World-Class Course Architect Breaks Down 5 Iconic Golf Courses

Renowned Architect Agustín Pizá Breaks Down 5 iconic golf courses and holes. From The Old Course in St Andrews to Tobacco Road in North Carolina, we uncover what makes the courses stand out.
Agustín Pizá is an architect with a Masters in Golf Course Architecture from Edinburgh University in Scotland. For more than two decades Pizá has collaborated with legends of the game and world-class golf developments. His designs are known for delivering quality, sustainability, aesthetic, and strategic golf courses.
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[@swiper1131]

You can tell this guy loves the work he does. If only we could all figure out what that looked like in our lives lol

[@breakerdonut2263]

Love the Tobacco Road recognition. So much fun to play.

[@benjamindoerer1822]

Could watch these types of videos all day. Well done!

[@nickcharli1025]

Tobacco rd is the most fun I’ve ever had at a course

[@michaelmincone4188]

I’ve played there and can confirm this statement

[@mustangbob9282]

It’s #3 for me behind Ballybunion and Lahinch, but it’s like no other course in the world.

[@BenHutchinson92]

How much is a round there? Looks incredible

[@mako1134]

Never heard of the course until this and my god. How don’t we see this course of the pga tour?

[@jeffking4472]

One of the things I love about RGC is the way you guys bring course architecture into the mix. It's a great blend of playing golf with a deeper level of understanding about the courses

[@stevemoisan]

The 15th at Cypress Point is the first guitar solo in "Comfortably Numb", and the 16th is the second solo in the same song.

[@Average_Dan]

As always you provide the content we all actually want to see. Fantastic!

[@elduderino007]

Fantastic! I've always armchair analyzed my favorite courses and tried to figure out what I like and don't like. Usually, though, it's more about the views and beer availability rather than the game itself.

[@apgroyp]

Amazing video, would love to see videos like this with other architects you chat with!

[@lowkeytalented2288]

Have you watched his interview with Pete dye!?

[@apgroyp]

@@lowkeytalented2288 of course!

[@blairsterling6141]

Stirling / Martin design great courses, always within tight budgets. Remember, Dye, Nicklaus, Fazio, Crenshaw and many other known architects of golf, demand unlimited budgets.. this can bankrupt many developers.

[@rileyblomenkamp391]

I nerded out through this whole video! Just showing my appreciation for another great video. Please don't ever stop!

[@mark.dijkstra]

What a great video! Love to hear more on the architecture of golfcourses, super interesting.

[@johnpannebaker5757]

I had never heard of Tobacco Road before this video. Looks absolutely stunning!

[@robertoalvarez2777]

Agui, keep doing vids…love to hear YOU “painting” the holes…bravo!

[@Nathan-dt1zv]

Played Tobacco road during march break this year… best course I’ve ever played, not surprised it ranked #1 on his list… love this vid

[@lowkeytalented2288]

Oh Erik how Iv missed these videos from you! Hope you’re doing well! Can’t wait to see the next one!

[@simonarnold3597]

I love that he talks about Strantz the way he does. I hope someone with some $$ buys Tot Hill and brings that course the respect all Strantz courses deserve.

[@chrisjeffers7300]

this was awesome! THANKS!

[@DaleFairless]

I could listen to him for hours, please break down more holes!

[@rustypinetree]

best golf channel on youtube 🔥

[@jasontaylor7215]

Love this video. Love Augie. Él Unsay (hope I spelled that right) is going to be a bucket list course for me.

[@alexandermorris5630]

So awesome!

[@GolfOnTap]

That lampshade is having a party back there..... I'm in for it...

[@IAsteve]

Lol to the Wes Anderson nod, fun little break

[@RandomGolfClubFilms]

Great catch, lots of Hotel Chevalier inspo went into that ad!

[@dominikaltheimer9992]

Good one 👍🏼

[@Rolfrad]

Mr. Piza - You are the right person to answer this question. Regarding #17 at TPC sawgrass- I do not see that hole as being that difficult. It is not a long shot, it is very large green. My thought is that the issue the pros are having is that they do not simply hit it into the middle of the green. Most of the water balls as I see it are the result of them trying to hit to areas of the green that are simply sucker pins - front right and left, back right. Granted if you hit to the middle, there is a (very) long breaking putt, and you have lost the opportunity for a birdie. The one day I played the hole (6 handicap), I hit to the middle, and then three putted, but I had a reasonable chance for par, and avoided double or worse. Am I wrong about this? When the wind is up is it difficult even to just get it anywhere on the green?

[@gators9570]

If I’m not mistaken, the clip where they were complaining about the difficultly wasn’t just because of the wind. The green was extremely hard and cut tight to the point that guys were hitting to the middle and having their balls bounce right off the back end of the green. Guys shooting at sucker pins is definitely a big part of it but the intimidation of the water with a huge crowd in tournament definitely makes it a very difficult par 3. Guys realize putting a ball in the water there likely means a double bogey at best and their thoughts can wander from there

[@grantpaterson8963]

Great video!

[@puredistancegolf]

Really cool episode.

[@owennielsen9792]

I’m actually interested in maybe becoming a golf course architect. Very helpful!

[@blairsterling6141]

First, go work in golf course maintenance. 2nd step, go work in the construction of golf course. 3rd, go get a masters degree in Landscape Architecture. Or civil Engineering. Next, go work for an experienced golf course designer...the entire process is long, difficult, and require many years of devotion.

[@MUY-BN]

Great video. Any updates on the course he and Brandel Chamblee are building in Mexico?

[@KaiserVonWilhelm1]

Tell you what this is real random and not about the topic at hand here. But I have been all about that IWC Big Pilot watch hes wearing. And this video, seeing the vibe and style on wrist from this guy, sealed the deal for me that its my next watch purchase. Its a tremendous piece

[@Chyeahokay]

17 in March at sawgrass is amazing. We get to see who the real craftsmen are. Who knows how to gauge wind, and choose the right shot.

[@martinw8062]

I would really like to play with him on my home course in sweden just to hear his input on it.

[@wadepatton2433]

And me here with Sweeten's just a few hills and hollers away. Still looking to get on. I'm taking hickories.

[@zareh805]

I would attend a Master Class on course design from this man.

[@LOGEZZZZZBRO]

Missing the RGC content from a couple years ago over the past few months =[

[@maxholtzhouser385]

Fascinating, coming from a golf Sicko

[@ESW206]

Thought he’d break down shots more tbh

[@robertoalvarez2777]

Bien hecho!

[@TheKavitoo]

what watch is he wearing?

[@jasontaylor7215]

I was wondering the same thing! It is a IWC Big Pilot.

[@qwinn4911]

When I think “when as the last rgc video” there’s a new upload. Lol

[@andygreen3253]

Party in Las Vegas again with the Architects ??

[@markherring6143]

its espresso. no x and no need to put on a pretentious accent. But really good content here from rgc, id love a series on the legends of golf course design and their history. Living in nc, i play alot of donald ross courses and find his story fascinating.

[@alecmacknight]

why his lamp shade rocking?

[@benschroeder6675]

This gives me architect digest vibes

[@andy.robinson]

Tell me with a straight face that Sawgrass #17 doesn’t look like someone pooping a golf ball 🙈

[@howardchen3456]

St andrews en around for decades? Wow! 😂

[@VaidyKrishnan1]

He looks like Gale Boetticher from Breaking Bad

[@ryanu3708]

Modern American courses in my experience have way too many bunkers and sand traps. It's one of the root causes of slow play. There's been some studies done on this but I can't find what I'm looking for on the web. The average 90 shooter golfer is rarely on the fairway or the green and doesn't have the talent to negotiate fairway and green side bunkers. I love old courses that have grown into the lay of land and have a natural feel instead of something that feels like adult goofy golf.

[@Aritz789]

First! Woo

[@frednadeau2709]

I hate that he talks like we are supposed to know everything he's talking about... He looks so passionate, I would love to be able to understand a bit more about what he's saying. Lovely video otherwise!

[@tomarmstrong3297]

I stopped after 1st 2 holes, He just wasn’t giving relevant info or explaining well

[@jimiverson3085]

Actually, the Old Course has existed for centuries.

[@wadepatton2433]

Yes I heard that error too. I think he well knows that and simply misspoke.

[@user-wp5gu2sy3f]

Я служил солдатом в НАТО более 20 лет - до 1991 года, и врагом всегда были русские. Не слишком ли много требовать от молдаван, немцев Поволжья и жителей Трансильвании чуть менее 20 лет военной службы? наконец добиться? My forster-daddy and I constructed or founded the Golf & Country Club Schönenberg but on moneyhouse is pretended that the golf course has an owner since 22 years what is conditional truth because we did it around the time when I was a teen . The golf course Schwanheim = the U.S.-Army Officer Casino at Frankfurt am Main, Germany, where at Schwanheim I was the elected president of a golf student house was my home as a twenty year old golf crack. The Golf & Country Club Schönenberg has a lake as a bunker

[@jaewoopark8478]

The thumbnail made me think his two other jobs were a meth cook and a lawyer!

[@beaupridemore9775]

Remove pace of play and I’ll stop and smell and check those views out. Otherwise got the Marshall an ol man Withers group on me.

[@petermcgill1315]

17 at Sawgrass…? Really?