Our latest issue features the Kyle Phillips-designed Stonehill course on the cover. The architect transformed desolate land north of Bangkok into one of Thailand’s best golf courses, as Richard Humphreys reports.

For our main feature, we consider the potential impact of legislation that is currently before US Congress, which would extend the copyright protection that exists for buildings architecture to golf course design. Adam Lawrence speaks with intellectual property lawyer Mark Pearce and architects Forrest Richardson, Jim Wagner, Jason Straka and Robert Trent Jones, Jr. about what the Birdie Act means for the golf course design industry.

Richard Humphreys visits Sedge Valley, Tom Doak’s newest creation at Sand Valley, which might convince American golfers that courses do not need to be long to be great. “I had always wanted to do something in the 6,000-yard range, like Swinley Forest, Rye and West Sussex,” says Doak on his inspiration for the Sedge course.

Also, Adam Lawrence takes a trip to Scotland to see Spey Bay, where Clayton, DeVries & Pont has been enlisted to transform a very old-fashioned links. “Spey Bay is an excellent candidate for ‘reversing’ as many of its green complexes offer compelling play from two directions,” says CDP partner Frank Pont. “When finished, the two versions of the course will be noticeably different but equally fun to play.”

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 in between flights to discuss his career and his new venture with ex-Nicklaus Design associate, Jim Wagner.

The issue also shines a light on the ten golf course architects that GEO Sustainable Golf Foundation has recognised as its ‘Sustainable Golf Champions’ for the design solutions they have used to serve the broader environment, operational efficiencies and local communities. Also, Giulia Ferroni of Leeds Golf Design spells out the intricacies of executing a masterplan and the skills required from a golf course architect.

Our ‘Report’ section includes The Club at Golden Valley in Minnesota, where Kevin Norby has modernised and restored much of AW Tillinghast’s design philosophy as part of a centennial project. We also cover Florida’s Hunters Run, where Kipp Schulties is overseeing a near $10 million renovation on the East course; Sahalee Country Club near Seattle, where Rees Jones, Inc. executed sensitive renovation work ahead of the club hosting the 2024 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship; and the North course at The Club at Quail Ridge in Florida, which is being rebuilt by Fry/Straka and NMP Golf Construction.

Elsewhere, our Tee Box section includes details of Tom Mackenzie’s ongoing renovation at Royal Wimbledon in Surrey, England; Trump International Golf Club Lido, an Ernie Els Design course in Indonesia that will open this month; an interview with Jim Nagle about how he has balanced restoration and renovation elements at Philadelphia CC and Meridian Hills CC; and how Golfplan has introduced Golden Age character to the East course at Kasugai Country Club in Japan.

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

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