The Spring 2024 issue of By Design magazine from the American Society of Golf Course Architects is now available in digital format.

The cover story of the latest issue turns the spotlight to the flat stick and poses the question: Are putting courses a good investment, and what gives them the best chance for success? Golf course architects Kevin Atkinson, John Fought and Raymond Hearn draw on examples of their own work to outline a formula for success.

By Design also includes and advice on native grass selection and maintenance from consultant Dave Kaplow. “From a practical perspective, native grasses make it possible to reduce or even eliminate most maintenance costs,” he says. “This is because there are native species for all site conditions, from wet to dry, poor soils to rich, and from shady sites to sunny.”

There is a profile on Settlers Hill in Illinois, where Greg Martin has addressed issues relating to the stabilization on the landfill site, as well as the course’s drainage and playability. There’s much more too, including news of the new Curracloe Links course, designed by Fry/Straka, that is now in construction in Ireland, details of the BIRDIE Act, a collage of images from the 2024 GCSAA Conference & Trade Show in Phoenix, and a sketch from Jeff Danner for a proposed project in Portugal.

By Design is free of charge. To subscribe, visit the By Design page of the ASGCA website, where you can also review the entire back catalogue.