I watch this once a month. Kills me every time.
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This is another one on a regular rotation for me … Grouch (Joker Parody) - SNL - YouTube
Love Pine Dunes. Love it. Don’t like the PReed-camp-like defense of a logo that @BHstraitvibin wasn’t insulting at all. He was showing off his fan art.
Now I want to insult their logo. The sand looks like a butt crack. There, I said it.
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Hahahahahahaha, I hadn’t even noticed that before.
I love a unique logo with a local animal on it, but surely we could improve on the execution.
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Serious question here- how much is the owner holding pine dunes back? They just seam lost when it comes to the culture & over all vibe they are going for. They really could be great with decent leadership.
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I’ve always thought the course would be a lot better with a redesign like C&C did to Pinehurst #2. The manicured bunkers and irrigated rough don’t really do it for me.
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In terms of branding and merchandise, I’m not sure you could be any further off during a time period where the market has never been better for golf, hidden gem courses, and golf social media.
Picture getting on Texas Monthly’s top 50 bbq list but the joint decided to only post videos on social of the owner riding his skateboard in front of the building.
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Completely agree. Also need to thin out the brush around the pine trees. The beauty of those courses is that you get a chance to play off the pinestraw and try to weave one around the pines. At Pine Dunes if you’re outside the cart path you’re completely dead.
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Some tree management would be fucking sick. And it’s sand land in Texas, uncover that shit.
But I do like the logo. Sorry about it.
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The theme and concept of the logo are fine. The execution is late-90s website quality work. The fact that every single Refuge Roost has designed a cleaner and more professional looking logo in our spare time is telling.
Also, in addition to 100% agreeing that the course could use tree/brush thinning and more natural areas and sand exposure ala what’s been happening in NC, I’m really confused by the management’s approach with the new clubhouse and the members only condos to raise capital. On the one hand, I can pony up $100k for a “membership” with access to what looks like a pretty nice on-site condo, or, I can pay $99 max to play the course. What possible incentive is there to become a member?
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I haven’t been to PD yet, but just scanning the website and social media, it doesn’t make sense what direction they’re going. Seems like spiffing up the existing lodging and doing some work on the course itself would’ve been a better immediate use of funds. If they combined that with a scrappy social media campaign and branding, they’ve got a winner.
Idk, I want to go see it and maybe if it blew up to more regional and national recognition it would lose some of its charm.
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As a hidden gem it over-performs. As a national travel destination it would feel like a bait-and-switch.
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It would be so easy to get one of the bbq spots in Tyler to open up in there bar just to do food. Then maybe take the polos out of the shipping bags & hang them up? There are so many little touches that will do a tun more than building those modern buildings.
With all the sand and land movement out in East TX it’s only a matter of time before someone brings in a top name architect and builds something really cool out there. Not sure how Pine Dunes would handle the competition, but hopefully it will get them to invest in the course not the extra fluff.
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Thing is, I think the routing, hole design, and conditioning combination holds up really well against most other resort options in TX. It would be really easy to spruce up existing facilities and modernize the course’s playability and aesthetic, and still keep a nice low-key atmosphere that fits the location.
In some ways, the place was way ahead of its time, but it hasn’t made the final 25% or so of adjustments that is in line with what Kaiser-ification has brought to destination golf, and its current decision making is almost counterproductive.
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At the moment pine dunes would get carried by something like that if it was close at all. People would come out to see both but PD would for sure be the second thought.
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Yeah I don’t know any weirdos that like to scan google maps for the best golf sites in Texas and that have identified Anderson and Henderson counties as the best for course sites and location…
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I’d be shocked if they have anyone who has paid the membership… especially with its location. Move it 30-45 minutes closer to Dallas and maybe they’d get a few takers. Tee sheet never gets close to filling up so there’s no need to have special booking access.
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I know they’re not a non-profit for anything but I would honestly love if they allowed us to adopt one hole and go clear out the brush. 20 people showing up for eight hours to do the things I bet the super wants to get done. Probably a dumb idea.
Don’t mistake my complaints - I’m rooting for these guys, even when the owner makes it hard to.
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