When a golf architect reflects thus on his latest project:“Michelangelo once said, ‘I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free’
I think we can be forgiven for expecting the worst. In Greg Norman's case, though, we'll let him off just this once.
His new course at Cornerstone, Colorado (flyovers and map here) is built along the lines of his 'least disturbance' design philosophy and looks to have stayed faithful to the landscape around it.
Either an altitude factor has been built in to some of the holes or I'm seriously out of touch with what's needed to play from the tips on today's generation of golf courses. Par 5s of 620 and 650 yards; a 553-yard par 4 at 11: it would be easy to see such bare numbers and dismiss the Australian as yet another pro incapable of designing for those outside his own comfort zone.
Not a bit of it. Not only has Norman provided multiple tees but he has carefully scattered them on several holes, to eliminate eye-of-a-needle drives or carries that are not so much daunting as downright forbidding (note the 250 yards needed for your drive from the stones over at 10).
You can make the course no more of a challenge than you want it to be and as a nice touch, there are "Tykes' tees" for kids, 50 yards from each green.
While some of the bunkers have an odd, angular look, there's a generally sparing use of sand around the course and while I'm sure it makes for some hellish caroms, I like the 'rockery' fronting the 10th green.
Overall, it looks an eminently playable course. Comments from any of you who've actually played it would be gratefully received, as always.
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