Not really, and didn’t really mean this to just be directed at you.
The main issue I have is the “I enjoyed this course, then I learned some more about architecture, and now I don’t enjoy that course anymore”
I get the thinking, and it’s not that black and white, but it doesn’t really make sense to me
I think it was said on the range, obviously I took it to be about the course. Didn’t really give much thought to it being about the hotel
Either way, feels a liiiiitle hyperbolic given Pinehursts offerings
I wonder if the issue is the recent frequency of the Omni content, rather than the content itself. Of the last seven videos posted to the YouTube channel, there are 3 Omni pieces, 3 pick videos, and 1 pod that was posted this morning, so the previous six were all sponsored content.
If you have sponsored content sprinkled amongst other videos that feel closer to the brand as we know it, it doesn’t feel off. However, when that’s all you’ve seen for a few weeks, it’s a lot more noticeable.
I assume the content calendar is due to finally wrapping major season and outside obligations mentioned previously. The guis likely banked this content and have been releasing it when they need a breather.
For the record, I like the sponsored content, and think a little more spacing between the videos likely would’ve minimized a lot of this discussion. None of these recent courses have me wanting to book trips immediately, but outside of the best courses that have been documented in other pieces (that were likely also sponsored, but in a much quieter manner), the golf itself really takes a backseat to the personalities in the video for me.
I took that to be about the resort experience when I first watched it too (it’s at about 0:47 fwiw).
And I’m also on board with these feeling less shill-y given the contrast between the Neil/TC video (high praise for the course) and the Poosh/Randy one (if anything, conspicuous absence of praise for the course). My guess is these contracts are written as, “we won’t trash the course, but if we don’t like it we’re not going to say we do.”
Was talking to @Kornwhalice about this last night. I took that as more of a judgment on the vibe. Mountain resort (a la PH) feel to it, not so much a judgement on the course/architecture
The Broadmoor is the mountain Pinehurst
I think this is really the main thrust for me in how I feel about it. I’m sure they are kind of in a no-win situation here because if they came out and said how great every OMNI course they played was they would get accused of being shills even harder.
But, like you said, Bedford Springs shined in that video and in these others the courses just didn’t so I’m glad they didn’t try to act like the courses were anything super special when I got the sense from the videos that they weren’t.
Howevah, if the guys aren’t truly enjoying the course and the content they are making, its kind of obvious.
I think you’re over simplifying it. I can enjoy any golf course. The course I play the most is an overpriced muni with almost zero character but I like playing it because I like golf.
If I can try to make my point in a different way; 6 years ago I wouldn’t have been able to form too much of an opinion on why I do not or do like a golf course. I think many golf courses fell into the same bucket for me (i.e., nice and not nice). Now I have more of an opinion and when I saw the course featured yesterday, I felt that it’s a nice course, but I would never go out of my way to play it. In contrast, most of the courses played by NLU give me this feeling of wanting to get out to that course some day.
I don’t read/post on GCA or really discuss architecture too much on here. Most of my opinions are formed by reading books by architects and listening to them on podcasts. I feel I see so much more in a golf course than I did before, I have way more opinions. Is it fair to say I’m also parroting some of their takes? Yes.
Also to add to my point, I worked at Pasatiempo 15 years ago (during and post Doak) in college. I loved that course, I thought the greens were sick, the bunkering was dramatic and so forth. I’ve played it a couple of times in the last few years and it almost feels like I’m playing a different golf course, I see so many more things from a strategic perspective.
Also not must see. The NLU video stuff peaks at just ok.
Frankly, I’m uncomfortable even saying it peaks at OK. I rarely watch an NLU video that I find interesting enough to watch to the end.
It’s no Star Wars but who is doing golf vids better than NLU and the last half dozen Tourist Sauces or Strapped?
Maybe these Omni vids lack a bit of pop (need Huber or Lauren doing swing/play critiques if you ask me) but it feels you are throwing the baby out with the bath water.
Maybe you just aren’t a golf vid guy. That’s fine
I don’t like what I’ve seen from TS or Strapped. Maybe it’s the best of a bad bunch? Either way, I don’t care for what I’ve seen and never have any desire to watch new ones. Frankly, the only NLU related stuff that I consistently like is this message board and 99% of it is not NLU. I’m guessing it’s NLU people that I find uninteresting. The podcasts are about a 50/50 hit rate for me and the videos far, far less.
Can’t fault that.
Not a pod fan myself other than major or big tourney recaps.
We all follow our own path to the Refuge.
I guess I don’t care so much where they film their content, what courses they play and such. To me the appeal of NLU has been the friendships and banter among the crew. Sort of Top Gear in that way, the cars were always secondary to the banter between Clarkson, Hammond, and May.
What golf video content do you like?
Personally, my favorite videos are Cookie Jar Golf’s course-specific videos.
I’ve also never listened to a podcast in my life.
Take this to the contrarian takes thread.
The Fried Egg makes good stuff and the “every hole” series by, I think, Golf Digest is good. That said, I rarely watch these short form videos.