Royal Liverpool, Rustic Canyon, Swinley Forest Discussion
8 comments for “Brown is Beautiful!: An Open Topic”
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Gorgeous. One important thing to note here is that the areas where you’d want to hit it are quite green (with the possible exception of the little path cutting diagonally across). The “off-color” areas help define the target area in a way that’s not possible on a course where mounds and rough are the same color as fairways and greens.
Well the odd one out , is definitely The Dukes Course pic.
It beggars belief its even there !
Brown is a significant part of the range of colors one should see on any course. People should also understand that brown grass isn’t necessarily dead.
Sometimes brown everywhere is fun. Nothing like standing on the tee of a browned out links wondering just where the hell do I aim!
Brown is one the earth’s most common naturally occurring colours because it covers an incredibly wide range of the spectrum. It is odd that the fields of play for an outdoor game would be maintained in a way which strives to eliminate the hues of brown; it just ain’t natural!
The restrictions of water, resources, and money make this movement easy to understand for superintendents but it is difficult for the golfing public to grasp. Rather than brown the drive should be for sustainable playing conditions. The equation of resources+money=green has to be spelled out for golfers
Doug Saunders,
What this thread is about is a celebration of brown grass in its own right. Maybe you disagree, but I think some of the photos this site’s readers have sent in are beautiful.
It’s true that you can have optimal, firm and fast playing surfaces and green grass–the two are not mutually exclusive. But I disagree with your equation that resources+money=green. That’s precisely what produced the stigma in the first place. One of the photos above depicts one of the wealthiest and most prestigious clubs in England in a mottled-brown condition. Its membership clearly feels no need to emulate Augusta National’s aesthetic.
That picture of the 9th at Swinley is wonderful. I can’t imagine how much fun Swinley would be in those conditions.
I had the pleasure of playing Hoylake on the Wednesday after the Open in 2006, it was much browner than that photo of 12 suggests.
Sadly, even here in the UK there’s a move to green. My son just read this page over my shoulder and commented that the best colour is the colour Elie used to be. It’s greener now, as they water it to help attract the dollar.
John Paul Newport’s latest WSJ column covers this very subject:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704370704575228253377487596.html?mod=WSJ_hps_RIGHTTopCarousel#articleTabs%3Darticle