The difference between a great golf course and a merely pleasant one has almost nothing to do with how green the grass is or how dramatic the scenery looks. It has everything to do with what the architect did with the land. Appreciating that architecture and distinguishing it from the noise of rankings, reputation, and false dichotomy of pristine conditioning takes a little bit of study and willingness to think about the details.

The green complex is often described as the "soul" of a golf hole. While a stunning tee shot or a well-placed fairway bunker sets the stage, the green is where the drama concludes. But what distinguishes a truly great set of greens from a merely functional one?