63 us confidence that we could become a golf course design/build team,” says Axland. “After witnessing several newer courses costing upwards of five million dollars, we grew convinced that we could offer better value to these communities.” The Axland-Proctor partnership is best known for Wild Horse, a highly acclaimed public course in Nebraska. But their first design/ build job was at Delaware Springs in Burnet, Texas. “The site was excellent, and we were determined to avoid the earthmoving assaults that so many courses had suffered,” says Axland. “Our philosophy was to create a course that would lay gently on the land, moving just enough dirt to carve out fun and challenging features while respecting the natural topography of the beautiful Hill Country region. “In our designs, we paid careful attention to the green complexes. Whenever it made sense, we allowed the greens to follow the natural grades of the land, which not only enhanced surface drainage – an essential consideration given our limited budget for extensive subsurface drainage – but also added an element of challenge for golfers. The greens at Delaware Springs encouraged strategic play; it was a course where players did not necessarily have to rely on a direct line through the air to reach the hole. Ground golf was just as viable an option – and perhaps having less money led to better golf. “I recall a humorous story from Bill... he had met someone who had recently played Delaware Springs, and, with a serious tone, enquired if Bill knew the designers. When Bill confirmed he did, the individual asked, ‘do you think they got the plans backwards?’ This story became a favourite of Bill’s, highlighting the very essence of our design philosophy – greens should inspire thought, not confusion.” Axland recalls a similar experience when working on a C&C course in Hawaii: “I vividly remember some greens at Kapalua being labelled as ‘goofy golf’ by certain professionals! The eighteenth is both artistic and functional, embodying the idea that a green can, and should, lie naturally on the ground, complementing its surroundings. Bill and Ben made something that would feel like the Dave Axland, above centre, with design partners Rod Whitman, left, and Keith Cutten. Left, Axland (far right) with Bill Coore, Tom Beck and Ben Crenshaw at Sand Hills in Nebraska. Top left, Axland with Dan Proctor, also at Sand Hills Photos: WAC Golf
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