What is your experience with redesigning existing courses? Is it better to start from scratch? Do you keep only the best existing holes with possibly some minor tweaks? Or do you work with the original layout as much as possible?
I know this will vary greatly depending on the original design and it's hard to make generalizations. I'm just looking for any advice from John or anyone else who has been down this road before.
Well, I think you've really answered your own question already: it depends.
If a completely new design from scratch is really an option, then you've got all kinds of new possibilities (unless the property is small and/or narrow or otherwise limited).
What's interesting about that kind of "redesign" is that it's even more complex than making a brand new course is, because you've got additional decisions to make. For example, if you have concrete tees, you now need to ask if it's worth the cost/effort to move or repour the tee. And you now have to deal with a whole new set of expectations -- what will the players think about you modifying or eliminating their favorite holes? Players can get very attached to their favorite courses and holes.
Tom makes a really good point: changing a hole just to make it "harder" or "longer" is a temptation you really need to watch out for. I've seen good holes ruined by redesigners trying to achieve one of those two results.
For what it's worth, the redesgn we're doing at Live Oak is essentially a whole new beginning. There are areas of the park that we're now going to clear, and the parks department's commitment to having world class courses is a big factor. Also the state of the art of course design has come along way in ten years, and what was innovative and exceptional back then may be different from what's exceptional today. I'm really excited about the new courses, and I think they will be several steps above and beyond the original courses.
For what it's worth, the question I keep asking myself is this: "Is there any way that someone is going to think the old hole is preferable to the new hole?" If I'm confident that the new version is clearly better and that I've done the best I can with what I have to work with, then it's a go.
Good luck with your project. Hope it turns out great.