65 fairway – a long, undulating surface with interesting contours inviting players to engage with the terrain.” That philosophy – of working with the land rather than imposing upon it – was further reinforced at Friars Head. There, Axland learned how to navigate a site with significant variety. “The project taught me valuable lessons about utilising contours creatively, such as: how interesting contour can be created by accident by placing soils with the finish being a simple raking; that ridges and hills can be a simple byproduct of digging a bunker pit and throwing the dirt sideways without dozer refinement; or, that a ridge can be the result of the cleaning a field of rocks from 120 years ago,” he says. “The experience at Friars Head illuminated how to appreciate the uniqueness of a site while determining which elements to keep or edit. “Also, when I worked on Sand Hills in Nebraska, I gained an insight into the challenges of creating a course that not only respects but enhances a site’s natural beauty. It was a stark reminder of how critical it is to maximise a site’s potential while being mindful of its unique features. After Sand Hills, and to this day, I think the most difficult thing is to take a site which is that good and make a golf course equal to, or better than, its potential.” Axland deeply values the various partnerships and collaborations he has had during his career, which has also included architects such as Rodney Cole and Tim Liddy. “Collaboration elevates the quality of a project,” he says. “When surrounded by talented individuals who can both contribute ideas and accept feedback, the work improves significantly. Our combined strengths minimise weaknesses and lead to more innovative outcomes, which is a testament to the power of teamwork.” One of his longest-running partnerships, spanning over 30 years, has been with Rod Whitman. Their collaboration began when Axland travelled to Canada to assist with the third nine at Wolf Creek and the Blackhawk course. Over the two decades they spent as part of the C&C team, their paths often crossed, yet a formal partnership never materialised. That was until the Cabot Links project DAVE AXLAND Delaware Springs in Burnet, Texas, where Dave Axland and Dan Proctor took on their first design/build work “ When surrounded by talented individuals who can both contribute ideas and accept feedback, the work improves significantly” Photo: Gregory Browning
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