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Knollwood Club, Lake Forest, IL – 3D Imaging

Knollwood Club – Lake Forest, IL

I’m currently working out a few hiccups with something new, but this is the start of something I plan on dong more of. Aerials provide a great overview of a golf course from above. What they don’t do is show any elevation changes that occur within the golf course. This new imaging method is still in early testing for me, but so far the feedback has been positive.
 
Charles Alison designed the Knollwood Club located near Lake Forest, Illinois. The golf course has gone through a variety of renovations and restorations over time.  Two areas that are on the opposite ends of the spectrum are the 16th  green and 17th hole. The 16th green has seen a few changes, but the 17th hole, the redan, has stayed true to its original design.  
 
If you’re interested in more examples of redan holes, Andy at the fried egg provides photos and analysis here: Redan Holes. 
 
For reference, the 16th Green is on the top left of the image and the 17th Hole is near the center of the image.

 

2010 Aerial Image
2010 Aerial Image

Aerial Comparisons:

Below are a few image comparison aerials showing the progression of the two holes. While these images do not tell the complete story, they show some of the changes that one hole has gone through.

1939 to 2000 Aerial

 

2000 Aerial to 2010 Aerial

For reference, the 2010 aerial is the color image in the second slider comparison.  The aerials used are from Lake County, IL, the USGS and the Illinois Geological Survey.

Redan Grading

The next three images show the grading of the 17th green. The contours and grading used to direct the ball towards the left part of the green. The first two images use 1-foot contours to depict the slope of the green. The third image uses 1/2 foot contours to show extra detail.

17th Green – with 1-ft contours
17th Green – with 1-ft contour
17th Hole Grading – 1/2 foot contours

3D Images

Below is the new stuff I’ve been working on.  The first image is the current 16th green and the second image is the 17th Hole as it stands today. The 3D viewers are interactive so please click on the image, and look at the shape of both green complexes.
 
Depending on your connection it may take an extra second or two to load.

 

16th Green –

17th Hole –

As always, thanks for stopping by and feel free to ask any questions.

 

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Fishers Island Club – Fishers Island, New York

The Fishers Island Club was on my short list when I started The Bottom Groove.  I’ve always been interested in how a historic course such as this was constructed during the time period.

After reading the write up Andy did at The Fried Egg and taking a closer look at the pictures Jon Cavalier did that were included in the write up, I became a little more intrigued as to how the course was not only routed, but how elevation played a role in the design.

Fishers Island Club Aerial

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Pacific Dunes – Bandon, Oregon

As a follow up to Bandon Dunes, I wanted to take a look at Pacific Dunes. This course neighbors Bandon Dunes to the north and from what I have been told has a similar amount of fine grading leading up to and around the green complexes.

Another brief touch on history –

Designed by Tom Doak and the Renaissance Golf Design group and opened in 2001. This was the second course in the series of courses that make up the Bandon Dunes Golf Resort experience.

Talking to people who have visited, many say Pacific Dunes is easily their favorite of all the Bandon Courses.

 

Pacific Dunes Aerial

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Bandon Dunes – Bandon, Oregon

So this one was kind of fun for me to look at. I’ve never had the chance to experience Bandon, Oregon and all the golf that comes with it. Instead I did what I could to experience it from my desktop.

A brief touch on history –

Designed by David McLay Kidd and opened in 1999. This was the first course in the series of courses that make up the Bandon Dunes Golf Resort experience.

Bandon Dunes Aerial

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Erin Hills – Hartford, WI

Erin Hills, host of the 2008 US Women’s Public Links, 2011 US Amateur and 2017 US Open. I’ve been lucky enough to get out and play this one and I can assure you that it is quite the walk. You wouldn’t think much of the elevation on this chunk of land would be natural in the middle of Wisconsin. I got lucky to get this data since much of Wisconsin can be spotty when it comes to Lidar data.

Erin Hills Aerial

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National Golf Links of America – Southampton, NY

What led me to take a look at this was looking at some photos that Jon Cavalier posted on Twitter(@LinksGems).

I had a little fun with this one since its hard to see a lot of the little intricacies of the grading in the fairways and around the greens.  I did a few images in an attempt to make the grading stand out.

For those unfamiliar with the course location, it is located on Long Island and neighbors Shinnecock Hills and Peconic Bay.

Aerial Image of the National Links of America

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