MIKE GORMAN AND TRENT JONES INSIGHT Designing for destination resorts is about capturing the unique spirit and character of a location. These places aim to offer memorable, one-of-a-kind experiences that draw travellers specifically for golf. The chance to ‘wow’ golfers allows us to break the mould more than usual, something we love to do whenever possible. But that doesn’t mean all destination golf demands the same type of course. It can be a must-play championship golf course like a Chambers Bay or Erin Hills, or it can be a golf-exclusive property such as those Mike Keiser has built at Bandon Dunes and Sand Valley. But what you can almost always count on at these resorts is an incredibly fun and flexible golf component in a beautiful location that you may visit only once in your life. That’s why it has to be a truly memorable location, and that’s a lot of what we’re seeing being built today. How do we compare destination design to a traditional club or public facility? Traditional clubs are usually designed for a golfer who will play that same course many times during the season, while destination courses must be flexible enough to satisfy many different purposes, from everyday play for a variety of skill levels to tournament play. These courses also come with different expectations and limitations on maintenance. It’s the architect’s job to provide the most flexibility to satisfy these different concerns and constituencies. Over the decades, there has been a clear shift in what resorts are asking from golf course designers – we’re now seeing more experiential design elements, emphasising pure golf enjoyment. And they run the gamut: music on the course, caddie programmes, Himalayas-style greens, night golf and flexible designs that prioritise playability and fun over difficulty. In some ways, course architects must think like social directors on a cruise ship, with many ways of engaging and entertaining the guests. And, frankly, we love that. Golf’s purpose at resorts has changed, too. Back in the 1950s, Juan Trippe hired Robert Trent Jones, Sr. to build golf courses that he could fly his Pan-American planes to; golf was an activity that drew people somewhere. Golf remained a resort necessity for a long time. But that changed, not only at resorts but at golf communities: the clientele shifted their focus to other sports, particularly adventure Mike Gorman and Trent Jones explain how the Robert Trent Jones II approach to resort golf has evolved, driven by a resurgence in remote golf development. Destination design 30
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