THE GLOBAL JOURNAL OF GOLF DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT
ISSUE 0045 MONTHJULY 2016 YEAR The Professionals of Turf Irrigation
PERROT offers various solutions for different golf courses – unlike others we don’t believe one type suits all !
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PERROT Regnerbau Calw GmbH, Industriestrasse 19-29, D-75382 Althengstett/Germany, Tel. +49-7051-1620 E-Mail: [email protected]
RING-2016-GOLF-IMPACT-GEAR-TEIL2-280x210-E.indd 1 01.06.2016 11:53:48 The Professionals of Turf Irrigation WELCOME
PERROT offers various solutions for different golf courses – unlike others we don’t believe one type suits all !
Precise and powerful - Preparing HYDRA gear drive sprinklers for change Outstanding water dis- tribution certified by CIT. I write this editor’s letter, in a rather sombre mood, on the morning that we have Central flow system crea- learned that the UK has voted to leave the European Union. Not, one might at tes high energy efficiency. first think, an obvious subject for a golf magazine, but as an Englishman and a UK Superior casting range in its resident, it is clear to me that our entire economy, of which golf is an important HYDRA-series part, will be affected by the vote, so we in the golf industry need to start thinking class. about how to respond. Very reliable closed housing with self-flushing mechanism. It seems inevitable that the shock of the vote and then the realities of the exit will produce a downturn in the domestic economy. As golf is a luxury good, that must be bad news for the industry. But there are upsides too; the inevitable weakening of sterling will make UK golf better value for visitors from overseas whether bearing dollars, euros or RMB. And perhaps the threat of worse times to come will compel the British industry to become more focused on sustainability and find ways to reduce costs still further.
As golf is at heart a Scottish game, the fate of Scotland in all this seems especially significant. It seems highly likely that Scotland – which voted overwhelmingly to remain in the EU – will see a second referendum on independence, and one that is this time likely to pass. But, of course, for the moment Scotland remains part of the UK, and Dynamic and the cheap pound applies there too. It occurred to me that this might be the best of all durable – worlds for US-funded golf development such as the proposed Mike Keiser project at Coul Links outside Dornoch; for the next couple of years, while the investment in the TRITON impact project is being made, it will be cheap, because dollars will go further, but then, at about the time it might open, Scotland might become independent, and remain part of the drive rotors EU. Maybe every cloud does have a silver lining after all. Excellent in windy conditions thanks to larger drops. High rotation speed < 45 seconds Adam Lawrence for 360°. Also suitable for poor Editor water quality. As you would expect with high quality German engineering: long life expectancy and low Impact sprinkler operating costs!
ON THE COVER www.perrot.de The new par three ninth hole on the Ailsa course at Trump Turnberry, redesigned by Martin Ebert of Mackenzie & Ebert and photographed by David Cannon. For more on the renovation project, see pages 11 to 13.
PERROT Regnerbau Calw GmbH, Industriestrasse 19-29, D-75382 Althengstett/Germany, Tel. +49-7051-1620 E-Mail: [email protected] 01
RING-2016-GOLF-IMPACT-GEAR-TEIL2-280x210-E.indd 1 01.06.2016 11:53:48
Achieving World-Class Results
Planning a new course? Re-modelling or upgrading your existing course?
At DAR, we pride ourselves on detail, service and reputation, undertaking all aspects of construction and remodelling, from single bunkers to entire courses. And, with over 40 years of industry experience, we work with top designers and clubs to create the best courses imaginable.
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World-Class Results Editor Adam Lawrence News Editor Sean Dudley Contributors James D’Arcy, Kevin Holinaty, Frederic Larsson, Rees Jones, John Sanford, Philip Christian Spogárd Design Bruce Graham, Libby Sidebotham Website Development Chris Jackson Photography Bladerunner Farms; David Cannon; Kasumigaseki CC; Alex Ferro/Rio 2016; Matthew Stockman/Getty Images Sport/Getty Images; Rio 2016
Publisher Toby Ingleton Publication & Sales Manager Benedict Pask Subscriptions Manager Mike Geraghty Circulation Ritwik Bhattacharjee Reprints Stuart Fairbrother
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PEFC/16-33-576 www.pefc.org sanfordgolfdesign.com John Sanford, Vice President www.dargolf.com +353 59 648 1509 [email protected] [email protected] American Society of Golf Course Architects World's Golf Course World's Designer of the Year Best New Golf Course
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also restored hilip ac en ie oss s huge entirely new hole, it would be fitting to pushed bac and closer to the sea. Another ma or change is the par three ortrush Open prep wor scar bun er in the approach to the green, to name it after rown, who did so much for Such a stunning si th, reduced from yards to , in order to free up space for the threaten second shots. urnberry over so many years. new eighteenth tee comple , which will give golfers a last sight of the approaches completion This issue’s Tee Box section opens with inally in this stretch, the architect has Ebert said he Ailsa course has always stretch of seaside holes sea, as it has been moved to the seawall dune, straightening the hole and constructed a new par three eleventh hole, en oyed a superb landscape but now the lengthening it to yards. artin Ebert, the architect responsible for the redesign of rump with the tee to the right of the new tenth seaside holes use the coastal setting as real must be unmatched in he wor s have been carried out in close con unction with the A, urnberry, has also completed wor on changes to oyal ortrush, 13 green and the green tuc ed in above a series playing and visual features. he fourth though it remains to be seen when and if the Open will return to in preparation for the return of the Open Championship to of roc y inlets and a small beach the hole starts an incredible eight hole coastal the golfing world urnberry, given the golfing authorities nervousness about wor ing with the club s unluce in s. the latest from Trump Turnberry, with third consecutive hole on which golfers will se uence set against the dramatic bac drop the maveric owner. ew greens have for the second, third and eighth holes face a sea carry from the tee. he hole was of the Ayrshire coast with Ailsa Craig and Elsewhere on the course the first hole has opened for play in ay. ut the most important change is the conceived before the urnberry Open Arran adding to the beauty of the scene. both a new tee comple and a new green, ideo which includes impressi e before and after animations of the creation of two entirely new holes to replace the seventeenth by Ebert and long time course manager Such a stunning stretch of seaside holes must ta ing it from around yards to over , key changes to the ilsa course at rump urnberry is a ailable at and eighteenth holes on the unluce, which are needed to Adam Lawrence reporting on the new holes George rown, who died last year. As an be unmatched in the golfing world. while the par three fourth green has been youtube.com watch r R C p g accommodate the tented village for the Open. he previous holes were also considered wea for the finish of a ma or The Industry has accepted the need for innovation to provide solutions for the many issues championship. Construction wor on the new holes is now finished, and they are growing in under the care of ortrush ole , yards ole , yards ole , yards ole , yards course manager Graeme eatt. at the Ailsa course and the recent renovation he first of the new holes which will become the seventh is N T E a par five, stretching to almost yards, in a valley behind the O main seawall dune. he drive is threatened by a huge bun er, a replacement for the famous ig ellie on the e isting seventeenth. it faces. Our Company leads the charge providing these solutions through our engineered T he green, tuc ed in the end of the valley, is protected by flan ing work led by architect Martin Ebert. We also N dunes and will be a tough target for pros trying to reach in two. he new eighth is a mid length par four occupying dramatic ground, with a severe drop to the left side of the fairway forcing players to decide how much to carry with the tee shot. he fairway products and out of the box thinking. is wide on the right, but a tee shot up this safe side will force a get the latest from Royal Portrush, as the club much more demanding second. he new holes have been seeded with cores ta en from the e isting fairways of both the unluce and alley courses, and should be in play ne t year. Other changes to the unluce include a new bac tee for the prepares to host the Open Championship in famous Calamity Corner par three, which will stretch the hole to almost yards. The connection for people between synthetic solutions and beautiful golf courses 2019. We report back from the recent EIGCA and ASGCA annual meetings, and speak to has been difficult to make. We face scepticism on a daily basis. We are golf purists too and Forrest Richardson about a new project at the yet have started our initiative to help preserve and grow the game. The environment is Mountain Shadows Resort in Arizona. changing and we need new solutions that adapt. We believe it is better to play golf on an alternative surface than to not play golf at all. ole , yards
E C T After a break of 112 years, 2016 sees the he new se enth (top) and eighth holes are now complete, and are e pected to be in play ne t year 29 long-awaited return of golf to the Olympic Golf Course Architecture schedule. Gil Hanse’s design in Brazil has been
FEATURE a major talking point for a number of years, KEVIN HOLINATY and Adam Lawrence considers the importance of the event being a success at the games. President, Southwest Greens Construction. Golf readies 34 Rees Jones explains why the two courses at Olympicitself for Balustrol Golf Club in New Jersey are among return the most important AW Tillinghast ever created. In a few weeks golf will make its return to the Olympic fold after 112 years, on a new course built for the Rio games by Gil Hanse. And the game needs the Olympics to be a success, says Adam Lawrence 37 John Sanford discusses the challenges and
Photo: Matthew Stockman/Getty Images Sport/Getty Stockman/Getty Images Matthew Images Photo: olfers have waited a long time to The return of golf to the Games has been opportunities that present themselves when see their favourite game played a decade and more in the making. It was as a part of the world’s greatest in 2009, during an International Olympic sporting festival. In the second Committee (IOC) meeting in Copenhagen modernG Games of 1900, men and women that golf won its place, joining rugby sevens played in a golf tournament at Compiègne, as a new event, on trial for the 2016 and building golf courses on landfill sites. though it is said that the organisation of 2020 Games. It is perhaps ironic that golf those Games was so bad that neither set got in for the Games immediately after of competitors knew they were playing an London 2012, which, as with 1908, would Olympic event. At St Louis in 1904, women have seemed a natural fit for golf, but such were excluded, but a men’s team event was is life; and when at that same IOC congress added – but as every player came either in 2009, the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro from the US or Canada it cannot have been was awarded the 2016 Games, it became the most competitive of tournaments. And clear that the return of golf would not that was that. For 1908, when the Olympics be entirely straightforward. Rio was not went to London for the first time, golf was overburdened with golf courses, and a quick Hole three (above) and 17 (right) at the out; perhaps bizarrely, given that the UK assessment of those there were soon made Olympic Golf Course in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, would have seemed a natural spot for a golf it clear that a new course would need to be which hosted a small test event (far right) tournament. But gone it was. built for the Games. A site, at Riserva do earlier this year in preparation for the Photo: Matthew Stockman/Getty Images Sport/Getty Stockman/Getty Images Matthew Images Photo: A new six-hole course under construction at Olympic Games in August 28 Golf Course Architecture 29 39 the Clearwater Bay Golf and Country Club in Hong Kong will meet the demands of the OPINION modern golfer, according to Kevin Holinaty of Southwest Greens. Tillinghast’s design elasticity on display Baltusrol Golf Club in New Jersey will host the 2016 PGA Championship on the club’s Lower Course, originally designed by AW Tillinghast. Rees Jones explains why the Philip Christian Spogárd discusses why clubs club’s two courses are among the most important the legendary architect ever created 40 should adapt their courses to suit the level of ocated in Springfield, New Jersey, Since Tillinghast’s time, adherence to his Baltusrol Golf Club has one design principles and layout has remained a of the game’s most enduring fundamental rule guiding all improvements championship legacies. The club has at Balustrol. An example would be the hostedL numerous major tournaments since lengthening of the Lower Course by nearly sophistication in particular golf markets. its founding in 1895. 900 yards, without any routing changes or Nearly 100 years ago, Baltusrol made the movement of greens. bold and ultimately successful choice to In our nearly 30 years of working with entrust AW Tillinghast with remaking the the club, we have strived to preserve and club’s original Old Course into the Upper reclaim the original Tillinghast design. We On a number of holes on the Lower Course at Baltusrol, including the 18th and (below) 13th, recent and Lower Courses, which still exist today. have aimed to ensure the course remains restoration work by Rees Jones and his team has brought the meandering tributaries back into play Baltusrol exemplifies Tillinghast’s design enjoyable for its members, as well as being a elasticity at its finest. Since 1922, the dual strict test for the highest level of play. courses at Baltusrol have not only provided We first began working with the club in While the green contours serve as a form “We have strived enjoyment for golfers of all abilities, but preparation for the 1993 US Open, held on of hazard, requiring proper placement of have consistently tested the best players in the Lower Course. There had been very little both the tee and approach shots, they are to preserve and the game. architectural work done on the course since also subtle enough that their slopes and In July 2016, the Lower Course will host the early 1950s, when my father, Robert hole locations are enhanced at tournament reclaim the original this year’s PGA Championship, with the Trent Jones, made modifications to prepare speeds. Green expansion occurred on DAR Golf’s James D’Arcy explains how tournament played over the same fairways it for the 1954 US Open. We then worked several holes, including the fifth, 12th, 15th Tillinghast design” and greens on which past champions with the club to create a masterplan in 1991, and 18th, where back green sections were played. The standards of conditioning are with some of the proposed work taking place restored to their original dimensions. In 42 now drastically higher at Baltusrol, but the prior to the 1993 Open. The work focused addition, collection areas were added behind green contours are the same as they were primarily on adding length to the course, the greens on two holes – the first and the Dun Laoghaire Golf Club recovered from when Tillinghast created them. implementing and tweaking bunkers, and 12th – complementing the one that already The 36 holes at Baltusrol are rebuilding tees. existed on the fifth hole. substantially intact as designed by Following the 2005 PGA Championship, Tillinghast used the meandering Tillinghast, and display arguably more we worked with the club to develop a new tributaries at Baltusrol as hazards on representations of his design principles masterplan for the Lower Course. All of our numerous holes on the Lower Course. Over storms to host the 2016 Curtis Cup match. than any of his other designs that are renovation and restoration work has relied time, the fairways of the 10th, 13th and still in their original form today. In many on archival photographs and aerial maps 18th holes had crept away from the water. respects, Baltusrol can be considered one to make sure the design stays true to its On the 10th and 13th holes, we brought of Tillinghast’s most important designs. past and the Tillinghast legacy. This project the stream back into play. The 10th now This was one of the reasons Baltusrol Golf included a bunker renovation plan which has one of the most challenging tee shots Club was designated a National Historic restored depth to all of the bunkers, added on the course for the better player. With its Baltusrol exemplifies the type of course PGA Championship, and the members of Landmark in 2014 by the National Park several new ones, re-positioned fairway oblique angle framed by fairway bunkers on Tillinghast foresaw as being the model for Baltusrol will be able to continue enjoying Service, becoming one of only four golf bunkers to make them more relevant for the left and a creek running diagonally up courses of the future. We have been fortunate their facility, as Tillinghast intended, for properties to hold this distinction. today’s game, and returned bunkers to the the right side, the 13th is a fine example of to have the opportunity to spend many years to come. GCA Tillinghast was prescient in seeing that Tillinghast style. Ramp approaches to the a short par four design. On the 18th hole, years studying Tillinghast’s masterpiece and golf courses should have the flexibility to greens – a distinctive Tillinghast feature at we enlarged the pond on the left side of the working closely with the club’s leadership accommodate future changes in the game, Baltusrol – were restored to their original hole to return it to the edge of the fairway, and administration to preserve and enhance Rees Jones has designed or redesigned more and the courses he built at Baltusrol show dimensions. A great example is the enlarged making it once again a formidable hazard his legacy. The Lower Course should produce than 170 courses and has been president of his foresight. ramp leading to the 17th green. on the final hole. a challenging but fair test of golf for the 98th Rees Jones Inc. since 1974 44 Adam Lawrence visits the first solo design by 34 Golf Course Architecture 35 Christian Althaus at Hofgut Georgenthal near Frankfurt, Germany. ON Georgenthal
With work on a five year plan to improve 48 Strandhill Golf Club now underway, GCA pays a visit to the course in the west of Ireland. ontinental Europe is not an easy place to build golf these days. Even where economies are strong and demand for golf is high, architects and constructors Cin Europe face very severe challenges imposed by government that, in all honesty, lac both nowledge of, and sympathy for the game. In rance, for e ample, American superstar designer om oa was only able to complete the new course at Saint Emilion, near ordeau , by creating a drainage system that would funnel all the rainwater that falls on the property into a large reservoir. hy ecause rench law bans the e traction of ground acing the water from such sites, and therefore the only source Sean Dudley talks to US architect Bill Boswell of water to irrigate the course through the hot days of a southern summer was the water that could be captured from runoff in this way. 52 challenge about a new short form of golf aimed at German architect Christian Althaus has offering a fun and accessible way to play. surmounted many difficulties to complete his first solo design, says Adam awrence Mastering the Art of Synthetic Turf Installations
he sloping site at eorgenthal has been e pertly routed there is a sharp rise to the 17th green, before players turn back for the downhill eighteenth, which plays +34 616 582 787 • [email protected] • southwestgreens.eu to a narrow green (foreground) Golf Course Architecture SWG Construction, the construction arm for SWG International, a division of Shaw Industries, a Berkshire Hathaway Company 09
MAIL BOX A thorough analysis
Dear Editor Your recent article regarding the renovation of Machrie states that you are probably not the best to fully vote yea or nay on the renovation because you hadn’t seen the course before your visit last October. I think the article was reflective of your unfamiliarity in that it was very short on the details of the massive renovations. Well, I’ve played there plenty and will give you my analysis. To set the stage: I joined Machrihanish as a country member 17 years ago. On all trips to Machrihanish (ten) over the years we have ventured to Islay to play Machrie, staying at both the hotel and the cottages when they were still open and since 2011, just day trips. I was last there September 2015, and I’m so glad I went last September to be able to still play 95 per cent of what I had experienced in the past. On several occasions when at Machrie in May or July we played 54 holes a day – easily. Six years ago I named my new dog Machrie. Machrie was so terrific. It belonged in the same conversation with Machrihanish, Dornoch, Cruden Bay, Brora, Fraserburgh and Dunaverty, in my judgement. I would have loved to have seen the original third hole, Mount Zion, but luckily at least I have played the new Mount Zion, number 12 – which pathetically, is being completely eliminated with the renovation. The current As you noted, it takes an effort to get In my opinion they were very short sighted eighteenth is a tremendous and very there. But those that made the effort did and gave up the opportunity to sell a difficult par four golf hole, can’t imagine so to play a one of a kind golf course product that was unique and as enjoyable so drastically changing it. Relocating the – which, by the way, had phenomenal as could be. Why make the effort to get tee to eliminate the drive over the dune on greens all the time. The new hotel, if ever there to play something new? New ‘design’ the seventh is ridiculous and basically is completed (because the water issue must is everywhere. an exercise in changing unique to typical. I be resolved first) will likely be high-end can go on and on, but needless to say, it is and attract the single malt visitors that Rick Skrodzki unlikely I will go back. I understand the new account for the lack of available rooms Burr Ridge, Illinois green on the second and I think the new tees on Islay – along with the general lack of on 10 and 11 make sense, but beyond that rooms on Islay regardless. We are delighted to receive letters from readers, the entire character of the course is being I wish that the new owners had stayed and the best in each issue will be rewarded severely diminished. Yes, the landscape and with the original thinking to make a few with a GCA golf shirt. Send letters by post to setting is exceptional and is some measure of tweaks to a gem and had focused on fixing 6 Friar Lane, Leicester, LE1 5RA, UK, or solace for the severity of the renovation. the water issue and building the new hotel. e-mail us at: [email protected]
GOPHER WATCH
Royal Cinque Ports in Deal is one of England and Britain’s finest links courses, and its famous sixteenth is one of the greatest holes to be found anywhere, so it wasn’t too surprising to see another bumper crop of correct answers to the last Gopher Watch competition. Most agreed with us that the hole should be played as a par five, forcing golfers to find a way of dealing with the remarkable contours in front of the green, though to be fair one or two disagreed completely. It is perhaps fitting that the winner comes from another of England’s greatest courses: Richard Penley-Martin, secretary of Ganton GC in Yorkshire, was first out of the hat, and is, we hope, proudly wearing his GCA shirt around the course. Another great links this time, in fact one of the very best of all. A course that is sufficiently famous, we think, to not require any clues, so if you recognise it, send your entry, as usual, to [email protected]
11 “ OUR PARTNERSHIP IS 30 YEARS STRONG BECAUSE E-Z-GO IS THE BEST AT WHAT THEY DO.”
RJ HARPER Executive Vice President Golf & Retail Pebble Beach Company REAL STORIES. REAL RESULTS.
GCA/RXV/07/2016 ©2013 E-Z-GO Division of Textron Inc. All rights reserved.
GCA EZGO Pebble beach A4.indd 1 27/05/2016 16:25 TEE BOX
New-look Turnberry offers spectacular coastal run
he team at Turnberry in Scotland coastal stretch of holes. The iconic tee to the location of the former eleventh has reopened the Ailsa course after shot over the cliffs on the ninth hole has tee complex, so the sea now laps behind a major refresh led by architect been retained, but the hole itself has been the green as well as to the left. A new Martin Ebert, instigated after converted to a 235 yard par three, with championship tee close to the lighthouse TDonald Trump bought the resort two years the green located on the site of the former (which is being converted into a halfway ago. The project, for which construction was lighthousekeeper’s garden, thus removing house plus a two-bedroom ‘Lighthouse handled by Irish contractor SOL Golf, has the rather unsatisfactory hog’s back fairway Suite’, expected to cost up to £7,000 per seen every green on the Ailsa rebuilt, and of the old ninth, which saw most tee shots night, including private butler service), several holes moved. carom into the rough. make the hole into a par five, with an The highlight of the changes is the The tenth hole too has seen extensive exciting diagonal carry of up to 280 yards enhancement of Turnberry’s already famous changes. Ebert has pushed the green back over the sea from the back tee. Ebert has
“ OUR PARTNERSHIP IS 30 YEARS STRONG BECAUSE E-Z-GO IS THE BEST AT WHAT THEY DO.”
RJ HARPER Executive Vice President Golf & Retail Pebble Beach Company
REAL STORIES. REAL RESULTS. On the tenth, the green has been pushed back to the water’s edge and the famous ‘donut’ bunker has been returned to the original rugged shape revealed by historic aerial photography GCA/RXV/07/2016 ©2013 E-Z-GO Division of Textron Inc. All rights reserved.
13
GCA EZGO Pebble beach A4.indd 1 27/05/2016 16:25 Tee Box also restored Philip Mackenzie Ross’s huge entirely new hole, it would be fitting to scar bunker in the approach to the green, to name it after Brown, who did so much for “Such a stunning threaten second shots. Turnberry over so many years. Finally in this stretch, the architect has Ebert said: “The Ailsa course has always stretch of seaside holes constructed a new par three eleventh hole, enjoyed a superb landscape but now the with the tee to the right of the new tenth seaside holes use the coastal setting as real must be unmatched in green and the green tucked in above a series playing and visual features. The fourth of rocky inlets and a small beach – the hole starts an incredible eight-hole coastal the golfing world” third consecutive hole on which golfers will sequence set against the dramatic backdrop face a sea carry from the tee. The hole was of the Ayrshire coast with Ailsa Craig and Elsewhere on the course the first hole has conceived before the 2009 Turnberry Open Arran adding to the beauty of the scene. both a new tee complex and a new green, by Ebert and long-time course manager Such a stunning stretch of seaside holes must taking it from around 350 yards to over 420, George Brown, who died last year. As an be unmatched in the golfing world.” while the par three fourth green has been
Hole 4, 196 yards Hole 6, 155 yards Hole 9, 235 yards
As well as moving the green closer to Now the shortest par three on the Turnberry’s most famous shot across the cliffs the sea, the fourth hole now has a large course, a new green was built on the on the ninth has been preserved, but changed sandy waste area from tee to approach sixth hole to accommodate the new into an epic par three. The new green area, an aesthetic that has also been teeing complex for the closing hole features one small bunker to the right, but the introduced in other areas of the course. within the dune wall. landscape provides most of the challenge.
Hole 11, 192 yards
Ebert told GCA back in 2007 of his desire to create a new eleventh hole for Turnberry, removing the eyesore that was the built-up teeing complex and moving the hole forward to set up another water carry par three. His goals have been met, with the beautifully-sited green set just above a small beach.
14 Golf Course Architecture pushed back and closer to the sea. Another major change is the par three Portrush Open prep work sixth, reduced from 231 yards to 172, in order to free up space for the new eighteenth tee complex, which will give golfers a last sight of the approaches completion sea, as it has been moved to the seawall dune, straightening the hole and lengthening it to 483 yards. Martin Ebert, the architect responsible for the redesign of Trump The works have been carried out in close conjunction with the R&A, Turnberry, has also completed work on changes to Royal Portrush, though it remains to be seen when and if the Open will return to in preparation for the 2019 return of the Open Championship to Turnberry, given the golfing authorities’ nervousness about working with the club’s Dunluce Links. the maverick owner. New greens have for the second, third and eighth holes opened for play in May. But the most important change is the A video which includes impressive before and after animations of the creation of two entirely new holes to replace the seventeenth key changes to the Ailsa course at Trump Turnberry is available at and eighteenth holes on the Dunluce, which are needed to youtube.com/watch?v=rPRQjC5pY2g accommodate the tented village for the Open. The previous holes were also considered weak for the finish of a major championship. Construction work on the new holes is now finished, and they are growing in under the care of Portrush Hole 10, 562 yards course manager Graeme Beatt. The first of the new holes – which will become the seventh – is Ebert reworked the tenth hole extensively before a par five, stretching to almost 600 yards, in a valley behind the the 2009 Open, extending the fairway so the main seawall dune. The drive is threatened by a huge bunker, a fairway bunkers were a central hazard, offering replacement for the famous Big Nellie on the existing seventeenth. an advantage to the brave player who put his The green, tucked in the end of the valley, is protected by flanking tee ball between sand and water. Now a par dunes and will be a tough target for pros trying to reach in two. five, with water lapping behind the green and The new eighth is a mid length par four occupying dramatic a diagonal carry over the bay from the tee, the ground, with a severe drop to the left side of the fairway forcing hole has been enhanced still further. players to decide how much to carry with the tee shot. The fairway is wide on the right, but a tee shot up this safe side will force a much more demanding second. The new holes have been seeded with cores taken from the existing fairways of both the Dunluce and Valley courses, and should be in play next year. Other changes to the Dunluce include a new back tee for the famous ‘Calamity Corner’ par three, which will stretch the hole to almost 240 yards.
The new seventh (top) and eighth holes are now complete, and are expected to be in play next year
15 Tee Box
THE INTERVIEW Forrest Richardson Having worked with Arthur Jack Snyder in the early part of his career, Forrest Richardson tells Sean Dudley about a project to rebuild an original Snyder design at the Mountain Shadows Resort in Arizona
Mountain Shadows will be one of only a handful of resort 18-hole, par three courses in the world. Above, Forrest Richardson reviews shaping progress with John Hyer of Landscapes Unlimited, the golf course builder
What are your memories of working with Can you tell me more about the are wild with bold contours and quirky Arthur Jack Snyder? interesting par two hole? features. I only built 18 bunkers. Many Jack was a good, honest man who was I wrote about the par-two concept in holes rely on mounds, lows and green passionate about making the game fun and Routing the Golf Course, and have always contours as a defence. enjoyable. We spent time travelling to job looked for a project to float the idea. As Jack would have put it: ‘the idea is to sites, meeting with clients and – perhaps Perry Dye was fascinated by the par-two have people want to come back to play the most difficult part – selling ourselves concept and has often told me he hopes again,’ a favourite saying of his that I can during a time when name-brand tour pros one day I get to build one. That day has still envision him reciting. were the ‘in-thing’ for developers. Jack had come, although the hole – which we have opportunities throughout his career to numbered 17.5 – is really a bye hole in the work with pros, but he chose not to. His 19-hole round. The concept is simple, the way of thinking was that the golf course tee markers are part on and off the green, Starting young architect should be in control, and that the so play begins with either a putt or chip. designer was best equipped to bring all the The green is long and narrow. Putts or When he was just 12 years old, Forrest aspects together – to make sense of it. chips can be anywhere from 20 to 45 yards Richardson wrote to the American in length. Society of Golf Course Architects and What are the highlights of the Mountain received a small pamphlet showing Shadows project? How does this course and this project tie where all the 40 or so ASGCA members Jack’s design from 1961 was amazing into the ‘make golf fun’ philosophy? lived at the time. Arthur Jack Snyder – 18-holes on just 40 acres. It was well I set out to recreate what Jack Snyder was his nearest and he got in touch. ahead of its time – a short course, fun originally built, but now on a slightly “We had a great friendship where he for families, compact acreage and less smaller footprint. With just 13.5 acres of would give me topography maps and time to play. Jack had two par-four holes, turf we have made sure to allow plenty I would create imaginary plans,” said although those were short and in the of surrounds and ample tees. The areas Richardson. “One year he carted a plan last several years these holes became an not in turf are plated with a screened of mine off to an ASGCA meeting and issue due to errant balls. Our redesign is decomposed granite material that matches reported back that one day I might be 18-holes, all par-three. The holes range the native desert in this area of Phoenix- offered a job. While I never technically from 70 to 195 yards. If I were to pick one Scottsdale. It is playable. Lost balls will be worked for Jack, we collaborated for highlight it is the setting. It is simply an hard to imagine. The greens are big. They many years beginning in 1985.” amazing piece of property. are actually greens-within-greens. Some
16 Golf Course Architecture Tee Box Nine hole golf course to host tour event Sharjah Golf and Shooting Club in the United For each of the three tournament rounds Harradine explained that a high water table Arab Emirates has been selected to host the the nine holes can be played twice, to a total meant construction was quite challenging. European Senior Tour’s Sharjah Senior Golf par of 72 and exceeding 7,300 yards. The lakes therefore needed to be quite Masters presented by Shurooq, from 2017 “We designed the course to be easy to play, shallow, and fill was used to shape the course, to 2019. It will be the first time a nine-hole but difficult to score,” continues Harradine. which was seeded with paspalum throughout course has hosted a European Tour event. “From the back tees, it’s a pretty long course, for tolerance to water with a high salt content. The golf course was designed by Peter but open enough to be very playable. And it’s Harradine and opened in 2007. Harradine floodlit, enabling members to play after work says: “Where there was room we have and long into the evenings.” designed each hole so that they can be played The course at Sharjah Golf and Shooting quite differently on a second time round – Club features four lakes, giving feature there are up to six sets of tees on some holes.” to what was previously a flat, sandy site.
Harradine says the course has been designed to be easy to play, but difficult to score
Innovation and technology discussed at architect meetings The American Society of Golf Course role innovation has played throughout the Fry/Straka Global Golf Course Architects (ASGCA) and European Institute history – from advances in grass mowing Design has helped a municipal golf of Golf Course Architects (EIGCA) held equipment to irrigation, turfgrass and course in California become more their main annual gatherings in April this modern club technology. environmentally and economically year, both of which focused on the topics of Golf architects and industry leaders sustainable. Located in City of innovation and technology. participated in the Donald Ross Roundtable Thousand Oaks, the Los Robles At the EIGCA Conference, delegates who discussion, where they shared insights on Greens course in City of Thousand played golf at Royal County Down were innovation, and discussed the challenges Oaks has had more than 30 acres of invited by the R&A’s director of research having the greatest impact on the golf turf removed as part of the recent and testing Steve Otto to carry a tracking industry today and some of the solutions the work. This means less fertiliser will device. Otto subsequently shared the results industry could consider for a healthy future. need to be used on the course, as well to demonstrate factors such as the distance The meeting also included talks on as fewer pesticides and fossil fuels. covered, areas of the golf course visited and technology in the field of design by speed of play of each group. ASGCA members Patrick Burton and Jim The latest issue of the Other conference presentations included an Cervone, respectively on the use of GPS ASGCA’s By Design magazine overview of the use of GPS in construction and drone technology. includes a feature on the by Graham Humphries and Tom Kelly Greg Martin was elected as the society’s emerging uses for drone of golf construction firm MJ Abbott, and new president. “Design Excellence is technology in golf design. an insight into visualisation tools for golf about problem-solving,” he said. “Every You can download the design from John Aherne of Golfgraffix. golf course architect needs to address the issue and sign up for a free At the ASGCA Annual Meeting in unique challenges of a project to better the subscription to By Design at Washington DC, outgoing ASGCA game. Ultimately, the course and the game www.asgca.org/by-design President Steve Smyers spoke about the will benefit.”
17 Tee Box
COURSE BLUEPRINT Rancho San Lucas A new course designed by Greg Norman Golf Course Design is beginning to take shape at the Rancho San Lucas resort community near Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. We take a look at the highlights of the design and what golfers can expect once the course is completed
The terrain at Rancho San Lucas is gently sloping, and players will be able to enjoy views of the sea throughout the course Water comes into play on the course’s opening hole, with players having to negotiate a large pond on their approach shot
The par three third hole plays right along the beachfront, and is built on the dunes that run up to the edge of the Pacific The par three 17th plays to an The short par four 16th green is island green, with golfers not only well protected, posing a difficult having to avoid the water, but also a challenge as golfers enter the large bunker to the left of the pin course’s final three holes
18 Golf Course Architecture
GOLF COURSE CONSTRUCTION
JOSEF PÖTTER GMBH Füchtenfeld 22 | 48599 Gronau-Epe | Germany | phone: +49(0)2565-402 98-0 | [email protected] | www.poetter-golf.de
Arthur Schaupeter GOLF COURSE ARCHITECTS
UNLOCK THE LAND’S POTENTIAL New course design • Renovation • Restoration • Land planning • Construction
www.schaupetergolf.com +1 314 443 9029 [email protected] Tee Box Infinite Variety rebuilding nine holes at Helmondse GC Architect Frank Pont of Infinite Variety Golf stages,” Pont said. “This is to connect all Design is leading a project to reconstruct aspects of the old and new holes, while nine holes at Helmondse Golfclub Overbrug allowing the members to play as much as near Helmond, Netherlands. possible during the works.” Tripp Davis is to lead a project at the Work began in May 2016 following the Four new greens have been built, and the University of Oklahoma’s Jimmie Austin club’s purchase of additional land, which surrounds of the existing greens have been Golf Course in Norman, Oklahoma. allowed a full length course to be developed given a more ‘classic’ feel by removing many The work will focus on seven holes, on top of the existing smaller course. of the original design’s round mounds. The and include the redesign of the tees, “The project has required complicated bunkering has also been worked on to provide with the introduction of new Zoysia planning for both the design and building that classic style, according to Pont. turf. Bunkers will be repositioned and restyled, and some alterations to fairways will also be made.
Golf course superintendents in the US have significantly decreased nutrient use rates and the number of acres being fertilised, according to a new report conducted by the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA). The study results showed a 53 per cent reduction in the use of phosphate fertilizers from 2006 to 2014, a 42 percent reduction in the use of potash and a 34 per cent reduction in nitrogen. “Golf course superintendents are committed to their The greens and bunkers at Helmondse GC have been given a more classic style role as environmental stewards,” said Rhett Evans, CEO of GCSAA.
Restoration complete at Gleneagles’ King’s Course Work to restore elements of James Braid’s location using old photography and video drainage of the bunkers and prevent washouts. original design at the King’s Course at footage. The bunkers are now once again the “Our target window for installation on the Gleneagles, Scotland, has reached completion. defining edge of the fairways, rather than King’s Course was November 2015 through to “We’ve got three courses at Gleneagles, all sitting in the semi roughs. March 2016, which the only period we could of which are maintained to the same standard “Over the years the sand lines on the get the golf course shut,” explained Fenwick. with the same level of investment,” said Scott King’s Course had been brought down to “It was decided that Capillary Concrete was Fenwick, golf courses and estate manager. stop stones and gravel contamination,” said the best product for the conditions we’d be “We wanted to give King’s and Queen’s that Fenwick. “We wanted to raise these back up installing in. It’s been very successful, with the heathland feel, but almost ‘inland linksy’ feel and make them visible.” bunkers performing really well. It was always and encourage pitch and run shots.” The team at Gleneagles installed the Capillary going to be a challenge installing liners over Fenwick explained that fairway lines have Concrete bunker liner in order to raise these the winter period, but Capillary Concrete gave been brought back out to their original lines, stop contamination, and improve the us the ability to do that.”
FROM THE ARCHIVE
This photo from the 1920s shows the 14th hole on the King’s Course, with pot bunkers a feature of James Braid’s original design
21 Tee Box Fieldstone completes innovative bunker project
A recently-completed bunker renovation project at Fieldstone Golf Club in Delaware, USA, is the first in the world to combine the Durabunker synthetic revet and edge product with the Better Billy Bunker liner. A number of the bunkers at the Hurdzan/ Fry-designed and Troon Golf-operated Fieldstone course are revetted, including the heart-shaped trap in the middle of the 18th fairway, named ‘Lisa’s heart’ after club founder Lisa Dean Moseley. Damon DiGiorgio, golf course superintendent at Fieldstone, said: “The cost Fieldstone’s ‘Lisa’s heart’ bunker to maintain this bunker alone was enormous before (inset) and after rebuilding and rebuilding it every two years due to it failing, was becoming financially draining to the club. We considered moving away sealed bunker’ is something the company from the sod wall look and converting to has previous experience with: “We have standard bunkers with natural grass banks, combined Durabunker with liners such as but Durabunker has given us the option of Capillary Concrete and Blinder on a number maintaining the original design intent, whilst of courses, mainly where design dictates at the same time dramatically reducing achieve, and that was to make the golfer think much shallower edges with higher sand maintenance costs.” and strategise when playing the course. That faces, the likes of which we have built on Golf course architect David Whelchel, is one of the reasons the club chose to rebuild many inland courses. This is the first time we who was involved with the original design this bunker first, it is critical to the look and have collaborated with Better Billy Bunker of Fieldstone, was on site for the project: strategy of the hole.” and, as with other liners, the two products “The bunker in the middle of the 18th Durabunker founder Rhydian Lewis fit together perfectly, addressing pretty much fairway is typical of what we were trying to explains that the concept of the ‘fully every bunker issue that exists.” New TPC Colorado course to open in 2018
Construction work is in progress on a new TPC course in Colorado, designed by Art Schaupeter. Pictured, the sites of the sixth and (inset) sixteenth holes
The US state of Colorado will gain its first is a combination that is very rare on the eagles, bogies and double bogies will all new golf course this decade following the Colorado Front Range. The golf course has be in play on this stretch of holes as players news that an 18-hole layout is being created been designed to maximise these views.” position themselves for the finishing stretch.” near the town of Berthoud. Schaupeter explained that eight holes are The course will grow in throughout 2017, The TPC Colorado course has been positioned alongside these bodies of water, with a grand opening scheduled for 2018. designed by architect Art Schaupeter, with perhaps the most challenging run of “The design philosophy for the golf construction is underway, and grassing is set holes coming on the back nine. course focuses on creating maximum fun to start in early August. “Holes 13, 14 and 15 will provide great and maximum interest for all golfers, fully “The site features dramatic mountain views challenges and great opportunities for the engaging them emotionally in their golf of the Front Range and in particular Long’s players as they consist of the longest par five round,” Schaupeter added. “Big, broad golf Peak, as well as views across three large hole, the longest par three hole and finally holes will provide a multitude of strategic water bodies – McNeil, Welch and Lonetree the shortest, most reachable par five hole on playing options and different lines of play reservoirs,” Schaupeter told GCA. “This the course,” Schaupeter explained. “Birdies, for all golfers to discover and consider.”
Renovation complete at TPC River Highlands The golf course at TPC River Highlands in Connecticut, US, has reopened following a large-scale renovation project. The course’s bunkers have been restyled, and the 17th green was rebuilt to increase the number of pin positions. Small changes were made to the putting surfaces on holes 10, 13, 15 and 16. A new tee complex was built on the par three 15th hole. Cart paths were repaired and, in places, rerouted and lake banks were stabilised to avoid erosion and improve aesthetics. First known in 1928 as Middletown Golf Club and later Edgewood Country Club, TPC River Highlands was completely redesigned in 1982 by Pete Dye. A further renovation project by golf course architect Bobby Weed took place in 1988. General manager David Corrado commented: “The golf course has a fresh, clean look to it, and while changes in some areas are quite significant, the integrity and strategic nature of the golf course was maintained in a way that the course is enjoyable and a challenge for all skill levels.”
23 Top varieties for a better turf
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Anunci_98x128.indd 1 23/06/16 9.43 Tee Box Compass Pointe course in North Carolina opens for play A new golf course has opened for play at the Compass Pointe community development Compass Pointe is the first course to open in in Leland, North Carolina, a few miles west North Carolina in six years of the city of Wilmington. It is the first new- build course in the state since Dormie Club, designed by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw, opened in 2010. Designed by Rick Robbins, the golf course site comprises wooded areas, open wetlands and long views, with quite significant elevation change for this coastal region. Robbins picks out the par five second hole as one to note: “It has a lot of little wetland pockets and splits as you get towards the green. It can be played in three or four different ways.” The closing hole, another par five, is another highlight. “The tee is elevated and you have two substantially downhill shots to a point at which a wetland crosses the hole, with the green set up on a hill of about 25-30 feet,” explains Robbins. The course has been designed to be fun and very playable, focusing on appealing to the Original designs for the course were community it serves. It can even be played as prepared in the mid-2000s, but the an 18-hole par three course. “We have added project was paused following the a set of real tees at between 75 and 150 yards downturn in the housing market. As on every hole,” says Robbins. “Generally they the market began to recover, developer are within fairway mounding so you don’t Bobby Harrelson decided to begin see them as you are playing the hole, but can shaping some of the holes. This renewed access them via the cart path.” activity on the golf development helped The facilities at Compass Pointe also to increase interest and prices of the include a substantial short game and practice lots, and accelerate the development. area, with a large driving range, 18-hole The master plan for the community putting green, chipping area, sand shot area includes a routing for an additional and an 80-yard par three that can be used as nine holes, ready to be constructed as a 19th hole. the overall development progresses. ‘Beach-style’ bunker introduced at Apeldoer GC A new ‘beach-style’ bunker has been introduced to the closing hole of the course at Apeldoer GC, near Hamburg, Germany, one of golf architect David Krause’s first designs. Created by Ecobunker, the new bunker allows the club to benefit from a clean cut margin to a water body, without an extensive maintenance burden. Ecobunker is currently involved in a number of bunkering and watercourse retainment projects in Germany. “The technical challenges are relatively straightforward,” said Richard Allen, director at Ecobunker. “However other aspects such as health and safety and environmental compliance, as well as occasional permit work, means that my experience as an engineer will come in very useful as we look at larger and more complex designs.”
25 VISION
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FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: 07584 495688 Richard Allen [email protected] www.ecobunker.co.uk www.jdrewrogers.com +1 419 787 6786
EcoBunker_GCA_93 x 128.5.indd 1 30/06/2016 15:37 Tee Box Norby hired to create new course in North Dakota Kevin Norby has been hired for a major project in the Bakken Oil Field region of North Dakota, US. Fox Hills Golf Club is being developed on the edge of Watford City, and forms part of a 550-acre residential development. The course’s front nine plays across rolling prairie hills, with the back nine lying on a ridgeline that overlooks the surrounding area and the rest of the course. Plans include a distinct wood-sleeper bunker style, in order to help counter the strong winds of the prairie and minimise sand loss. Fescue grasses will be used on the course’s fairways and bentgrass will be used on the greens. The project started out with plans to add nine holes to the existing Watford City Golf Club course. However thanks to the acquisition of additional land, the decision was made to build an entirely new 18 hole course, some of which will be on the site of the former course. Landscape Unlimited has been hired to construct the course, but some initial mass grading and pond construction has already been completed. The main construction phase of the project is set to get underway in July 2016, with the first twelve holes expected to be completed by June 2017.
The new course is being built on the site of a former nine-hole course on the edge of Watford City Improved establishment with New ProNitro 4G seed coating
A new 4G seed coating technology aimed “The difference between the uncoated and noticeably better too. There’s also the not at improving nutrient utilisation during new ProNitro coated seed has been more insignificant cost benefit as the treated plot the early stages of plant growth has been than significant,” said Jody Wilson, head had no additional fertiliser applied. I wouldn’t brought to market by international plant greenkeeper at Mid Herts GC. “Not only were have any reservations in using the treated seed breeder DLF. germination and establishment faster with again to bring areas back into play quicker ProNitro, which is available on selected the J Nitro Tee, the colour and density were whilst helping my budget go further.” Johnsons Sports Seed mixtures, meets the needs of greenkeepers looking to improve establishment when over seeding and reduce inputs of herbicides and fertiliser. The new seed coating contains 15 per cent nitrogen, with nutrients located around the seed as a supplement to the seeds own reserves. This helps enable a more efficient nitrogen uptake and allows roots and shoots to grow more rapidly. A number of J Nitro mixtures have also been introduced to the golf market, including J Nitro All Bent for greens, J Nitro Fescue, and hard wearing tee renovation mix J Nitro Tee, which was recently trialed at Mid Herts Golf Club in Hertfordshire, UK. ProNitro helps deliver higher levels of turf density and colour, as can be seen in the left hand photo
27 FEATURE
Hole three (above) and 17 (right) at the Olympic Golf Course in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, which hosted a small test event (far right) earlier this year in preparation for the Photo: Matthew Stockman/Getty Images Sport/Getty Stockman/Getty Images Matthew Images Photo: Olympic Games in August
28 Golf Course Architecture Golf readies Olympicitself for return In a few weeks golf will make its return to the Olympic fold after 112 years, on a new course built for the Rio games by Gil Hanse. And the game needs the Olympics to be a success, says Adam Lawrence
Photo: Matthew Stockman/Getty Images Sport/Getty Stockman/Getty Images Matthew Images Photo: olfers have waited a long time to The return of golf to the Games has been see their favourite game played a decade and more in the making. It was as a part of the world’s greatest in 2009, during an International Olympic sporting festival. In the second Committee (IOC) meeting in Copenhagen modernG Games of 1900, men and women that golf won its place, joining rugby sevens played in a golf tournament at Compiègne, as a new event, on trial for the 2016 and though it is said that the organisation of 2020 Games. It is perhaps ironic that golf those Games was so bad that neither set got in for the Games immediately after of competitors knew they were playing an London 2012, which, as with 1908, would Olympic event. At St Louis in 1904, women have seemed a natural fit for golf, but such were excluded, but a men’s team event was is life; and when at that same IOC congress added – but as every player came either in 2009, the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro from the US or Canada it cannot have been was awarded the 2016 Games, it became the most competitive of tournaments. And clear that the return of golf would not that was that. For 1908, when the Olympics be entirely straightforward. Rio was not went to London for the first time, golf was overburdened with golf courses, and a quick out; perhaps bizarrely, given that the UK assessment of those there were soon made would have seemed a natural spot for a golf it clear that a new course would need to be tournament. But gone it was. built for the Games. A site, at Riserva do Photo: Alex Ferro/Rio 2016 Ferro/Rio Alex Photo:
29 Olympic golf Routing the Olympic course Gil Hanse’s routing for the new Olympic golf course in Rio de Janeiro includes five par threes and four par fives, for a total par of 71. There is great variety in the holes, many of which could be considered half-pars
Hole 9 Par 4, 369 yards
A short par four that Kyle Franz, one of the architects on Hanse’s team, built to concept from Fraserburgh on Scotland’s northeast coast
Hole 4 – Par 3, 191 yards
Gil Hanse says the location of the fourth hole is the prettiest spot on the property and probably the most
dramatic looking hole on the course Sport/Getty Stockman/Getty Images Matthew Images Photo: Sport/Getty Stockman/Getty Images Matthew Images Photo:
30 Golf Course Architecture landowner/developer who didn’t really understand the process of golf course construction. That first nine months to a year, we were getting support from the PGA Tour technical guys and from the Practice facilities golf people – Richard Brogan and Michael Johnson from the PGA Tour construction The driving range and academy area and design services were down there all the at the Olympic golf course can be time and they served as our buffer and did converted for use as a short nine- a great job – but we weren’t really getting hole course, ideal for introducing any from the people on the ground. But locals to the sport we came through it all, that is the most important thing. The critical thing is that, while the process was difficult to navigate, Marapendi, close to the main Olympic park, and it was not efficient, never once were we was identified fairly quickly; British architect asked to compromise the design. People ask Martin Hawtree had routed a course on that me, was there ever a point where you were site several years earlier, but it had not been tempted to quit? I say no, but if anyone had built. And, after an in-depth competition asked us to change the design, we would that attracted entries from golf architects have. No matter how difficult the process, if from all over the world, in what was a major you deliver in the end then you can judge a surprise at the time, American Gil Hanse was project a success.” chosen to design the course, back in 2012. For Gil Hanse, the story of his experiences Hanse’s stories of the build are fairly in Rio de Janeiro is one of overcoming well known now in golf circles, but still obstacles. The development of the quite enlightening. “When we landed in Barra de Tijuca Olympic course rarely Rio in Jan 2013 to start construction, and went smoothly, with disputes over land we didn’t get going till mid March – and ownership, problems with environmental then only a nominal start, it was pretty permissions and many other issues causing depressing,” he says. “There was a lot of the build to take far longer than expected. ‘yes, yes, that’s going to happen’ in the run But now, as the Games approaches and up to construction. When we arrived, the with the trial event successfully in the bag, yesses became ‘Oh we’ll get to that’. Not albeit rather later than planned, Hanse can once during the competition process was look back on the whole process with the it mentioned that the key decision maker satisfaction of a job well done – and, like was going to be the landowner. Over the every other keen golf fan, with an interest first couple of months, getting the right in seeing who will come through and win equipment was hard, as was dealing with medals when competition days arrive. Photo: courtesy of courtesy Farms Photo: Bladerunner
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Golf Course Architecture 194mm x 128.5mm.indd 1 13/01/2015 10:18 Olympic golf
IN FOCUS “I think the key takeaway for me has been just how resilient and talented our guys are – guys like Kyle Franz, Neil Cameron, Next stop: Kasumigaseki East Ben Hillard and Ben Warren,” he says. “They lived there, and it was difficult for them. But the passion they brought to it on a daily basis was remarkable. It didn’t matter what obstacles we faced: the time it took, the inefficiencies in the construction
process – they kept it going all through the CC Kasumigaseki Photo: time we were on site, and that was key to us delivering something good in the end.” Hanse says that building the Rio course has helped to change his image within golf. “Our name recognition has gone through a dramatic transformation for sure,” he says. “Within the industry, we were a known commodity, and we had a good reputation, but outside, in the broader golf community, we were almost unknown. Now, that’s Tom Fazio has completed work on Kasumigaseki’s changed – we’re recognised as being among East course in preparation for the 2020 Olympics, including conversion from two greens per hole to one the top names of our profession.” The architects says that he is very eager to see the world’s top players tackle his course. When Tokyo won the right to stage the 2020 Games, the situation was rather different to Rio, “The finishing stretch is memorable, but given the Japanese capital’s impressive range of golf courses. There, organisers quickly determined the holes I want to watch them play the to use the East course at the Kasumigaseki club, designed originally in the 1920s by English most are the fourth, the ninth and the architect Hugh Alison, and long regarded as one of Japan’s elite courses. But the course needed a thorough renovation to prepare it for the Games, and, notably, to eliminate the two greens per hole system that was common in Japanese golf as a way to deal with the country’s extremely “If we get windy and varied climate – but is now regarded as outdated, due to the availability of better strains of warm season grasses. The firm of Tom Fazio was selected to handle the Kasumigaseki work, and, though firm conditions, the Games is still more than four years away, work is almost done. Kasumigaseki CC is one of Japan’s most highly respected golf clubs, with the championship East course having been designed angles will be very by English architect Hugh Alison on his legendary trip to Japan in the 1920s. Tom Fazio says: “Kasumigaseki approached us several years ago, before being awarded important throughout the Olympics,about the possibility of partnering with the club to oversee improvements to the East course. The club’s desire was to ensure the long-term legacy of the East Course as the golf course” a championship course and excellent test of golf. My son, Logan Fazio, is president of the company now and is in charge of new project review and analysis and overall design oversight in the field. I don’t move forward with new projects unless he is on board. Logan made sixteenth – two short par fours and a several exploratory visits to KCC to meet with the club representatives and conduct a detailed three. The fourth is the prettiest spot on review of the East Course in light of the club’s goals for the renovation. Based on that Logan the property, probably the most dramatic decided we would take on the challenge and I fully supported his decision. Being awarded the looking hole on the course, while at the Olympics shortly after that only served to reinforce the club’s agenda with regard to the East ninth, Kyle Franz built to concept from Course and we proceeded quickly with the improvement plans. Fraserburgh in Scotland – two mounds in “The club wished to replace the current two-green system with a single green per hole, as it front right and left, with a cleavage between had recently done with its West course, and also asked us to prepare a comprehensive review of and a small green. If we get windy and firm the design and strategic elements of the course with regard to tee locations and yardages, bunker conditions, angles will be very important and hazard placement, green angles, and the like. In addition, while incorporating those design throughout the golf course.” elements, the club also took the opportunity to improve the course drainage characteristics, install As to the post-Olympic legacy, Hanse a new irrigation system and plant new turfgrass throughout. It has truly been a wide-ranging says he has a number of hopes. He scotches renovation, while at the same time we have been mindful of the excellent original routing of the suggestions that the course will not last course and the renovated holes still occupy the same or very similar play corridors. long before it is redeveloped for housing. “We were initially unsure how the construction would be executed given that we don’t know the “You cannot develop that land – the only local contractors involved. To add a layer of certainty to the process, Logan put together a team of land that is available for development on specialists (project management, shapers) to augment and complement the efforts of the skilled local the site is where they already are building. contractors tasked with implementing the design work. We couldn’t be happier with the quality It is zoned for what is there now, so we of the construction. It is as good as or better than any golf course we have been part of, and the expect it to stay a golf course for the long professionalism and work ethic of everyone on the project is second to none. We couldn’t ask for more. haul,” he says. “In time, I hope there is a Many of the course improvements would have been made regardless of whether the Olympics would robust caddie programme, and a strong be played there. We have worked with the International Golf Federation, the Japan Golf Association junior programme that has opened up golf and other entities to review the logistics and setup of such an event as part of our planning process. to groups that haven’t previously played it. The course is compact and very walkable, so patrons attending the Olympics should have great I hope there’s a continued championship visibility of the golfers and will be able to easily see all of the course. I have no doubts at all that the legacy for the course, but the most soon-to-be-completed improvements at KCC will serve the members well for generations to come and important thing is contributing to the the East course will very capably serve as an excellent test of golf for the world’s best players in 2020. growth of golf in Brazil.” GCA It has been a true honour to partner with KCC on this exciting and important project, my first in Asia.”
33 OPINION
Tillinghast’s design elasticity on display Baltusrol Golf Club in New Jersey will host the 2016 PGA Championship on the club’s Lower Course, originally designed by AW Tillinghast. Rees Jones explains why the club’s two courses are among the most important the legendary architect ever created
ocated in Springfield, New Jersey, Since Tillinghast’s time, adherence to his Baltusrol Golf Club has one design principles and layout has remained a of the game’s most enduring fundamental rule guiding all improvements championship legacies. The club has at Balustrol. An example would be the Lhosted numerous major tournaments since lengthening of the Lower Course by nearly its founding in 1895. 900 yards, without any routing changes or Nearly 100 years ago, Baltusrol made the movement of greens. bold and ultimately successful choice to In our nearly 30 years of working with entrust AW Tillinghast with remaking the the club, we have strived to preserve and club’s original Old Course into the Upper reclaim the original Tillinghast design. We and Lower Courses, which still exist today. have aimed to ensure the course remains Baltusrol exemplifies Tillinghast’s design enjoyable for its members, as well as being a elasticity at its finest. Since 1922, the dual strict test for the highest level of play. courses at Baltusrol have not only provided We first began working with the club in “We have strived enjoyment for golfers of all abilities, but preparation for the 1993 US Open, held on have consistently tested the best players in the Lower Course. There had been very little to preserve and the game. architectural work done on the course since In July 2016, the Lower Course will host the early 1950s, when my father, Robert reclaim the original this year’s PGA Championship, with the Trent Jones, made modifications to prepare tournament played over the same fairways it for the 1954 US Open. We then worked Tillinghast design” and greens on which past champions with the club to create a masterplan in 1991, played. The standards of conditioning are with some of the proposed work taking place now drastically higher at Baltusrol, but the prior to the 1993 Open. The work focused green contours are the same as they were primarily on adding length to the course, when Tillinghast created them. implementing and tweaking bunkers, and The 36 holes at Baltusrol are rebuilding tees. substantially intact as designed by Following the 2005 PGA Championship, Tillinghast, and display arguably more we worked with the club to develop a new representations of his design principles masterplan for the Lower Course. All of our than any of his other designs that are renovation and restoration work has relied still in their original form today. In many on archival photographs and aerial maps respects, Baltusrol can be considered one to make sure the design stays true to its of Tillinghast’s most important designs. past and the Tillinghast legacy. This project This was one of the reasons Baltusrol Golf included a bunker renovation plan which Club was designated a National Historic restored depth to all of the bunkers, added Landmark in 2014 by the National Park several new ones, re-positioned fairway Service, becoming one of only four golf bunkers to make them more relevant for properties to hold this distinction. today’s game, and returned bunkers to the Tillinghast was prescient in seeing that Tillinghast style. Ramp approaches to the golf courses should have the flexibility to greens – a distinctive Tillinghast feature at accommodate future changes in the game, Baltusrol – were restored to their original and the courses he built at Baltusrol show dimensions. A great example is the enlarged his foresight. ramp leading to the 17th green.
34 Golf Course Architecture On a number of holes on the Lower Course at Baltusrol, including the 18th and (below) 13th, recent restoration work by Rees Jones and his team has brought the meandering tributaries back into play
While the green contours serve as a form of hazard, requiring proper placement of both the tee and approach shots, they are also subtle enough that their slopes and hole locations are enhanced at tournament speeds. Green expansion occurred on several holes, including the fifth, 12th, 15th and 18th, where back green sections were restored to their original dimensions. In addition, collection areas were added behind the greens on two holes – the first and the 12th – complementing the one that already existed on the fifth hole. Tillinghast used the meandering tributaries at Baltusrol as hazards on numerous holes on the Lower Course. Over time, the fairways of the 10th, 13th and 18th holes had crept away from the water. On the 10th and 13th holes, we brought the stream back into play. The 10th now has one of the most challenging tee shots on the course for the better player. With its Baltusrol exemplifies the type of course PGA Championship, and the members of oblique angle framed by fairway bunkers on Tillinghast foresaw as being the model for Baltusrol will be able to continue enjoying the left and a creek running diagonally up courses of the future. We have been fortunate their facility, as Tillinghast intended, for the right side, the 13th is a fine example of to have the opportunity to spend many years to come. GCA a short par four design. On the 18th hole, years studying Tillinghast’s masterpiece and we enlarged the pond on the left side of the working closely with the club’s leadership hole to return it to the edge of the fairway, and administration to preserve and enhance Rees Jones has designed or redesigned more making it once again a formidable hazard his legacy. The Lower Course should produce than 170 courses and has been president of on the final hole. a challenging but fair test of golf for the 98th Rees Jones Inc. since 1974
35 Synthetic Bunker Face and Edge Solutions
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The regeneration game Landfill sites are unloved by the public and can be expensive to close. Architect John Sanford explains how we can transform our rubbish into recreation
olf originated on the shores of the course. The fill helped to accelerate settling British Isles in the 1400s, when of the waste, while methane gas vents were shepherds grazed their flocks inconspicuously placed around the property. along coastal dunes, which they What was previously an eyesore has been consideredG wasteland since it was unsuitable transformed into a site with a beautiful 27-hole for farming or building. golf course, public ballfields and hiking What was once unsuitable is now cherished trails, which all returns revenue to the local as sacred golfing grounds. And our new communities. The course construction project wastelands are truly that – degraded land has also saved millions of dollars of public where we have deposited our domestic and funds that would have been required to close commercial waste, also known as ‘landfills’. As the landfills. The facility is operated by a private history has proven, even today’s wastelands can entity and has become a favourite destination be transformed into cherished spaces. for many in the Boston metropolitan area. Converting landfills to golf courses is not a Trump Golf Links at Ferry Point was an “There are thousands new phenomenon, but more of these types inactive landfill that had lain fallow for decades of project are becoming a reality. There are on the East River at the base of the Whitestone of waste sites around thousands of waste sites around the world that Bridge in New York’s Bronx district. Over 60 are candidates for transformation to ‘green years, the site had been filled with everything the world that infrastructure’, and golf fits that bill. from kitchen appliances to construction Even on landfill sites that are not large enough debris and had never been properly closed are candidates for or suitable for a 150-acre, regulation golf course, in adherence with State regulations. After there are infinite options to create practice several failed attempts by private entities, the transformation” facilities, short courses, or nine-hole tracks. Golf City stepped up and funded the design and also mixes well with other active recreational construction of this links-style course. uses, such as ballfields, parks and walking trails, Substructures under tees and greens, methane and tends to be the primary revenue generator. gas vents and geofoam backfill made for a The benefits and challenges of designing and challenging design and construction process. building on a landfill are numerous. Sanford Nothing is easy in the ‘Big Apple’ when it Golf Design has designed two such projects in comes to building public facilities, but with the the US that exemplify these virtues – Granite help of Jack Nicklaus and Donald Trump, the Links Golf Club in Boston and Trump Golf course was completed in 2014 and had a very Links at Ferry Point in New York City. Both are successful first year of operation in 2015. products of public/private ventures, requiring As well as the 18-hole golf course and practice extensive planning and permitting. They facilities, the 220-acre Ferry Point Park now were very expensive to build by golf course includes a community park with ballfields and standards and many challenges had to be a waterfront park with a pedestrian link along overcome during their creation. the East River to the adjacent neighbourhood. Granite Links included two contiguous and Closing a landfill is a complicated and active landfills that were closed during the expensive process, and transforming a landfill golf course construction process. Ten million into an active public park costs even more. cubic yards of fill came out of the ‘Big Dig’ (a However, creating a golf facility costs no huge highway and tunnel construction project more than a public park yet generates income just six miles away in downtown Boston) and perpetually. This makes golf the logical choice. fees for the disposal of this material funded Though both of our landfill to golf course Trump Golf Links at Ferry Point in New York was built the project. This fill was used to cap the waste projects had different constraints and on the site of a landfill that had lain fallow for decades and was shaped to form the base grade for the opportunities, they have transformed degraded urban sites into active recreational amenities that have enhanced and will sustain their communities for many years to come. GCA
John Sanford is president of Sanford Golf Design and currently Vice President of the American Society of Golf Course Architects
37 SportBond bunkers
Keep your bunkers player-friendly all year round DAR Golf Construction is working with leading architects, consultants and golf courses in installing SportBond bunker liner across Ireland, the UK and throughout Europe.
SportBond is an engineered bunker liner developed by DAR Golf Construction. It is a porous liner that eliminates contamination and prevents flooding through an integrated drainage system which is designed to rapidly drain rainwater and also intercept rising groundwater. SportBond bunker liner is a permanent solution for problematic bunkers.
Here’s just a sample of SportBond projects completed this year: Tewkesbury Park, Tewkesbury, England. Project Designer: Peter McEvoy OBE Castleknock Golf Club, Dublin, Ireland. Project Designer: Gaunt Golf Design Limited Royal Mougins Golf Club, Mougins, France. Project Designer: von Hagge, Smelek and Baril Roe Park Resort, Limavady, Northern Ireland. Project Designer: Westenborg Golf Design Milltown Golf Club, Dublin, Ireland. Project Designer: Mackenzie & Ebert Ltd Old Conna Golf Club, Wicklow, Ireland. Project Designer: Eddie B. Connaughton Limited Naas Golf Club, Kildare, Ireland. Project Designer: (re)GOLF Belvoir Park Golf Club, Belfast, Northern Ireland. Project Designer: Ken Kearney Golf Design www.dargolf.com +353 59 648 1509 [email protected] SportBond bunkers OPINION Staying ahead of the game A new six-hole course will help Hong Kong’s Clearwater Bay Golf and Country Club meet the demands of the modern golfer. Kevin Holinaty explains more
ynthetic turf has long been considered Also, the new course will also be appealing an excellent choice for practice and inviting to beginners and families – tees and short game areas. But I’m helping to bring a new generation of golfers particularly excited as the growth in into the sport by offering a fun experience in Sdemand for our surfaces continues to evolve a beautiful location. and expand within the golf course. Just as importantly, the significant At Clearwater Bay Golf and Country Club maintenance savings, both in dollars and in Hong Kong, we’re currently working on a manpower, give the club a distinct advantage. new six-hole golf course – designed by Matt They get a very high quality facility without Swanson of Signature Design – that will use having to spend significant maintenance synthetic turf extensively. The site overlooks hours on it, allowing their focus to stay on the sea and is a stunning setting for golfers the 18-hole championship course. of all abilities to enjoy the game. The course at Clearwater Bay will not be The course will feature our Pro System the first time we have brought our product to “Clearwater Bay on the greens, as well as our performance Hong Kong, having also completed a project fairway, rough and bunker systems. with Nicklaus Design at the Hong Kong Golf will have an offering Naturally, we are excited to be part of the & Tennis Academy. Interestingly, it was after construction of this golf facility at such a visiting this facility that Peter Downie, general that is unique in its prestigious private golf club, and are pleased manager at Clearwater Bay, was convinced by that Clearwater Bay has put their faith in the capabilities of synthetic turf. local market” our product and installation capacity. “The initial impression when you arrive at The end result will be an extremely high the teeing ground is very impressive, but what quality course that is fitting for a club with surprised me were the results and feedback such a commitment to excellence. Also, there I got when hitting full eight irons, not only are numerous benefits that would not have from the tee surface, but also into the greens,” been possible with natural grass, including he said. “The ball was reacting and spinning reduced maintenance, reduced water usage on the greens surface like I experience on a and the ability to provide a playing surface high quality natural surface.” Keep your bunkers player-friendly all year round that would be consistent throughout the year. Golfers are the most demanding of customers DAR Golf Construction is working with leading architects, consultants and golf courses in installing SportBond bunker liner across Perhaps most importantly though, the new – they will only be satisfied with synthetic course will enable Clearwater Bay to address surfaces if they react in a way that they are Ireland, the UK and throughout Europe. some of the key challenges that are currently accustomed to feeling and experiencing while being faced throughout the golf industry. playing on top quality natural surfaces. It’s the SportBond is an engineered bunker liner developed by DAR Golf Construction. It is a porous liner that eliminates contamination Firstly, the six-hole course will be playable in authentic experience that our surfaces provide under 90 minutes. This gives busy members that have convinced customers around the and prevents flooding through an integrated drainage system which is designed to rapidly drain rainwater and also intercept rising the opportunity to get a proper golf experience world – like Top of the Rock in Missouri, USA groundwater. SportBond bunker liner is a permanent solution for problematic bunkers. – and the ability to use at least two-thirds of and at the new Golf Up facility in St Tropez, The new six-hole course in construction at the clubs in their bag, in a fraction of the time France – to turn to synthetic turf. Providing Here’s just a sample of SportBond projects completed this year: Clearwater Bay enjoys a wonderful setting it takes to play a full 18-hole round. this authentic experience was critical factor for Clearwater Bay. Tewkesbury Park, Tewkesbury, England. Project Designer: Peter McEvoy OBE Now is the really exciting stage – seeing it all take shape. We are working with Linksshape, Castleknock Golf Club, Dublin, Ireland. Project Designer: Gaunt Golf Design Limited a Hong Kong-based golf construction firm Royal Mougins Golf Club, Mougins, France. Project Designer: von Hagge, Smelek and Baril led by Stuart Stone, on the earth moving and shaping elements of the project. Roe Park Resort, Limavady, Northern Ireland. Project Designer: Westenborg Golf Design Once the new course is complete at the Milltown Golf Club, Dublin, Ireland. Project Designer: Mackenzie & Ebert Ltd end of this year, Clearwater Bay will have an offering that is unique in its local market, Old Conna Golf Club, Wicklow, Ireland. Project Designer: Eddie B. Connaughton Limited helping them to remain the undisputed top golf facility in Hong Kong. Naas Golf Club, Kildare, Ireland. Project Designer: (re)GOLF GCA Belvoir Park Golf Club, Belfast, Northern Ireland. Project Designer: Ken Kearney Golf Design Kevin Holinaty is president of Southwest Greens Construction www.dargolf.com +353 59 648 1509 [email protected] 39 OPINION
The evolution of golf markets Danish golf architect Philip Christian Spogárd says that golf clubs need to adapt their courses to suit the level of sophistication in particular golf markets
erhaps one of the key reasons that The Swedes are no longer first generation it has proved difficult for golf to golfers – and as a result, they are demanding establish itself in many new markets better designed courses. My partner Michiel has been the kind of courses that VanderVaart and I work with County Louth, haveP been built. It’s understandable that one of the most famous and best links in both developers and architects would seek Ireland and a must play if you appreciate links to create ‘marquee’ courses – there are golf. That club has a lot of Swedish golfers sound business reasons why that kind of coming to play. And links golf is an acquired course might be a good investment, and golf taste: for a lot of people it isn’t enjoyable architects know that it is building spectacular to begin with, if you are used to trees and courses that gets them noticed – but parkland style golf. Those who appreciate that 7,500 yard championship courses that are kind of golf are more educated, if you like. extremely expensive to build, maintain and This, I think proves the point. play are never going to be the ideal venue for When the game becomes a larger part of “When the game beginners to learn the game. their lives, golfers begin to appreciate the Beginner golfers need simple, affordable diversity that exists in golf courses. Travel becomes a larger part golf courses. Though they have not got that opens their horizons to the many things that in a number of high profile new markets – golf can be. And then you go home to your of their lives, golfers like China, for example – there are plenty of home club, and you start to appreciate what other countries that have approached golf it could be, which in turn sees clubs trying begin to appreciate the development in this sustainable, bottom- to become better and live up to what their up fashion. Finland, Sweden and the Czech members want. diversity that exists in Republic are three countries that, over the Denmark is getting there. The Netherlands years, have built a reasonable number of fairly as well. Most other European countries are golf courses” straightforward, even basic golf facilities, getting there as well. I look at the percentage and have, over time, reaped the rewards by of people playing golf. There is a glass ceiling – developing a substantial cadre of new golfers. you are not going to get 100 per cent of people Golfers, like every other species on earth, playing golf! In countries like Sweden and evolve over time. In the beginning, new Ireland, nearly five per cent of the population golfers have very little ability to differentiate are registered golfers, in Denmark it’s just between a good golf course and a bad one. under three per cent, but in most European So long as a course is not so difficult that countries it is less than one per cent. So there they cannot play it without losing lots of is potential demand for new courses as the balls, they are generally just happy being on proportion of golfers increases. the course. But, as they acquire skills and But mostly, at the moment, the issue is experience – and in particular, when they not new courses, it is existing ones trying to start to travel to play golf, and see courses, improve their facilities to match up to what usually fairly high profile ones, in other more savvy golfers want. I see it all around countries – they become better judges of Europe – the larger scale renovation market what is good and what is not. As they have is starting to exist, because clubs have realised children, or even grandchildren, who they they need to upgrade what they offer, or they introduce to the game from a young age, will lose members and visitor income. When their country becomes a real golfing one, does a project become a big project? For me, with second or third generation golfers, with that would be one with a construction cost of a more instinctive feel for the game. say, €800,000. For that, you can really change Historically, I feel it is proven that is the case a course – you can redo all the bunkers, most when you look at more established markets. of the tees and perhaps six or seven greens Take Sweden, which is at least a generation – and you can make a big upgrade in the ahead of many other European markets. golfing experience.
40 Golf Course Architecture Nordvestjysk Golfklub in Denmark, recently renovated by Spogárd & VanderVaart
What I am seeing is that clubs are trying to focus on producing a unique product, rather than just competing on price. If you can buy two things that are the same, most people will go for the cheaper option! There are three things that are crucial for a development plan to be a success. From a design point of view, it must be clear that the finished product will be significantly better than what they have. Then there is finance; how is it going to be funded? And the last thing, is how it is going to affect the daily play of the members? If they are going to have excavators there all the time for five years, you will get pushback. You get so much out of undertaking a development plan. I tell them about who I am and what I have experienced as a golf architect, which is that clubs have been mostly focused on finding short term, ad hoc solutions to their problems. But this is not the best way forward! Before (inset) and after images of the Most courses are not particularly par three eighth at Nordvestjysk architecturally significant and could be significantly improved. By undertaking a long term development plan you ensure that everything you spend on the course is going to give the right result – not just now but ten years from now. GCA
Philip Christian Spogárd is a partner in the international golf design firm of Spogárd & VanderVaart
41 OPINION
Calm throughout the storm When storms hit the venue of the 2016 Curtis Cup match, many expected the course to be out of action for a prolonged period. But play resumed with minimal disruption. James D’Arcy explains more
e’re very proud to have been working with Dun Laoghaire Golf Club just south of Dublin, Ireland for the past sixW years. The whole team was delighted when the club was selected to host the prestigious 2016 Curtis Cup match, the biannual contest between women amateur teams representing Great Britain and Ireland and the United States. The course was built in 2007, after the club accepted an offer to relocate from a property development company. The new site at Ballyman Glen is nestled at the foot of the “Greens were attractive Sugarloaf Mountains. Designed by Marc Westenborg during his time at Hawtree submerged in water Ltd, it is a spectacular course comprising three loops of nine holes set on 330 acres. and rivers were In the years running up to the Curtis Cup, we have worked on a number of projects running through with the club, including new sleeper-lined buggy paths throughout the course, the the fairways. But the remodelling and extension of tee boxes, construction of new stone-faced bridges and bunkers remained walls, installation of a new lake liner and pipelines, and the creation of a new practice immaculate” facility that includes putting and chipping greens and bunkers. But perhaps the biggest project we have completed for the club is the installation of new bunker lining throughout the course. with the easiest path to the drainage, The club was having problems with washout eliminating sand wash, soil erosion and and flooding of the bunkers, leading to flooding. This keeps bunkers player- a major strain on manpower to reinstate friendly all year round and reduces the bunkers from sand distribution after club’s maintenance burden. significant rainfall events, which arise quite After a year of monitoring the two test frequently on the East coast of Ireland. bunkers, DAR Golf Construction was awarded In 2012, as a test project, we rebuilt two of the contract of upgrading all bunkers on the the most severely-affected bunkers using our course using the SportBond liner. SportBond liner product. This involves the The bunker project was carried out in two installation of a uniquely bonded polymer/ phases. Phase one began in 2013 and phase pebble base that is completely porous. The two in 2014, with the entire project complete base is mixed and applied, rather than sprayed, in early 2015. The projects involved tweaking giving it a consistent strength throughout. of bunker surrounds to divert water on some Sand is then added on top of the base. bunkers. Other bunkers were completely Water filters through the sand and into remodelled and some holes had the number the SportBond layer where it is provided of bunkers reduced and grassy hollows
42 Golf Course Architecture Dun Laoghaire Golf Club near Dublin, Ireland, hosted the 2016 Curtis Cup match
and swales installed to replace them. All Des McGann, the course superintendent at performance under a range of conditions, disturbed areas were turfed. Dun Laoghaire Golf Club, explains: “In front we were confident that the bunkers would 102 bunkers had new drainage installed of a crowd of 6,000 spectators, to have the withstand such pressure, and delighted that and 16,000 sq m of SportBond bunker liner course fully back in play with no water lying they did so when under the gaze of the was installed. Turfed areas on the surrounds in any of the bunkers is testament to this golfing world. of remodelled bunkers had lateral and amazing bunker liner created by DAR Golf.” “Not alone is SportBond an amazing slit drainage installed which was linked to Julian Mooney, director of the club’s product, but DAR Golf’s attention to existing drainage throughout the course. The agronomic consultants, Turfgrass, agrees: detail in design, construction and drainage course remained open throughout all phases. “The Curtis Cup match provided the ultimate of bunkers is simply outstanding. Their The Curtis Cup match began on Friday test for the renovated bunkers, specifically attention to detail is impeccable and the 10 June, but the following day play was when thunderstorms suspended play. As golf club’s demands are continuously met,” suspended due to flash flooding. 26 mm of a result of their attention to detail and says McGann. GCA rain fell in little over an hour. Greens were conscious nature, DAR Golf has become a submerged in water and rivers were running reliable partner to Dun Laoghaire Golf Club.” through the fairways. But the bunkers It was the sternest possible test of our James D’Arcy is the managing director of remained immaculate. After the rain had product and workmanship that we could DAR Golf Construction, based in County stopped, play resumed only 30 minutes later. imagine! Having already proven their Wicklow, Ireland
43 ON SITE
Facing the challenge German architect Christian Althaus has surmounted many difficulties to complete his first solo design, says Adam Lawrence
The sloping site at Georgenthal has been expertly routed; there is a sharp rise to the 17th green, before players turn back for the downhill 18th, which plays to a narrow green (foreground)
44 Golf Course Architecture Georgenthal
ontinental Europe is not an easy place to build golf these days. Even where economies are strong and demand for golf is high, architects and constructors Cin Europe face very severe challenges imposed by government that, in all honesty, lack both knowledge of, and sympathy for the game. In France, for example, American superstar designer Tom Doak was only able to complete the new course at Saint-Emilion, near Bordeaux, by creating a drainage system that would funnel all the rainwater that falls on the property into a large reservoir. Why? Because French law bans the extraction of ground water from such sites, and therefore the only source of water to irrigate the course through the hot days of a southern summer was the water that could be challenge captured from runoff in this way.
45 Althaus has crammed a lot of golf into the 50 hectares – including an expansive practice facility (above) – and created attractive bunkering throughout (as seen top, at the 182-yard par three 11th). Right, the 413-yard par four 18th plays towards the hotel
Elsewhere on the continent, in Scandinavia causing a major delay to the project. German in particular, course managers face laws are also very strict on what chemicals increasingly tight restrictions on the can and cannot be used on golf courses; chemicals they can use to help them fortunately for the project, Scottish consultant maintain golf, to the extent that this is giving Ian Macmillan MG, a well-known advocate of birth to a movement of practically chemical- natural golf management, oversaw the grow-in, free greenkeeping (we’ll return to this later). which was pesticide and fungicide free. Water was a huge issue for the team that Archaeology was also a problem, as or seven years ago, Althaus seems to have built the recently opened golf course at the the site is crossed by the remains of the been getting braver and braver with bunker Hofgut Georgenthal hotel and resort, around Limes Germanicus, the ancient line of styling, and here at Georgenthal, his style 40km west of Frankfurt. Ironically, perhaps, fortifications that divided the Roman has reached maturity. Georgenthal is powered by water in a sense; empire from the barbarian Germanic tribes, It’s also notable that perhaps the best hole hotel owner Brita Hankammer’s father so Althaus’s design had to leave certain on the golf course is the third, a steeply invented the popular Brita water filter (which areas, where the remnants of the Limes were uphill par four. In truth, golfers rarely he named after his daughter). But German to be found, untouched. take to uphill holes – it’s not only Jack regulations too prevented the team from To make matters more difficult still, the Nicklaus who thinks that golf is a better extracting water from wells on site, so, in severely sloping property is extremely small, game played downhill – but what comes order to get water, architect Christian Althaus, at little more than 50 hectares (125 acres) down must go up, and while building along with contractor Josef Pötter Golf and for a modern eighteen hole design, and the severe climbs in between holes to get the irrigation supplier Perrot Regnerbau, were owners wanted to include a full-scale driving ascent out of play might be OK when all forced to build an 8km pipeline to bring range, a three hole par three course and a the golfers will be riding in carts, that same water to the site. Not only that, but all the Himalayas-style practice putting green. arrangement is a huge pain to the walker. ponds on the site are connected together to It’s to Althaus’s credit, then, that he has Germans, like most of their northern ensure maximum storage, and the pump designed a fun golf course that is a (fairly) European counterparts, like to walk, so it is station which drives this system is buried in a comfortable walk with a good selection appropriate that Althaus has designed the concrete bunker near the seventeenth tee, like of holes demanding a variety of shots at course with them in mind. something out of a James Bond movie. It is, Georgenthal. His bunkering is particularly The fourth is an appealing short par four, frankly, a pretty remarkable setup. attractive; since the architect’s first project drivable for big hitters, with a green tucked Water wasn’t the only issue the team faced in as a lead designer, when he built the third into the top corner of the property, and getting Georgenthal built. A previous contractor nine at Golfclub Föhr, off the northern protected in front by bunkers. But Althaus had gone bust before Pötter was brought in, coast of Germany for Städler Golf about six does not force the player to take on those
46 Golf Course Architecture Georgenthal
a large amount of earthmoving, the architect “All the ponds on the site are connected has built a number of good holes where there is very clearly strategy in play. That together to ensure maximum storage, and the short fourth is a good example, but there are plenty of others. The eighteenth hole is pump station which drives this system is buried very smart indeed, with the green set at a slightly oblique angle to the line of play, thus in a concrete bunker near the seventeenth tee, favouring one side of the fairway over the other. The figure-eight green is pretty bold: like something out of a James Bond movie” the narrow part of the green is very skinny indeed, perhaps no more than ten paces. Certainly back pins will take a brave shot to bunkers; he has left much fairway to the not wide, and wilder players will find the get close to. right side of the green, and a tee shot hit hole intimidating in the extreme. On the There must have been many times during to that side will leave a nice open chip shot other hand, most everyone will fall for the the development of the Georgenthal course with a good chance of a three. fifteenth, a classic short drop shot par three when it looked as if it would never be The architect himself says his favourite to a well contoured green. finished; it is to owner Brita Hankammer’s hole is the par five twelfth, which runs in What appealed to me most about credit that she stayed the course when others the opposite direction to the fourth, and Georgenthal was Althaus’s commitment to might have faltered. But credit is also due right on the other side of the property. It’s building strategic holes in an environment to the team that built the course. It seems, a pretty hole for sure, but his judgement where that was difficult to do. Strategy from meeting that team, to have been a very must be influenced by his arrow-straight generally requires width; and width is successful partnership between architect, hitting; the gap between the out of bounds obviously harder to provide on a very tight contractor and irrigation supplier. Would on the right and the rough on the left is site. Yet, through clever design, and without that there were more such projects! GCA
47 ON SITE
Long term
Architect Ally McIntosh is in the early stages of a five year plan to improve Strandhill GC in the west of Ireland. Adam Lawrence paid a visit to see the works
48 Golf Course Architecture Strandhill GC
lthough the last decade or so has seen more high-profile new links courses developed than any time since WW2, seaside duneland is anA environment that is typically highly pro- tected across the world. For golf courses that occupy such dunes, this is a double edged sword. It often protects them from unwanted development on nearby linksland, but at the same time it can cause problems when they themselves want to do the development. Although true linksland is scarce, it is rarely the case that a course occupies the whole of an area. Most often, there is land available somewhere around the perimeter of the course, and it’s only natural that golfers, when playing the course, should look out across the unused land and wonder what golf holes might be found out there. Machrihanish, on Scotland’s Kintyre peninsula, is a classic example of that; for decades, golfers making the turn would stare out into the apparently endless range of dunes and dream. Eventually, of course, those dreams came to reality, with the creation of Machrihanish Dunes. But that is the exception to the rule; mostly, planning regulations make it difficult, verging on impossible, to build new courses in natural links environments. At Strandhill in the west of Ireland, the question of expansion onto new land is particularly important. Founded in 1931, Strandhill was a nine hole course until it was expanded to 18 by Eddie Hackett in the The proposed new par three 14th hole would 1970s. As with almost all of Hackett’s work, play towards the Knocknarea mountain the expansion was almost certainly done on a shoestring budget, and, though the excellence of the ground and the ability of the architect created a highly entertaining round of golf, the course was not without its issues. Prime among these issues is the routing, which, though it weaves about the links nicely, involves a number of awkward walks and crossovers, making the flow of golf around the property far from ideal. Another major issue, though not one Hackett could have foreseen, is the par three ninth. Relatively close to the boundary of the property, the hole has been made a major safety hazard by the development of housing on the nearby plot. In response, the club has been forced to erect a large and unsightly fence to stop hooked balls flying into the housing, but this is far from being an ideal solution. Fortunately for Strandhill, a better option is available. At the other end of the course, next to the bay which forms one edge of the club’s property, lies a substantial amount of undeveloped linksland. A large hill lies at the centre of this area, protecting part of the golf course from the ravages of the open Atlantic, but between estuary and hill lies a plateau of land ideally suited for the creation of a couple of excellent new golf holes. Although protected, biodiversity studies have shown
49 Strandhill GC that this area supports significantly fewer green, while a ragged, chunked edge is used Partly this is because of the most exciting part species than the part of the links that is to connect sand with out of play areas. In of the whole plan, the two new holes. McIntosh maintained for golf – in itself a remarkable concept, this is very similar to the extremely plans a new green for the existing fourth hole, finding and one that supports the view attractive bunkers built by Gil Hanse and which would become the thirteenth in the that golf, properly maintained, is an ideal Mark Parsinen at Castle Stuart in Scotland. new sequence, extending the hole to a par five custodian of these sensitive ecosystems – and When I saw the course in the early spring, with an exciting natural greensite. To follow the club is confident, from meetings with the the work was very new, and needed to grow that, the architect hopes to build an entirely appropriate Irish authorities, that planning in, but I am confident it will mature to give a new par three, playing back away from the consent will be forthcoming. very appealing, more natural look, while still Atlantic towards the mountain of Knocknarea Strandhill is working with architect Ally giving the playability of revetted bunkers. which dominates Strandhill. It should be a McIntosh and his design/construction magnificent hole, one which McIntosh believes partner James Coughlan, on the upgrade will be among Ireland’s most photographed works, which form part of a five year plan to “The architect hopes to par threes. The par five fifth, already one of improve the golf course. McIntosh, of course, Strandhill’s best holes, will be shortened into a is fresh from working on another of Eddie build an entirely new strong par four and become the fifteenth. 5 COURSES. Hackett’s best courses, at Carne in County So far, all the construction work has been Mayo, where he completed a third nine about par three, playing back handled in house by Strandhill’s greens crew, three years ago. Here at Strandhill, the plans led by course manager Jason Kelly. Whether are on a smaller scale, but still offer exciting away from the Atlantic this will remain the case must be doubted – prospects for the future of the club. certainly the creation of the new holes will be 81 TOTAL HOLES. The first stage of the five year plan has been towards the mountain a significantly bigger job, and one that may completed this spring. This phase involved well require external help. Nonetheless, the the start of a major rebunkering programme, of Knocknarea which standard of the new bunkers is testimony to aimed at increasing the strategic and aesthetic Kelly’s skill and commitment to the job; he is value of the golf holes. On the current first dominates Strandhill” clearly a real asset for Strandhill. 365 DAYS A YEAR. hole, for example, a bunker left and above the Strandhill currently ranks 65th on Golf green has been filled in – and replaced with a Digest Ireland’s list of the top 100 Irish courses; grassy hollow – while a new bunker has been McIntosh’s proposed resequencing of the McIntosh and the club hope the successful built about thirty yards short of the green. course will give Strandhill returning nines completion of the five year improvement McIntosh says the idea is to offer bold golfers for the first time, a worthwhile goal. Making plan will see it rise significantly, and put it in a reasonable, but challenging, opportunity to the par four sixth the new first hole seems the same sort of company as its neighbours go for the green of this short par five in two – entirely logical to me, as the tee is closer to County Sligo (Rosses Point) and Enniscrone. carry the bunker and the ball should bounce the clubhouse than the current opener and Though Strandhill lacks Enniscrone’s big down the slope and stop on the green. sits right next to the putting green, while the dunes, this seems an entirely reasonable goal. Elsewhere on the golf course, the current second hole being a par three is an The course already has the characteristics of rebunkering has taken a number of different obvious cause of holdups on busy days; the Hackett, playability and interest, and the works forms. Previously, Strandhill’s bunkers were new routing will have the first one shotter will only enhance that, while also making it essentially all revetted pots. McIntosh has appearing at the third, perhaps not a huge a better walk and more dramatic. McIntosh, introduced a new style, which he calls the gain but certainly worth doing, while the Coughlan, Kelly and all involved deserve great ‘hybrid’ bunker – this involves revet where the run of holes at the end of the course will be credit for seeing the course’s potential and bunker edge is directly up against fairway or vastly stronger in the new routing. setting it on a track to realise it. GCA ONE BRAND OF TURF EQUIPMENT To keep its 81 holes of world-class golf in awless shape every day, Pebble Beach uses only Jacobsen turf equipment on every inch of every hole.
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50 Golf Course Architecture
GCA Pebble Beach 365.indd 1 27/05/2016 16:19 5 COURSES. 81 TOTAL HOLES. 365 DAYS A YEAR.
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For more than 90 years, Pebble Beach has been a national treasure. Its ve breathtaking courses contain some of the most iconic golf images known to the game. Six major championships helped create an indelible image of majestic beauty and striking contrasts.
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GCA Pebble Beach 365.indd 1 27/05/2016 16:19 HOLING OUT Elite courses like Pebble Beach Golf Links have discovered the power of IC Systems. See what IC can do for you at www.rainbird.com/ICsystem.
Back to basics Taking an easier path Nature Trail Golf is a short form of golf that is a fun and accessible way to play. to world-class conditions. Sean Dudley spoke to creator and golf course architect Bill Boswell to find out more That’s intelligent.
ill Boswell has his fair share of big using a zero turn rotary mower, and a simple project experience. push reel mower for greens – takes about six His career in golf design began in hours a week, but in the spring and autumn the 1980s, at the European office of months, this can be as little as four hours. BRobert Trent Jones Sr. in Spain. He returned “I brought people from the golf to the United States in the early 1990s, having industry – including superintendents and spells with Dr Mike Hurdzan and Willard representatives from Parks and Recreation Byrd, before setting up his own golf design departments – and they thought it had business in his home state of Georgia in 1996. merit,” explains Boswell. “Now we’re trying An impressive portfolio of golf course to get it into parks, and develop it beyond designs includes Santo da Serra in Madeira, the US south-east. I’m even travelling to Portugal, Blackthorn in South Bend, Portugal and Madeira next month to see if Indiana with Hurdzan and Valley Brook we could develop it there.” in River Vale, New Jersey, plus prestigious “It brings people into the game that might renovation work at Valderrama during his have dismissed it, or maybe played when they time with Trent Jones. were younger and wanted to get back into Recently though, it’s golf on a much smaller it,” he adds. “It’s not intimidating at all – you scale that has captivated Boswell, as he finds don’t have to go to a pro shop, you don’t himself dedicating more of his time and have to play in front of golfers or anything energy to a scaled-down version of the game like that. You’re just walking a nature trail that is quick to play and easy to maintain. and playing golf very quickly. It’s also a great “Nature Trail Golf is a casual form of golf way to introduce kids into the game.” GCA played on a nature trail,” says Boswell. “I’ve always wanted to do a scaled down version For more information on Nature Trail Golf of golf, but there were never any good golf visit www.naturetrailgolf.com or visit ‘Nature balls to use. They were always unbalanced, Trail Golf’ on Facebook or YouTube and weren’t very good for that scaled- down concept. But there’s now a ball called ‘Almost Golf’, which has been promoted for practice by short course gurus in the US. It’s so balanced you can putt with it on the green, and it goes about a third of the distance of a normal ball.” To experiment with this ball, Boswell borrowed a site – which he described as a Rain Bird® IC Systems™—pinpoint control and diagnostics for every single rotor. ‘horse pasture’ – from his local church, cut the grass and designed a simple golf hole. With a control module built into each rotor, IC Systems from Rain Bird give you an innovative “I found that the lighter ball sat up on the solution for field control—one that eliminates the challenges of satellites and decoders. Now you can grass very well,” says Boswell. “I quickly realised that you didn’t need pristine grass manage your system rotor by rotor and track advanced diagnostics down to every individual head. for this, and could basically play in nature. Because achieving elite playing conditions isn’t about working harder—it’s about working smarter. So my scaled-down version of golf became Nature Trail Golf.” Rain Bird is the official irrigation supplier of Pebble Beach Resorts®. Integrated Pebble Beach®, Pebble Beach Golf Links®, Pebble Beach Resorts®, The Lone Cypress™, The Heritage logo and their underlying Control Module Wanting to expand on his idea, two and distinctive images are trademarks, serivce marks and trade dress of Pebble Beach Company. Used by permission. half years ago Boswell found a 50-acre plot of land near Grovetown, Georgia, and set about developing a nine-hole course. “I tried oversize holes and a six foot ‘gimme’ circle around the hole, which helped speed up the round,” he explains. It takes 45 minutes to play. When the grass is Bill Boswell (top) says Nature Trail growing strongly, Boswell says maintenance – Golf is a great way to get people back into the sport
52 Golf Course Architecture
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Rain Bird is the official irrigation supplier of Pebble Beach Resorts®. Integrated Pebble Beach®, Pebble Beach Golf Links®, Pebble Beach Resorts®, The Lone Cypress™, The Heritage logo and their underlying Control Module distinctive images are trademarks, serivce marks and trade dress of Pebble Beach Company. Used by permission.
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Restoring Europe’s classics, and creating new ones....
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