The new Shorty’s course at Bandon Dunes in Oregon is on the cover. The 19-hole par-three layout has been designed by Whitman, Axland and Cutten and its opening in May will coincide with the resort’s 25-year anniversary celebrations.

For our main feature in this issue, we explore why Vietnam looks set to be Asia’s next golf destination. Vietnam’s 2,000 miles of coastline, sand dunes and mountain sites make it an exciting canvas for architects, and many highly regarded courses have opened in the country. Brian Curley, Adam Calver, Mike Gorman and Kevin Ramsey provide insight into their experiences and what the future looks like for the nation.

Adam Lawrence visits The Inspiration Club in west London, which opens this summer. He writes: “Inspiration will be a relaxing place to play golf. It doesn’t feel suburban; especially at the far end of the course, the feeling is genuinely one of being out in nature.”

Peter Harradine is part of golf design’s most enduring family business – and is one of the best travelled men in the profession. He says: “My own philosophy of design might be summarised as ‘easy to play, difficult to score’. Golf designers should never forget that the people who pay our fees are principally the 24-54 handicappers.”

Our ‘Report’ section features Canal Shores in Evanston, Illinois, which has been revived thanks to huge community efforts. Leading the project from a design standpoint has been Todd Quitno, with KemperSports’s Josh Lesnik contributing design input. Also, we hear from Rees Jones and Bryce Swanson on their renovation of the Old course at Broken Sound to suit tour pros and club members alike; Kevin Hargrave and NMP Golf Construction spicing up Lexington Country Club; and how JDR Golf Design reimagined Florida’s Lemon Bay to add variety and make it more memorable.

Elsewhere, our Tee Box section includes details of High Grove, a new Gil Hanse course that will enter construction in December 2024; an interview with Scottish architect Steve Marnoch, who discusses his bunker and heather project at Matlock in Derbyshire, England; insight from Jason Straka about the routing for the new Curracloe Links, the first 18-hole layout designed by Fry/Straka; and a look at the bunker work at Gog Magog in Cambridge, England, where Martin Ebert has been working on both the Old and Wandlebury courses.

There is plenty more too. We hope you enjoy the read!

• View the digital edition of the April 2024 issue of Golf Course Architecture
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