The global journal of golf design and development I SSUE 77JULY 2024
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1 WELCOME ADAM LAWRENCE It is more than 40 years since Ron Prichard basically invented the concept of restoring a golf course to its original design, at Texarkana Country Club in Arkansas. Since then, hundreds of courses, mostly in America (mostly originally designed by Donald Ross), have been ‘restored’ by any number of architects. Though golf architecture has its roots in the UK, the restoration movement has not really made any significant strides here. There are a number of reasons for this; principally, I think, the smaller amount of money available for course projects in the British market. Until recently, it has been hard to persuade British clubs to spend significant funds on their courses and, in truth, the UK has remained in thrall to the post-war design school of Robert Trent Jones and the like, that believed the old courses could, and should, be improved by alterations when funds were available. There have been projects with a historically sensitive mindset – the heathland courses of Surrey and Berkshire, for example, have mostly been trying to improve their stands of heather for some years – but they have not been big enough, or high profile enough, to constitute a ‘restoration movement’. And in many cases, even where projects have been sold as restorative, architects have proved unable to resist a little tinkering, claiming that the work ‘is what the original architect would have done if he were still here’ (which, I am afraid, is never more than speculation). In the last couple of years, though, we have seen one or two large-scale projects that could genuinely be called restorative break cover. The work at the Addington, which we profiled in January, is trailblazing, and more recently, St George’s Hill has appointed a team led by Renaissance Golf Design’s Brian Schneider, with a restorative brief. The latter is a reflection of a change in mindset: the club has been talking about restorative work for a long time, but has proved unwilling to press the button; perhaps it now will. And perhaps the post-Covid boom in golf, and the extra money that it has made available to clubs, will see the start of a genuine British restoration movement. Restored to glory?
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5 Follow Golf Course Architecture: PEFC Certi ed This product is from sustainably managed forests and controlled sources www.pefc.org PEFC/16-33-576 Golf Course Architecture is published with the support and guidance of the American Society of Golf Course Architects, the European Institute of Golf Course Architects, and GEO Foundation. In 2023, the EIGCA presented Golf Course Architecture with its Harry Colt Award, which recognises outstanding contributions to golf or golf development. Contributing Editor Adam Lawrence News Editor Richard Humphreys Editorial team Alice Chambers, Rebecca Gibson, Amber Hickman, Laura Hyde, Alex Smith Contributors William Carlson, Giulia Ferroni Design Bruce Graham, Libby Sidebotham, Dhanika Vansia Subscribe www.golfcoursearchitecture.net/subscribe Publisher Toby Ingleton Publication & Sales Manager Benedict Pask Production Manager Stuart Fairbrother Website Development Chris Jackson Circulation Sophia Brinkley Photography Tom Breazeale, Brandon Carter, CDP, Craigend Golf Course, Brian Curley, Dream Golf, Dye Designs, EIGCA, Giulia Ferroni, Kyle Franz, Fry/Straka, Gold Hill Country Club, Golf It!, Golfplan, Patrick Jacobsen, Harris Kalinka, Andy Hiseman, James Hogg, Hole 18 Golfcourse Photography, Hunters Run Country Club, Mike Koprowski, Kyle Phillips Golf Course Design, Jason Michael Lang, Leeds Golf Design, Gary Lisbon, Mackenzie & Ebert, Mimosa Plus Golf Course, Mottin Golf Renovations, Kevin Murray, Jim Nagle, Nicklaus Design, NMP Golf Construction, Northwood Golf Club, Patrick Oien, Ombria Resort Golf Course, Pangaea Golf Architecture, Paul McGinley Golf Course Design, Jeremy Pern, Rob Perry, Toptracer, The R&A, Rees Jones, Inc., Rumanza Golf and Country Club, Jacob Sjöman, WAC Golf, West Herts Golf Club, Peter Wong Published by Tudor Rose Tudor House, 6 Friar Lane Leicester LE1 5RA Tel: +44 116 222 9900 www.tudor-rose.co.uk ISSN 1745-3585 (print) ISSN 2754-9828 (online) Printed in Great Britain by Micropress Printers. © 2024 Tudor Rose Holdings Ltd. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be stored or transmitted or reproduced in any form or by any means, including whether by photocopying, scanning, downloading onto computer or otherwise without the prior written permission from Tudor Rose Holdings Ltd. Views expressed in Golf Course Architecture are not necessarily those of the publishers. Acceptance of advertisements does not imply official endorsement of the products or services concerned. While every care has been taken to ensure accuracy of content, no responsibility can be taken for any errors and/or omissions. Readers should take appropriate professional advice before acting on any issue raised herein. The publisher reserves the right to accept or reject advertising material and editorial contributions. The publisher assumes no liability for the return of unsolicited art, photography or manuscripts. It is assumed that any images taken from sources which are widely distributed, such as on the Web, are in the public domain. It is recognised though that since such images tend to be passed freely between sources it is not always possible to track the original source. If copyrighted material has ended up being treated as public domain due to the original source not being identified please contact the publisher, Tudor Rose. Golf Course Architecture (ISSN No: 1745-3585) is published quarterly by Tudor Rose, and distributed in the USA by Asendia USA, 701 Ashland Ave, Folcroft PA. Application to Mail at Periodicals Postage Prices is pending at Philadelphia, PA and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: send address changes to Golf Course Architecture, 701 Ashland Ave, Folcroft, PA. 19032.
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8 CONTENTS FEATURE 40 Legislation currently before the US Congress would extend the copyright protection that currently exists for buildings architecture to golf course design. Adam Lawrence considers its impact. TEE BOX 10 Our Tee Box section opens with news from Surrey, England, where Royal Wimbledon has now completed eight years of renovation work. INSIGHT 38 Giulia Ferroni of Leeds Golf Design spells out the intricacies of executing a masterplan and the skills required from a golf course architect. FEATURE 48 Ten golf course architects have been recognised for design solutions that serve the broader environment, operational efficiencies and local communities. ON SITE 60 Kyle Phillips has transformed some desolate land north of Thailand’s capital into one of the country’s best golf courses. Richard Humphreys reports. Cover photograph courtesy of Jason Michael Lang
9 ON SITES 66 Tom Doak’s newest creation at Sand Valley might convince American golfers that courses do not need to be long to be great. Richard Humphreys pays a visit. 72 Spey Bay in Scotland is a very old-fashioned links with very modern ownership, an interesting mix, says Adam Lawrence. REPORTS 76 Kipp Schulties returned to Florida’s Hunters Run to oversee a near-$10 million project on the East course. 80 Sahalee Country Club prepared for the 2024 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship with a programme of sensitive renovation work. 84 Kevin Norby has completed a centennial project at Minnesota’s Golden Valley, to modernise infrastructure and restore much of AW Tillinghast’s design philosophy. 86 Fry/Straka and NMP Golf Construction are embarking on a huge rebuild of the North course at The Club at Quail Ridge in Florida. HOLING OUT 88 Junior golfer William Carlson speaks about his first foray in golf course design. INTERVIEW 54 A golf designer for close to 40 years, Brian Curley has surely clocked up more air miles than anyone else in the business. Adam Lawrence caught up with him to discuss his career.
TEE BOX Surrey club completes eight years of work on course with Willie Park Jr and Harry Colt heritage. Heathland restoration for Royal Wimbledon 10 The ninth hole at Royal Wimbledon, with new bunkering and an expanded green
Royal Wimbledon Golf Club in Surrey, England, has now completed eight years of renovation work, with contractor MJ Abbott executing a masterplan created by Mackenzie & Ebert. The design firm conducted initial planning and developed its plan in the mid-2010s, and work began in 2016. Tom Dunn designed the original Royal Wimbledon course in 1882 but the club moved to its present location in 1907, with a Willie Park Jr layout that was redesigned in 1924 by Harry Colt. A century later and the renovation work aims to ensure Royal Wimbledon remains among the best courses in the county. “The approach from day one was to make the whole course play more consistently from start to finish and to emphasise the heathland character of many holes,” said Tom Mackenzie. “We have sought to bring elements of that character to the lower areas, which are more parkland in style.” An extensive heathland restoration is also taking place. “Many holes lie within a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), with trees being removed to give the heather and turf room to breathe,” said Mackenzie. “This opened views across to the North Downs from the first tee, which had previously been cloaked with trees.” The plan covers all golf course features, including new forward tees, as well as substantial irrigation and drainage upgrades. “The first phases on the drier, upper holes were done through operational capital, but the scale of the drainage needed on the lower holes meant that the approach changed, and funds were raised to complete the project quickly,” said Mackenzie. “Each phase was scrutinised before construction started to ensure that the approach was consistent.” At the par-four first, trees were cleared to open up long-range views from the tee, bunkers were reshaped, 11 Photo: Mackenzie & Ebert
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TEE BOX and the green was expanded to its original size. The eighteenth was rebuilt with fairway bunkers reconfigured and the green revamped to make it a fairer test. “As the project developed through the phases, it also became clear that the fourteenth needed to be realigned to address a safety issue and the solution was to make the hole a short par five, breaking up a run of tough par fours from eleven to sixteen,” said Mackenzie. “The additional shot to par means that the overall par matches the course rating, but, more valuably, it has produced a visually stimulating hole with many more choices and options. It has turned a tough par four that most would kindly have described as a slog into a fun birdie opportunity, so it has been a big improvement to the layout.” Throughout the renovation, the design team has made use of aerial photography from 1924, cross referenced with old plans from the club’s archives. “The oblique aerial photographs were from the year that Colt’s revised course opened, with Park’s original holes still clearly visible,” said Mackenzie. “We also found interesting ground photography of holes like the fifth, which were used during the shaping process. MJ Abbott did a great job recreating these shapes. “A wonderful aerial of the thirteenth and seventeenth greens was also found, showing how much these holes had become overgrown and how the style and number of bunkers had been diluted to the obvious detriment of both holes. These images inspired the work, but in researching the club’s minute books, it was found that Colt’s bunkers had immediately proved impractical to manage, so it would have been folly to restore exactly those bunkers with their associated problems. The look produced is certainly faithful to that of a century ago but in a more maintainable form.” Bunkers have been restyled and repositioned with the aim of improving the course’s aesthetics, playability and strategy. “The club has a great heritage and a priority for us was to create bunkers that were built to the best modern standards, but in a way that make them look appropriate to a historic course like this,” said Mackenzie. “A big change in character was the creation of closely mown areas around greens, while also restoring the greens to their original size, both of which emphasise the sophisticated original shapes. Many were the creation of Colt, but our historical research highlighted a surprising number of Park greens had been retained too. “Understandably, the club saved the hardest and most costly phase until last; those on the lower, wetter holes. This has involved the installation of vast amounts of drainage along with the rest of the irrigation, green and bunkering work. Acidic gravelly soils were selected and brought down to build the fairway bunker surrounds to allow them to become thin and wispy in the same way that those on the upper heathland holes are, bringing the character of the two different levels together.” At the thirteenth, bunkers have been renovated to a style that is faithful to Colt’s 1924 work Photo: Mackenzie & Ebert 13
14 Mimosa reopens after 36-hole rebuild Mimosa Plus Golf Course in the Philippines has reopened following a 36-hole renovation project overseen by the Nelson & Haworth design firm. The Mimosa golf complex was built in the mid-1990s on Clark Field, a former US air base that was damaged in 1991 by the eruption of Mount Pinatubo. As a result, the US military abandoned the base, and its 18-hole course, and returned it to the Philippine authorities. In 1992/1993, the government redeveloped the Clark area, which is approximately 100 kilometres north of Manila, as a free port zone, and appointed golf architecture firm Nelson & Wright to design a completely new 36-hole golf complex on the former Clark Field. Twenty-seven holes opened in 1994 with the final nine following shortly afterwards. Mimosa now comprises the 18-hole championship course (Mountainview) and two ninehole layouts (Acacia and Lakeview). In the early 2010s, The Bases Conversion and Development Authority sued Antonio Gonzales, Mimosa’s chair, and took custody and ownership of the property. “After this takeover, the course saw little in the way of investment or maintenance and over time conditions at Mimosa had deteriorated significantly,” said Brett Mogg, partner at Nelson & Haworth. In 2016, however, a change of ownership signalled a better future. Mogg and Neil Haworth (who passed away in June 2024, see next page) were approached by Filinvest, a major Filipino property developer, and were appointed to develop a 36-hole masterplan. Filinvest wanted to reserve part of the property for the development of a shopping mall and more, which meant that several holes on the Lakeview nine needed to be reconfigured, while retaining most of the original routing. “The reasoning for retaining the routing was that the original worked well and there was a desire and government requirement to retain all of the large mimosa trees that form the backbone of the course’s character,” said Mogg. “Our work was largely to improve playing conditions, which was made possible by a new Rain Bird irrigation system, an AquaFUSION polyethylene fusion system by CMF Global and encouraging the native zoysia to take over.” Other changes have included green expansion and the removal of bunkers on the Mountainview course that were only impacting high handicappers. This work to improve conditions and playability has helped the resort spread play more evenly over the 36 holes. TEE BOX
15 Photo: Mimosa Plus Golf Course Gold Hill set to finally open in Korea Gold Hill Country Club, located an hour’s drive away from Seoul, South Korea, is continuing to grow in ahead of a grand opening that has been greatly anticipated. Construction of the golf course, designed by a local architect, began in 2019 but it never opened. The course has changed hands a few times, with Ramid Group acquiring it in 2022, and now, together with Troon, it is completing construction of the layout and is on track to open for preview play in September with a grand opening later this year. Troon International is providing support in a range of areas, including development and pre-opening services, post-opening agronomy, marketing and operations services. Troon Golf will manage and operate the club. “The entire course exudes warmth and comfort, fostering independent play in a consistently pleasant atmosphere,” said Ahn Hojun, general manager at Gold Hill. “The highlight is undoubtedly the par-four sixteenth, which sits at the highest point of the course, offering a breathtaking panoramic view of four cities. “Gold Hill will attract golfers from the cities of Cheonan, Pyeongtaek, Anseong and Asan. And given it is located just an hour away from Seoul, it will almost certainly serve golfers from there, too.” Photo: Gold Hill Country Club Neil Haworth 1960 – 2024 Golf course architect Neil Haworth passed away in Canada in June 2024. He began his career at Graham Cooke and Associates before moving to Singapore in 1990 to work for Nelson & Wright. In 2000, he became chairman of Nelson & Haworth and, with Robin Nelson and Brett Mogg, designed courses in a host of countries, including Australia, France, Japan, Pakistan, USA and Vietnam. Following Nelson’s death in 2013, Haworth and Mogg retained the firm’s name in Nelson’s honour. Haworth’s designs include Sheshan International and Jade Dragon in China, Golf Saint-Raphaël in Canada and the rebuild of the Island course at Singapore Island Country Club.
16 TEE BOX THE BIG PICTURE The par-four sixth hole at Trump International Golf Club Lido, an Ernie Els Design course in Indonesia that will open this month, as photographed by Jacob Sjöman. The club, owned by resort developer MNC Land, is located at MNC Lido City, a new destination two hours south of Jakarta that has been approved by the government as a tourism special economic zone. “It’s such a beautiful piece of land with incredible views, so naturally we wanted to work with that and create a golf course that goes with the flow,” said Greg Letsche, design associate at Ernie Els Design. “For bunkers, sometimes the topography whispers gently to you and, as a designer, you listen. The greens are interesting because the elevation changes and the wider landscape creates something of an optical illusion. Some of the greens look like they go one way, or may appear relatively flat, but they play very differently, so they’re deceptive. Els and Letsche have worked on the project with superintendent Mick Pascoe, general manager Steven Thielke and MNC’s head manager Dustin Jennings. Atlas Turf International has provided Zorro Zoysia turfgrass for the tees, fairways and rough. “This place is spectacular,” said Els. “This is going to be a ‘go-to destination’ for golfers in this part of the world.”
Soluptatis ea ilignie nducid modi odi dolum vendem esciant harumenetUptatia vidit etur, optatem porion et queitius erundae rsperum quostrum que audigenisci si recus Photo: credit Photo: Jacob Sjöman 17
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Van der Vaart adds punchbowl green to Keppelse Michiel van der Vaart has created a new punchbowl green as part of the first phase of work at Keppelse Golf Club in the Netherlands. Spogárd & VanderVaart developed a masterplan in 2023, which focused on preserving the landscape of the Old nine and bringing the New nine more in line with those holes. The club also wanted to address the crossing on holes fourteen and fifteen, as well as shortening walks. The first phase, which was completed in July 2023 and opened in June 2024, focused on holes ten and seventeen. “I added a new hole on a triangularshaped area between the old tenth and eighteenth,” said van der Vaart. “It was just big enough to create a 136yard par three… and the seventeenth was born! “The tenth’s former green was perfect for playing to, but in a completely different direction. The walk from the new seventeenth to the eighteenth tee [former ninth] was shortened considerably. A new green for hole ten had to be built in the empty triangle. I utilised this area, which comprised a large depression with high mounds all around… I immediately thought, this must become a punchbowl green!” Read more about Keppelse on www.golfcoursearchitecture.net TEE BOX EIGCA recognises outstanding contributions of Hawtree and Harradine During its annual meeting in Copenhagen, Denmark, the European Institute of Golf Course Architects (EIGCA) recognised the contributions of Martin Hawtree and Peter Harradine with the presentation of Outstanding Contribution Awards. “Both these recipients represent families for whom the major contribution made to the Institute, its predecessor organisations and golf course design are undeniable,” said EIGCA president Caspar Grauballe. Both the Hawtree and Harradine families have been associated with golf course design for over 100 years. Martin’s grandfather Fred G. Hawtree started business in 1912, working primarily with James Braid. Peter’s stepgrandfather Albert Hockey remodelled his first course in 1920 and worked with his stepson Don, Peter’s father. Don and Peter worked together until 1980, and now Peter runs the firm alongside his own son Michael. The awards came at the end of a week where EIGCA members, partners and sponsors played rounds of golf at Flommen in Sweden and Royal Copenhagen, as well as attending sessions on a variety of topics from robotic mowers and golf course design, the use of digital tools for architects and making a positive impact for golfers with disabilities. Photos: EIGCA Photo: Hole 18 Golfcourse Photography 19
TEE BOX In May, the front nine of the Spring Mill course reopened at Philadelphia Country Club in Pennsylvania, and 18 holes reopened at Meridian Hills Country Club in Indiana. Jim Nagle has led both projects, working on similar briefs: to update the course to modern playing equipment, while also respecting the original design. What was Philadelphia’s rationale for the renovation? It needed to replace ageing infrastructure. The irrigation system was over 25 years old, bunkers were draining poorly, the greens were lacking in drainage and the subsoils required replacing. The club also took advantage of the opportunity to look to the year it hosted the US Open (1939) and attempt to restore as much of the course as possible with the photos from the Open being a tremendous resource in the rebuilding process. Could you provide an overview of the work you have completed? We have rebuilt the greens; regrassed fairways and greens; reconstructed bunkers and added new drainage, “ As someone who has spent most of his career focused on restoring, it was very gratifying to create something new” Jim Nagle has balanced restoration and renovation elements for his work at both Philadelphia CC and Meridian Hills CC. Q&A with Jim Nagle Bunkers at Philadelphia CC have been rebuilt closer to Flynn’s original style and now feature Better Billy Bunker liner Photo: Mottin Golf Renovations 20
21 Photo: Jim Nagle Better Billy Bunker liner, new sand and fescue surrounds; added new forward and back tees; widened fairways; undertaken tree management; and installed new irrigation. Bunkers are being relocated or reinstated on 10 holes to further enhance the playability of the course and to restore the original design intent of William Flynn. The biggest change will be the rebuild of eighteen. The hole was rebuilt in 1955 and was a departure from the rest of the course in both its bunker construction and the internal undulations of the green. The new eighteenth will draw inspiration from the course’s original fifth, which no longer exists, as well as bunker concepts befitting a Flynn design, with an emphasis on a cluster of bunkers on the inside of the dogleg where I drew inspiration from the sixteenth at Shinnecock Hills. How have you balanced the restoration and modernisation elements of this project? Greens were laser scanned and mapped and by rebuilding them, we have the opportunity to recapture over 22,000 square feet of lost putting surface, enabling the club to reinstitute lost hole locations not seen in decades. Also, historic aerials and ground level photos enabled Mottin Golf Renovations to recreate the bunkering as accurately as possible. For your work at Meridian Hills, what was the impetus for the renovation? Like Philadelphia, it was the ageing infrastructure, which we have also replaced in this project. The original remaining greens had shrunken, and six greens rebuilt in the early 2000s were not performing well. The club had a strong desire to look back at its original William Diddel design as well as reconfiguring those six rebuilt holes. What has your work at Meridian Hills involved? In addition to rebuilding those six greens to better match the originals designed by Diddel, Aspen Golf has expanded the remaining 12 to their original size. All bunkers were rebuilt with nearly all expanded, some relocated, and others eliminated. Numerous bunkers were also reinstated, while others were repositioned further from the tee. Bunkers are now in a single style, play more consistent and won’t washout as easily. Players will also find better playing options on the newly redesigned holes – four to seven, nine and ten – while they will also see greater variety, interest and challenge in the existing 12 holes. What have been the biggest changes at Meridian Hills? Both my Meridian Hills and Philadelphia projects have been ‘restovations’. Portions of the Meridian course were fully renovated while drawing inspiration from the original William Diddel design. I studied the original bunker style and locations, expanding all greens to their original sizes, and restoring (primarily) the par threes. The par fours and fives had portions restored whereas other areas were renovated to match today’s playing equipment and to also add interest and challenge to the property. As someone who has spent most of his career focusing on restoring golf courses, on the stretch of holes from the fourth green through to the parthree seventh, then the ninth green and tenth hole, it was very gratifying to be able to create something new. Although I drew inspiration from the original design style of the 1923 course, I was able to create something that fits with the remaining 12 holes but is entirely new and something not previously seen at the club. At Meridian Hills, Nagle has renovated all bunkers to a single, coherent style
22 Jeremy Pern routes Benin’s first course around sacred grove and voodoo shrines TEE BOX Construction firm Gregori International has started work on Avlékété Golf Course, a new 18-hole golf layout by Jeremy Pern, near Cotonou, the largest city in Benin. “With government procedures in Africa being quite lengthy, I started working on the project on an unofficial basis around 18 months ago, producing sketches and looking at sites,” said Pern. “After going through all the procedures, we got the official green light at the beginning of the year. We more or less started building the course straight away.” The site for the golf course is one kilometre from the coast. “It’s a long, thin stretch of land of about 100 hectares,” said Pern. “Parts of the land are great, and parts are a bit of a challenge. About half of it is rolling sand, very ‘linksy’, plus or minus a couple of metres in height, where farmers were growing tomatoes, peppers, manioc, maize and all sorts on the sand. Surrounding the sandy area is swampland and a coastal lagoon. There’s also a wide range of trees – including a variety of palms, coconut and mango. Photo: Jeremy Pern Avlékété Golf Course will occupy a long, thin stretch of land of about 100 hectares
23 “One thing that I have been impressed by is the level of environmental surveillance and permitting, quite different to my past experience in Africa. There have been comprehensive environmental impact studies extending to social, cultural and financial issues including government compensation to the farmers. All the coconuts and palms in the playing areas will be transplanted into the rough. However, we have to avoid the forest clumps. If there is a special tree that we can’t move, then the golf course has to be routed around it. And with 100 hectares to play with, we have plenty of room.” It is not just trees that will be protected. “There are seven voodoo shrines on the site, of which there are several we can’t touch,” said Pern. “Three or four of the voodoo temples – they’re shrines and altars in the trees – can be moved by their priests. And in the middle of the site is a sacred grove, which is a clump of trees covering an area of about half a hectare, that has to be preserved and isolated. This sacred grove sits beside the big lagoon and is dedicated to the fishing deities.” Construction is expected to take two years, with 250 local people employed to help Gregori International build the course, which is expected to open by the end of 2025. Read more about the origins and design of Avlékété Golf Course on www.golfcoursearchitecture.net Städler & Reinmuth Golfdesign has been commissioned to plan the high-end 18-hole golf course for the ultra-luxury La Maviglia resort in the Puglia region of Italy, that will open in 2027. The resort spans 202 hectares of olive orchard less than a kilometre from the coast of the Gulf of Taranto and accessible from Bari International and Brindisi airports. “The golf course will integrate countless cultural sites dating back to the 16th and 18th centuries, in particular numerous trulli – traditional Apulian dry stone huts – which can be found everywhere on the resort grounds and come into play visually and strategically on numerous holes,” said Christoph Städler. “The landscape is also characterised by countless century-old olive and fig trees, dune landscapes and by the macchia – the typical Mediterranean scrub.” The design team, supported by irrigation designer Giles Wardle of Irriplan and agronomist firm Turfgrass, has been tasked with creating a high-end course that is also capable of hosting professional tournaments. Städler & Reinmuth’s design reveals closing holes for each nine to be played alongside one of three lakes to be excavated on the property. The designers have central fairway bunkers on several holes and formal hazards are complemented by large areas of exposed sand dune. Photo: Harris Kalinka Städler & Reinmuth design course for the new La Maviglia resort in Puglia
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25 Photo: Pangaea Golf Architecture Pangaea appointed for renovation of two Scottish layouts Pangaea Golf Architecture, the design practice of Stuart Rennie and Jeff Danner, has been selected by South Ayrshire Council in Scotland to develop renovation plans for its Darley and Belleisle courses. The authority looks after eight golf courses, with the £5 million investment into Darley and Belleisle aimed at raising the bar of both layouts, which also includes irrigation upgrades and a new academy. Rennie and Danner will be supported on the projects at Darley and Belleisle by former Open champion Paul Lawrie. The initial design concepts are expected to be unveiled this summer. “Having grown up playing historic courses like Darley and Belleisle, this is an exciting opportunity to bring our passion and expertise in design to get it right,” said Rennie. “Our goal is to enhance the playability and natural beauty of these courses, ensuring they meet the highest standards for golfers of all levels.” Marc Westenborg has completed bunker work on 14 holes at West Herts Golf Club in Rickmansworth, England, and will oversee renovation of the remaining four holes later in 2024. “Part of the masterplan that I created 10 years ago was the bunkers, which required urgent attention because of their eroded lips, contaminated sand, blocked drainage and the fact that some of the fairway bunkers were no longer in the correct location,” said Westenborg. “The renovation has ensured that the bunkers are in perfect condition, reducing the risk of poor lies. Reducing the number of bunkers by 14, thereby also reducing the intensity of maintaining those that remain, has also allowed the maintenance crew more time to concentrate on improving other areas of the golf course. “Additionally, the creation of closely mown swales and hollows, which have replaced some bunkers around green complexes, means golfers have a wider variety of shots to play.” Photo: West Herts Golf Club TEE BOX Bunkers revamped at West Herts
26 TEE BOX The par-three eighth plays 40 feet downhill through a dramatic half-pipe chasm Grassing is nearing completion on the new Kyle Franz and Mike Koprowski-designed Broomsedge course in Rembert, South Carolina. “If you intend to design and build a minimalist golf course, routing is the single most important thing – so important that I developed a conceptual routing before I even put in an offer on the land upon which Broomsedge now sits,” said Koprowski. “I needed to feel comfortable that a great course could exist on the land; otherwise, there was no point in even buying the property.” The course will occupy 156 acres of the club’s 235-acre site, which boasts unusually dramatic elevation changes for the Carolina Sandhills. “We spent hours walking various alternatives,” said Koprowski. “By the end of summer, we arrived at the conclusion that the original routing sketch was about 75 per cent the correct solution. We moved around two par threes, but overall, our first instincts were mostly right.” The routing was created in October 2022 and, since then, some course features have changed. For example, Broomsedge will feature only one split fairway despite the original illustration showing many. “The land was always doing something interesting that allowed us to simply drape the holes over it,” said Koprowski. “And despite the expansive sprawl of modern golf development, we created a routing that is highly intimate, which is a big part of what makes many of the old classics great. If you can marry the right land with the right routing, I think you can often build a better golf course on 200 acres than you can on 500. “Broomsedge can still stretch to 7,500 yards, showing that you can still achieve distances to challenge elite players on a relatively small footprint. And you get so many benefits out of the compactness: standing on the first tee, you can see 15 different greens, the clubhouse will be visible from every hole, shared tee boxes, six holes that could theoretically change par from day to day, and alternating green sites to keep things fresh for members.” Broomsedge COURSE BLUEPRINT
27 “The par-three sixth, with its diagonal Redan-y green, was a no-brainer,” says Koprowski. An alternative green allows the hole to be played at 122 yards Image: Kyle Franz and Mike Koprowski The par-five eighteenth traverses a huge valley and offers plenty of risk and reward The par-four sixteenth can play over 500 yards long and has bunkers as a key defence at the landing area and green The course begins with four fairly long par fours before being followed by back-to-back par threes
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29 TEE BOX Kasugai Country Club in Japan will reopen its East course in October following a renovation by Golfplan. “This was originally a single-green course that reverted to a two-green system due to management concerns,” said Kevin Ramsey of Golfplan. “While the routing was relatively solid, strategy and options were minimal. Also, shaping and bunker character were nondescript, leading to a course with a lot of missed potential.” Golfplan began renovating the course in December 2023, with addressing greens a priority. “Kasugai had roundish greens with tilts back to front and rounded edges with putting surface areas not exceeding 300 square metres,” said David Dale of Golfplan. “The surrounds were gently concaved or slightly elevated. There was little challenge and made for a pedestrian and mindless playing experience. “We decided to transform them to have a more classic, Golden Age character with some plateau greens and collection area surrounds to create a variety of short-game recovery options. The surfaces are now capable of hosting national championships.” The putting surfaces now have multiple pinnable locations to allow for the preferred angle of attack to be changed from day to day. “Our design strategy is more about providing variety, interest and options for a better playing experience,” said Ramsey. Golfplan has overseen the removal of more than 1,000 trees. Many were pines and Japanese cedars that were blocking air flow, sunlight and views. “Holes were completely encapsulated by a wall of trees,” said Dale. “Now, we have opened up the course to have distant mountain views, vistas of the city of Nagoya as well as views of adjacent holes, lakes and valleys. The atmosphere of the layout has been completely transformed.” The renovation has also included new irrigation, drainage upgrades, Better Billy Bunker liner, new grass varieties and new cart paths to collect storm water. Once the East reopens, Golfplan will turn their attention to the West. “The West has more width than the East with both sited on beautiful rolling land with holes routed on ridgelines and valley floors,” said Dale. “The West will be equally dynamic in architectural approach but with green sites that gather and funnel the ball to the various hole locations with bolder undulation within the green surfaces. The bunkering will have its own contrasting character to the East and an emphasis on ball position as a priority from the tee.” Photo: Golfplan Golfplan brings Golden Age character to Kasugai
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31 TEE BOX WAC has high hopes for Hillsdale WAC Golf, the design firm of Rod Whitman, Dave Axland and Keith Cutten, is continuing with the redesign of Hillsdale Golf Club in Mirabel, Quebec. Hillsdale was home to two golf courses designed by Howard Watson, who studied under Stanley Thompson. “However, due to the tight and quirky nature of the 36-hole property, which had only become more restrictive with the maturation of the site’s numerous trees, it had become evident that change was needed,” said Cutten. A masterplan was developed in 2023 to convert Hillsdale’s two layouts into a new 18-hole course, a nine-hole short course and expansive practice areas. Construction started in autumn 2023 with select tree clearing and the mining of native site sand for golf course feature development. “Ultimately, the work being completed aims to turn Hillsdale into a must-see golf facility,” said Cutten. “The new, reimagined Hillsdale will feature a bigger, bolder golf course than those previously realised, and allow Quebec to really experience creative, fun, and exciting golf.” Work will continue throughout 2024 and 2025 with the redesigned Hillsdale slated to open in 2026. Sandy was in the Midwest of the US in the last issue, paying a visit to the Erin Hills course, northwest of Milwaukee in Wisconsin. Erin Hills is located in an area known as the Kettle Moraine, which was formed by glaciers that left a lot of sand in the area. Golf architects Dr Michael Hurdzan and Dana Fry, with the help of former Golf Digest architecture editor Ron Whitten, built the golf course, which opened in 2006. It became the longest course ever to host the US Open in 2017, when Brooks Koepka took home the trophy, his first Major, and the start of a two year sequence in which he won four. Congratulations to Jordan Kvasnicka of Atlanta whose entry was the first out of the hat. A very famous course – regarded by many as one of the best in the world – in this issue, so no clues, except to say that it is generally viewed as one of the two finest by its architect. And the other was the focus of the whole world’s attention recently! Entries, as ever, to gopher@golfcoursearchitecture.net. GOPHER WATCH Image: WAC Golf
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33 TEE BOX Keisers expand portfolio with new Texas courses Michael and Chris Keiser, the sons of Bandon Dunes developer Mike Keiser, are adding a new golf destination in Texas to the Dream Golf portfolio. Wild Spring Dunes will feature two new public 18-hole layouts, a short course and practice centre, as well as accommodation and dining facilities. The site occupies 2,400 sandy acres with 120 feet of elevation change and varied topography. Construction is due to begin on the first course, designed by architect Tom Doak, in autumn 2024, with opening expected in 2026. “This land has a different feel from anything I’ve worked on,” says Doak. “I think the course will be unique and interesting for golfers.” Wild Spring’s second course has been routed by Bill Coore and Texas-native Ben Crenshaw. Photo: Dream Golf Ten-year project complete at Tewkesbury Park Tewkesbury Park in Gloucestershire, England, has completed a 10-year renovation of its golf course and resort facilities. In 2014, the McIntosh family, who have a background in the hotel sector, bought the Frank Pennink-designed golf course and hotel and invested in a programme of renovation projects to transform the venue. British architect Peter McEvoy led the renovation of the Deepark golf course, alongside a project team including DAR Golf Construction, course manager Paul Hathaway and his greenkeeping team. Over the last 10 years, work has been undertaken across the course, with a particular focus on bunkers, which have been redesigned or repositioned in line with the advancement of club technology. “Golfers in the UK now have a major new resort to consider when making their plans to take a domestic golf break,” said Patrick Jones, general manager. “At Tewkesbury Park, our beautiful Deerpark golf course matches the superb quality of our accommodation, dining and leisure facilities.” Photo: Andy Hiseman
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35 TEE BOX A new nine-hole par-three course will open at Apes Hill in Barbados in December 2024. Little Apes will join the resort’s 18-hole course, which was redesigned by Ron Kirby in 2021. The short course has holes ranging from 70 to 154 yards and are based on some of golf’s most well-known designs. “From the outset, the vision at Apes Hill has always been to create an enjoyable and memorable golfing experience where you can feel at home no matter your skill level, age or how long you have been playing the game,” said Jody Addison, director of golf at Apes Hill. “Ron Kirby embodied that philosophy with his redesign of our championship course, and it is an ethos that we have carried into Little Apes, which we believe will provide endless fun for young children and the whole family in equal measure. “In many ways it is like a bite-sized version of our 18-hole course, and we can’t wait to see everyone playing it.” The new short course follows Apes Hill’s introduction of a 19th hole – an island green-style challenge inspired by the seventeenth at TPC Sawgrass. New short course to open at Apes Hill in December 2024 Photo: James Hogg 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 – Bobby Weed, Chris Cochran, Brett Mogg and Bill Bergin discuss how golf clubs that are facing uncertainty can, with some reconfiguration, secure their future prosperity. “All options were on the table,” says Weed about the revamp of Waynesville Inn and Golf Club in North Carolina. “It was apparent that the 27 holes were too shoehorned and compressed. We quickly determined that reducing the routing to 18 and creating much-needed practice areas was the best path forward. It also presented us with a special opportunity to restore Ross’s nine to its former glory.” The Summer issue of By Design also includes insight from Larry Hirsh of Golf Property Analysts about club culture and Chad Ritterbusch reflecting on his 20 years as ASGCA executive director. To download the latest issue and subscribe to By Design, visit www.asgca.org. “All options were on the table” GOOD READ
36 Grassing of Las Iguanas, a new golf course by Nicklaus Design in the Dominican Republic, is nearly complete. The course was planned to open in the mid-2000s as part of the expansion of the Cap Cana development, which also includes the Nicklaus-designed Punta Espada layout that opened in 2006, however, Las Iguanas was abandoned due to the 2008 financial crash and has sat dormant for over 15 years. In 2023, the project was resurrected with Troy Vincent, senior design associate at Nicklaus Design, in charge of completing the course, which is located next to Punta Espada. “Las Iguanas is going to be available for the public to use and very different to the private Punta Espada,” said Vincent. “The biggest difference is the number of ocean holes. At Punta Espada, there are eight while at Las Iguanas, we have the twelfth green touching the ocean, the par-three thirteenth playing alongside it and fourteen’s tees playing away from it.” At Las Iguanas, there are 10 lakes, which were used to generate fill and help create contouring on the fairways and greens. “There is plenty of room off the tee, but the shot into the green is where the challenge lies,” said Vincent. “In addition to the contouring, a lot of the greens are protected by bunkers.” A unique feature at Las Iguanas is a bluff that comes into play on some holes. “It is visible behind the seventeenth green and is on the left side of the par-five eighteenth,” said Vincent. “You also tee off it on ten. This kind of natural feature can be difficult to design for, especially in the Caribbean. “We demonstrated similar design skills for holes twelve to fourteen, as there’s a lake running along the right side that connects to the ocean. When you do it right and take advantage of what natures gives you, you can create something unique.” The only routing change from the original plan comes at holes five and six, with that area now marked for development purposes. This has enabled Nicklaus Design to take advantage of a different area on the property that has a natural wetland. “We have also toned down some elements as we thought some of the shaping was a bit too strong for the type of golfers that will be playing it,” said Vincent. “The principal challenge will be the wind. Ten is a great example – a short par four with a decent sized Resurrection of Las Iguanas continues apace TEE BOX
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