Any superintendent will be quick to emphasise the importance of water when it comes to ensuring a golf course is in the best condition for play. Without the correct use of water, a golf course can quickly become a shell of its former self – something which can have major ramifications for play, and the club as a whole. In the lead feature of our October 2016 edition, Adam Lawrence takes a look at how better management of irrigation systems can help save such a precious entity.

Our cover features the second course at Sand Valley, which has been designed by David McLay Kidd and is currently taking shape. We speak to the architect about the new course in this issue’s tee box section.

Also in the tee box, we cover the redesign plans for the Whittington Heath Golf Club in the UK, speak to Trevor Dormer about his recent work in Japan, and reflect on the life of Arnold Palmer.

In our pioneer article, Keith Cutten examines the influence of Horace Hutchinson on course architecture. Alejandro Nagy profiles Spain’s oldest course – Real Club de Golf de Las Palmas – and Frank Pont discusses how nine-hole golf could bring golf back to urban areas.

We also visit the renovated course at Golf de Vidauban, described as ‘the most exclusive golf club in Europe’, and take a trip to the Golfclub Hamburg Walddörfer following the completion of recent work led by Christoph Städler.

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