the dunes and into the ocean. Even on foggy days you will hear the waves crashing and shore birds squawking from this stretch of holes.” Holes one and eighteen will be built high up on a promontory along with the clubhouse and villas. “The first and eighteenth also utilise an existing on-site pond,” said Straka. “This pond was used by sheep for drinking and bathing in generations past and will continue to be, with a sheep farm immediately west of the course. “Holes eight and nine traverse a large sand ridge to bring golfers to the upper part of the north side of the course. The tenth was identified very early on as it sits in a massive valley running northwards. Similarly, eleven was also chosen early on – it’s a short par three that plays level, but over a very deep chasm filled with gorse and has a backdrop of an Irish rock-walled country road.” The greens on holes nine, thirteen and seventeen have long views from the site’s ridge tops. “Greens will be individually shaped on site, but their locations were chosen for a variety of views and unique shotmaking,” said Straka. “Some are infinity greens while others are more punchbowl. “Everything will be fescue, so greens and surrounds will be maintained very much the same, with the ground game definitely in play. Bunkers will be to a blowout style, meaning we’ll rough them in and then hydroseed them. Once established we’ll go out and hand edge them and fill with sand. The secondary rough will consist of exposed sand and fescue.” The 18-hole layout will be the first in Ireland to be designed by Fry and Straka. “Using the natural topography was critical,” said Straka. “Every hole has unique features – some are views to the sea, sheep farms or the clubhouse, while others are sand ridges that serve as places for skyline greens or backdrops. Holes five and six have archaic locations where iron was forged centuries ago. This story will be told as golfers pass these locations.” For the cover story of the latest issue of By Design magazine – produced for the American Society of Golf Course Architects by the team responsible for GCA – Kevin Atkinson, John Fought and Raymond Hearn discuss whether putting courses are a good investment, and what gives them the best chance for success. “My mentality is almost the wilder the better, because this is for entertainment,” says Atkinson, who has designed putting courses at two country clubs in his home state of Colorado: Red Rocks and Boulder. “We’re not creating these putting courses for practice, it is about laughing and having fun. The direct ROI from the Boulder and Red Rocks putting courses is the food and beverage.” The Spring issue of By Design also includes advice on native grasses from Dave Kaplow, a case study on Greg Martin’s Settlers Hill project, details on the BIRDIE Act and a sketch from Jeff Danner for a proposed project in Portugal. To download the latest issue and subscribe to By Design, visit www.asgca.org. “The wilder the better” GOOD READ BY DESIGN Excellence in Golf Design from the American Society of Golf Course Architects ISSUE 65 // SPRING 2024 ALSO: // Curracloe Links // Settlers Hill // GCSAA Show NATIVE GRASSES Dave Kaplow provides advice on native grass selection and maintenance FLAT STICK FORMULA Are putting courses a good investment, and what gives them the best chance for success? The par-three eleventh plays over a deep chasm of gorse A large sand ridge, first encountered on the eighth, is a key feature of the north side of the course One of the first holes identified by the design team was the tenth, which sits in a massive valley running north 25
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