The Challenges of Routing a Golf Course

Issue 30 | Winter 2016 BY DESIGN Excellence in Golf Design from the American Society of Golf Course Architects Solving thepuzzle The challenges of routing a golf course

Also: Design excellence • Arnold Palmer, ASGCA Fellow • Longleaf Golf & Family Club • Par ™

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The value of infrastructure CONTENTS fter a considerable rebuild, the Chicago Cubs won the World Series. This Digest 04 wasn’t happenstance: it was a result of hiring good professionals, patience A round-up of the latest news in A and building solid infrastructure. Similarly, my best projects are the result golf design, including the projects of thoughtful design, collaboration and a foundation of solid infrastructure. selected for the 2016 ASGCA Design 80 percent or more of a golf course construction is stuff that golfers can’t Excellence Recognition Program. see: like irrigation, drainage, green subsurface or soil amendments, etc. This is what quality is—unseen, but necessary and valuable. These improvements Arnold Palmer, allow efficient operations, predictability and provide for a great golf experience regardless of changing weather or climate. ASGCA Fellow 10 Golf course architects who have The same could be said about what we do as professionals: plans, meetings, worked alongside Arnold Palmer, coordination, engineering, permits, budgets, etc., are all things that are unseen, ASGCA Fellow, share their memories. but necessary for the thoughtful execution of a quality golf experience. That is infrastructure and it is necessary and valuable. Solving the Puzzle 12 One of the first processes in building the infrastructure of a golf course is to How do you route a golf course? create a routing plan. Our cover story for this issue considers the process of We ask ASGCA members about the routing the golf course, with ASGCA members sharing their perspectives on how process, and ask if their approach has they go about it, and whether their approach has changed in recent years. It’s a changed as the golf industry responds great insight into a one of the most challenging, but also most rewarding, aspects to calls for shorter formats of the game. of being a golf course architect. The Value of Par 18 I hope you enjoy the issue. Ty Butler, ASGCA, considers what golf would be like if par didn’t exist. Longleaf Golf 20 By Design explores the details of the recent renovation project at Longleaf Golf & Family Club in Pinehurst, North Carolina. Greg Martin, ASGCA Five to Finish 24 President Billy Fuller, ASGCA, provides his unique American Society of Golf Course Architects take on our usual five questions.

COVER

Editor and Publisher: Toby Ingleton Design: Bruce Graham Editorial contributors: Ty Butler, ASGCA ASGCA Staff: Chad Ritterbusch; Therese Suslick; Mike Shefky; Aileen Smith; Marc Whitney Photography: Arcadia Bluffs; Brian Gomsak; Clive Barber; Forrest Richardson & Assoc.; Getty Images; Michael Cooper; Pinehurst Resort; Rob Tipton Subscribe to By Design at www.tudor-rose.co.uk/bydesign

An extract from the routing plan By Design is sponsored by: created by ASGCA Past President Steve Smyers, ASGCA, for the Costa Jama development in Ecuador.

03 A round-up of recent golf design DIGEST news in association with: ASGCA reveals Design Excellence honorees

2016 Design Excellence Recognition Program Honorees

Honorees for the 2016 Design Excellence Recognition Program include Arlington Lakes Golf Club the Atlantic Dunes course at The Sea Pines Resort, recently extensively Arlington Heights, Illinois

renovated by Scot Sherman, ASGCA Tipton Rob Photo: Renovation by Mike Benkusky, ASGCA

Atlantic Dunes course at The Sea Pines Resort he American Society of Golf leaders, which included representatives Hilton Head, South Carolina Course Architects (ASGCA) from the Club Managers Association Renovation by Scot Sherman, ASGCA Thas revealed the projects to of America and Golf Course Builders be honored by the 2016 Design Association of America. Ken Lanning Golf Center Excellence Recognition Program. “Congratulations to these Jefferson City, Missouri The program highlights innovative tremendous golf facilities, as well as New short course by Todd Clark, ASGCA approaches to modern golf design the architects who provided their and examples of exceptional problem- talent and expertise,” said John Lebovic Golf Club solving skills. Sanford, ASGCA Vice President. “Once Aurora, Ontario, Canada The projects included in the list are again this year, the projects highlighted New golf course by ASGCA Past President diverse in nature, covering everything by the Design Excellence Recognition Doug Carrick, ASGCA from complete renovations, such as the Program show the positive impact a Atlantic Dunes course at The Sea Pines well-designed facility has for golfers Los Robles Greens Golf Course Resort in Hilton Head, South Carolina, and their community.” Thousand Oaks, California designed by Scot Sherman, ASGCA, to Water reduction program by Jason Straka, a short course created by Todd Clark, In February 2017, all By Design ASGCA and Dana Fry, ASGCA ASGCA, specifically for people with subscribers will receive a special edition of disabilities, at The Ken Lanning Golf the magazine devoted to the 2016 Design Mountain Shadows Resort Short Course Center in Jefferson City, Missouri. Excellence Recognition Program and Paradise Valley, Arizona The 2016 list of honorees has been including more information on all of the Short course by Forrest Richardson, ASGCA selected by a panel of golf industry projects. Subscribe at www.asgca.org.

04 | By Design China ASGCA reveals Design Excellence honorees Golf in China’s fitness plan he State Council of China has basketball and volleyball, ‘outdoor called for golf development and fashion sports’ including winter T to be speeded up, as part of a sports, equestrian and golf, plus plan to develop the fitness and leisure ‘sports with cultural characteristics,’ industry in the country. like kung fu, dragon boat and lion A press release issued by the State dancing. Council of China in late October 2016 The golf industry hopes this news references an official document that represents a softening of China’s calls for improvements in the fitness stance towards golf. As recently and leisure service system, with a goal as 2015 the Communist Party in to increase the output of the sector to China had banned its members from more than 3 trillion yuan by 2025. joining golf clubs, and some recently- The document references ‘daily built golf courses were returned to fitness sports’ such as soccer, farmland shortly after completion.

New course New course for Arcadia Bluffs

2016 Design Excellence Recognition Program Honorees Arcadia Bluffs Photo:

NCR Country Club Kettering, Ohio Short game facility and flood prevention program by ASGCA Past President Dr. Michael Hurdzan, ASGCA Fellow

Heron Course, The Oaks Club Osprey, Florida Renovation by Hurdzan/Fry Environmental The new parkland course will offer a contrast to the Golf Design existing links-style course (pictured) at Arcadia Bluffs

Pelican’s Nest Golf Club Bonita Springs, Florida ry/Straka Global Golf Course “The new course will also have very Renovation by Jan Bel Jan, ASGCA Design has been hired to create large greens averaging in the 10,000 Fa second course at the Arcadia sq ft range, and be in shapes that University of Southern Mississippi Short Bluffs Golf Club in Arcadia, Michigan. are rectangular and in some cases Game Facility The new ‘Golden Age-style’ more like squares. Bunkers will be Hattiesburg, Mississippi parkland course is to be created on a flat bottomed, cut into the existing Short game facility by Nathan Crace, ASGCA 310-acre site a mile south of the club’s ground, with steep slopes going up to existing course. The project will also the fairways and green complexes.” Wilmette Golf Club include the creation of a new practice The course, scheduled to open Wilmette, Illinois range, short game area, putting green in summer 2018, will be officially Renovation and flood prevention by ASGCA and clubhouse at the new site. named ‘The South Course at Arcadia President Greg Martin, ASGCA “The site’s sandy soil conditions and Bluffs,’ and will be very different to natural topography make it perfect the existing Arcadia Bluffs layout, for golf,” said Dana Fry, ASGCA. according to Fry.

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Renovation Rogers leads Quail West work Drew Rogers, ASGCA, is leading Hanse wins Pinehurst project a major project at Quail West G&CC in Naples, Florida. Work is currently focused on the club’s Preserve Course, and will shift to the Lakes Course in 2017.

Davis begins Northwood project A renovation of the Northwood Club golf course in Dallas, Texas, is now underway. The project is being led by Tripp Davis, ASGCA, and a team from his design firm.

Naples Beach course reopens Photo: Pinehurst Resort Pinehurst Photo:

inehurst Resort in North particular of No. 4, to gain inspiration. Carolina, has appointed Gil “The original footprint for Course 4 PHanse, ASGCA, to carry out is no longer in existence, so we will restoration work on its No. 4 course, not be able to replicate holes, but and to build a new short course. we hope to draw concepts from the The golf course at The Naples Hanse has said that he will be original Ross plans and early aerial Beach Hotel and Golf Club in “borrowing heavily from the look photographs,” he said. Florida has reopened following and feel of No. 2, which Bill Coore, The architect confirmed the aim a series of renovations. Nicklaus ASGCA, and Ben Crenshaw so artfully was to “have the course completely Design and Sanford Golf Design returned to the spirit and philosophy planted by August of 2018 with an collaborated to complete the work. of Donald Ross.” opening sometime in 2019.” Hanse and his team will look at early The new short course should be River Forest project completed photos of the Pinehurst courses, in ready for play by autumn 2017. Greg Martin, ASGCA President, has overseen a renovation of the River Forest CC course in Elmhurst, Renovation Illinois. Martin rebuilt numerous Mungeam renovates Fox Hill bunkers and recontoured fairways. Squaw Creek restoration project ark Mungeam, ASGCA, is visual character’ of certain holes. completed by Colligan, ASGCA leading a renovation and “On the eighth, for example, a Mrestoration project at the great Tillinghast approach bunker Fox Hill Country Club in Exeter, had been removed fifty years ago Pennsylvania. that I wanted put back, but I also The Fox Hill course was originally have added a right fairway bunker designed by AW Tillinghast, and on the inside of the hole which Mungeam has used an original balances the design and improves routing plan and an aerial the strategy,” Mungeam explained. photograph taken in 1938 to help “A shot played near this bunker Colligan Golf Design has with his work. provides the best angle to the completed a renovation and Mungeam is restoring a number putting surface.” restoration project at Squaw Creek of bunkers that have been removed Mungeam is planning to have the GC in Willow Park, Texas. John from the course since Tillinghast’s work on up to 14 of the course’s Colligan, ASGCA, and Trey Kemp original design, and is adding holes completed by mid-December focused their work on the course’s new bunkers in selected places 2016. The project is scheduled for tees, greens and bunkers. to help improve the ‘strategy and completion in May 2017.

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Brauer’s new layout is scheduled to open in October 2017 Redesign Brauer, ASGCA, leads redesign at Texas club major project will kick off early next year at the Southern Hills Golf Club near Liberty City, Texas. A The club’s course will close in January 2017 for a major redesign led by ASGCA Past President Jeff Brauer, ASGCA. An area of land to the southeast of the existing course, currently covered in forest, will be repurposed. Six entirely new holes, which will play as holes 11-to-16 on the revised layout, will be developed on this area, which will also accommodate more than 100 quarter-acre real estate lots. Holes 11 and 16 will play around an existing lake, while the new 13th hole will become the longest on the course, a 594-yard par five. A number of new holes will be developed over the existing course, although the six opening holes will remain as they currently stand, but with renovations to improve their playability. A new driving range and practice area will be constructed towards the north of the site. The club will change its name from Southern Hills Golf Club to Tempest Golf Club upon its reopening, which is currently scheduled for October 2017.

Restoration Andrew restores Park CC course restoration of the golf course at Park Country Club in the A Buffalo suburb of Williamsville, New York, is nearing completion. The course was originally designed by the Colt & Alison design firm, and hosted the 1934 PGA Championships. The current project is being led by golf course architect Ian Andrew, ASGCA. Andrew has developed a new masterplan for the 18 holes, with the aim of restoring “the massive scale of the course.” The final phase, which is currently taking place, is the restoration of the course’s bunkering. Many of the steep interior slopes, in line with the original design, will be reintroduced. Many of the steep bunker slopes of the original The restoration of Park CC will be Colt & Alison design will be reintroduced completed in spring 2017.

09 REMEMBRANCE

Palmer’s legacy to golf design By Design reflects on the impact that Arnold Palmer, ASGCA Fellow, had on the golf design business, and what he meant to those who collaborated on his designs. Photo: Brian Gomsak Photo:

ince the death of Arnold of the sport in new territories, most Fellow, all spent large portions of Palmer, ASGCA Fellow, in notably with the first modern course their careers with Palmer. Slate September, we have read in China, Chung Shan Hot Spring, Walker was involved in more than 75 inspirational and heart-warming tales which opened in 1984. projects with Palmer, having worked from across the globe, of the impact he There are many highlights among for him from 1974 to 1986. “It is had on the game of golf, and the lives Palmer’s portfolio: the Old Course remarkable how he touched so many enhanced by his generosity of spirit. at Half Moon Bay Golf Links in people’s lives in such positive ways,” Palmer is widely recognized as golf’s California, one of the first Palmer he says. “He was instrumental in my first global superstar, and the person designs; the dramatic Tralee in becoming a golf course architect by responsible for accelerating the Ireland, and Tradition Golf Club in introducing me to his partner, Ed Seay, growth of the game in the 1950s and La Quinta, California. But perhaps and recommending my employment 60s. His duals with Jack Nicklaus, ASGCA Fellow, and Gary Player captivated the golfing world and his His legacy will live on through the warmth of character saw him amass legions of fans—‘Arnie’s Army’— countless lives he touched along along the way. He drove the sport’s popularity in a way that few, if any, the way and the beautiful courses have managed since. In 1972, when his peak playing that bear his name years had passed, Palmer entered the golf design business. He partnered with ASGCA Past Presidents Frank his greatest legacy to the golf design in his golf course design company Duane and Ed Seay, two of the golf business is the impact he had on the in 1974. I sometimes wonder what design industry’s great leaders, and golf course architects that he worked direction my life might have taken they became a formidable team. alongside. In addition to Duane had I not met Mr Palmer and for the Palmer’s design firm has since been and Seay, who passed away in 1994 special interest he took in me and in responsible for over 300 golf courses, and 2007 respectively, Bob Walker, my career. It was an absolute honor with his global appeal making him ASGCA, Harrison Minchew, ASGCA, to have worked for him, to have spent the ultimate ‘signature’ architect. ASGCA Past President Erik Larsen, time with him and to have known him The firm drove the establishment ASGCA, and Vicki Martz, ASGCA as the extraordinary person he was.”

10 | By Design Palmer with long-time design partner and ASGCA Past President Ed Seay (above), and current Arnold Palmer Design Company principals Thad Layton, ASGCA Associate,

and Brandon Johnson (top) etty Images Redington/Staff/G Andrew Photo:

Minchew joined Palmer’s firm in true giver. The world is a better place for and wanted to be. He valued my 1982. “Being from Augusta and having had Arnold Palmer.” participation within the company. saying working for him was a thrill “I was privileged to work for the king It was groundbreaking. I had the would be an understatement at of our beloved sport,” says Larsen, wonderful opportunity to learn not best,” says Minchew. “Although he who worked alongside Palmer from only golf design at his elbow, but also had an incredible ability to play 1983 to 2011. “He was a gentleman. off the course and how he expected golf in a truly exciting way, his gift In fact, it isn’t fair to just talk about his you to conduct yourself in business. He was the way he engaged people— contributions to golf and philanthropic was a mentor and he was my friend.” his eye contact, a smile, and the endeavors. He was an American hero. Arnold Palmer Design Company unforgettable handshake all done I would have been proud to work with continues to thrive under the direction with a sincerity that he truly was him for one day, let alone 28 years.” of Thad Layton, ASGCA Associate, interested in you! Those that worked “I have been thinking a lot about and Brandon Johnson. “Never have I with him all had the privilege of what a sincere and genuine, true ‘gentle met such a fighter and a man of true experiencing truly the person anyone man’ he was,” says Martz, who joined integrity; he was the genuine article,” would ever aspire to come close to Palmer in 1985. “When he focused Layton reflects. “It was an honor to being. I can truly say out of the public on you, you were the most important have worked alongside him over the eye he was the gem that everyone person in the world. That was how past 20 years, sharing his enthusiasm thought he was. Working with and he was with everyone. Personally, I for the game he loved through his for him will always be a cherished value the opportunity he gave me. work. His legacy will live on through blessing! He will always be an He was gender blind, which was the countless lives he touched along American hero, one that was all about unusual in the mid-80s. He told me the way and the beautiful courses that having fun with those he was with, a I could be whatever I had the talent bear his name.”• 11 ROUTING Solving thepuzzle Routing is the ultimate puzzle for a golf course architect, with multiple elements needing to be assembled correctly for a club to thrive. Toby Ingleton learns more about the process.

he routing of a golf course can Richardson, ASGCA. “This is the way topographical map first,” adds make or break a facility. Done we take an expanse of land and get it Forrest. “We can then develop a Tby an expert, it will enhance to a point where it can be managed routing and it’s a lot more fun when the golfer experience, help increase between the ears. you get to the site. You have a better revenues for the club and avoid “The topo map becomes the sense of scale, particularly if it’s a unnecessary expenses—both during worksheet to capture constraints— wooded site, where it is extremely construction and beyond. the limits of the property, difficult to judge yardages.” It’s a task that golf course architects environmental zones, drainage That two-dimensional, scaled-down thrive on. “There’s nothing I get patterns, areas of dense vegetation, view allows golf course architects more joy from than developing a soil conditions and, of course, to comprehend the extent of their routing,” says ASGCA Past President elevation changes,” he continues. canvas, and be fully prepared for a Steve Forrest, ASGCA. But it is a The topo map also helps to identify site visit. complex puzzle with many pieces, the unique features that could be which vary from project to project captured in the design of the course. Walking the site depending on the features and ASGCA Past President Doug Carrick, “When we first set foot on any constraints of the site, and the ASGCA, says: “Upon visiting the site for property we ask ourselves, where ambitions and desires of the client. the first time, I will have a better idea of would you want to go?,” says ASGCA So where do you start? Ideally, how some of the unique features can Past President Steve Smyers, ASGCA. with a topographical map. “It is be incorporated into the design, along “How would your body naturally very difficult to appreciate several with any other features or prominent move about the property if you hundred acres without shrinking views that are evident during my visit.” weren’t even thinking about it, if you the view to something that fits “We can eliminate two to were simply reacting to the land you comfortably on a table,” says Forrest three weeks of work if we get a saw in front of you?

12 | By Design “If you were to drop someone the only way you can lead the golfer together first. “Once we have those onto a property by helicopter—a on a journey that exposes dominant elements in place,” he says, “we are piece of land where they had never landscape settings within the property 75 percent of the way there.” been before—they would naturally in a rhythmic, cohesive way. And “On more difficult sites, we may gravitate to powerful places. It might when a routing does that, whether the have a tight corner that needs to be be a bluff with a long vista. It could golfer consciously realizes it or not, it considered first,” continues Forrest. be a convergence of environments all feels right.” “There may only be room for a short or maybe it’s an edge, like a forest, par four in and a par three out, and lake or ocean. These are places where Assembling the pieces it becomes a case of plugging key we’re just naturally drawn.” Once the golf course architect has holes in first and filling in the rest “You look for unique and dynamic a complete picture of the site, its from the clubhouse. And where the features that can be incorporated into features and constraints, the hard constraints are so numerous, you the routing and golfing experience,” work of solving the routing puzzle may need to be creative or concede adds Art Schaupeter, ASGCA. really starts. certain aspects of the design. For “Examples can range from the bold There are many pieces to consider. example, have two par threes back to and obvious like water shorelines to “How do we access the site? Where back like at Cypress Point.” the more subtle like interesting grade is the best spot for the clubhouse? “The actual routing process varies breaks or slight high points of ground, What about an entry road and from project to project,” adds Carrick. which can make for good green sites, parking? A range—ideally playing “Sometimes a unique or spectacular landing areas or teeing areas.” north—and practice area, first and hole will be located first, followed by “It’s mandatory to become intimately tenth tees and ninth and eighteenth the holes that connect in and out of familiar with a site,” says Smyers. “Not greens?” These are the critical that particular location. Sometimes just a topo map, but the land itself. It’s elements that Forrest tries to fit it may be a sequence of interesting

13 ROUTING

holes located in the middle of the CASE STUDY: TPC COLORADO golf course that are located first, or other times I will locate the Changing priorities clubhouse first, followed by the starting and returning holes for each Routings will often evolve over nine. Sometimes an unusual shape time. Art Schaupeter, ASGCA, or configuration of a property may began work on what would require special attention in order become the TPC Colorado layout to use the land efficiently, or some in 2005. But in 2015, when it difficult topographical features may was decided that the layout would have to be negotiated a certain way in become a TPC course, some of order to produce a good routing.” the development parameters were modified to allow the golf course Dealing with complexity routing to take more of a priority. “Small or compact properties require Schaupeter highlights two big great efficiency in how the land is changes to the routing that have used in order to get the most out of dramatically improved the layout a small site, while producing a safe and will create a better golfing and playable layout,” says Carrick. experience: “Firstly, the original “Rocky or rugged terrain requires holes 7 and 8 had housing on all a routing that is sensitive to the sides. They were re-routed, along natural elevation changes, in order with holes 14-16, to create a block to minimize extensive earthmoving of five golf holes, a ‘core’ golf or blasting. On sites with dramatic experience. The result is fewer road changes in elevation it is important to crossings, less distance between devise a routing that climbs up softer holes and housing restricted to the slopes gradually, while descending perimeter of the block of holes. over the steeper terrain. Flat sites, “Also, the original holes 1 and 2 while easy to work with, present the were switched with a development most challenge in terms of creating parcel, moving the golf holes over interest on the golf course, and to the edge of a large lake. This introducing variety in the length and created a better setting for those direction of holes helps to provide holes, and allowed the overall golf a good framework for the course

layout to be re-numbered to gives design. Environmentally sensitive Assoc. & Richardson Forrest Photo: the course a four-hole finish adjacent sites often impact the connectivity to the clubhouse,” he explains. and playability of the golf course, and it is important to minimize the Home sites, roads, accommodations distances between the green of one and other amenities have to be hole and the tee of the next hole as integrated efficiently and safely with much as possible.” the golf course,” says Carrick. “Literally hundreds of decisions “Developers want to keep the golf are being made all at once,” says course on as small a footprint as Richardson. “A move in one corner possible to maximize development means something gets shifted over in opportunities,” explains Schaupeter. another area, and then there are the “I try to strike a balance between ‘givens’ such as the practice range— golf course acreage and golf course the largest of all puzzle pieces. Add frontage by routing holes adjacent to to this whatever ‘standards’ the golf each other wherever possible. This architect wants to uphold, criteria will reduce some of the development such as par and length, and the way frontage but it will also reduce some those factors get distributed.” of the acreage requirements for the The puzzle is further complicated golf course. Golf holes routed adjacent if the golf course is driven by a to each other will take up a little less larger development master plan. ground than holes routed individually The TPC Colorado routing was modified “Designing a golf community or golf through adjacent developments. This to give a more ‘core’ golf experience resort presents another degree of also improves the golf experience complexity to the routing process. as golfers aren’t playing through a

14 | By Design Photo: Michael Cooper Michael Photo:

Clockwise from top left: ASGCA Past President Steve Smyers, ASGCA, walking the site at a new project near Orlando, Florida; Art Schaupeter, ASGCA, with Steve Wenzloff of the PGA Tour at the TPC Colorado site; Forrest Richardson, ASGCA, considers how to configure a routing for a course that will need to be set above landfill layers that cannot be disturbed; Recording GPS points for possible green sites so they can be studied later in detail when routing options

Photo: Forrest Richardson & Assoc. & Richardson Forrest Photo: are developed narrow corridor of golf surrounded by best if it can be accommodated. never been a course there in the first houses on both sides.” This is not to say that good routings place. We may have water reservoirs, “The most complicated routing cannot be created on less than ideal existing neighborhoods, roadways assignments get that way due to the land—many great courses have. But it and even cherished trees to preserve. list of constraints becoming nearly makes the assignment infinitely more Overall these can be the toughest to endless,” says Richardson. “Since difficult, and the golf architect must be work out.” the late 1970s we have seen more extremely clever. Bringing it all together It’s possible to have all the elements in place, but for the puzzle to remain Literally hundreds of decisions are incomplete. “You can have 18 good golf holes being made all at once and still not have a good golf course. By that, I mean that everything has and more golf courses proposed on “The other category of difficult to evolve from a greater context. denigrated land. That list includes routings is when we go to re-route Holes must emanate from the land. old landfills, low-lying land prone to existing courses, as in the case of So, as architects, we have to resist flooding and land that is leftover after the total makeover. While we already any inclination to impose a hole onto housing or other development. It is have a canvas to work upon, it is the land if the design of that hole not always that the golf course gets its almost always sprinkled with even doesn’t work in harmony with its choice of land, although that is usually more constraints than if there had environment,” says Smyers.

15 ROUTING

“You have to establish solid CASE STUDY: landscape ‘rooms’ so that as you THE JOURNEY AT PECHANGA traverse the property, you bring the golfer into landscape settings that Coping with constraints may look and feel different from one another, but always feel in harmony Designed by Hills & Forrest and with the natural environment of the built on a Native American Indian site. We understand that we need a reservation as an amenity to the variety of shot values to test players Pechanga Tribe’s casino, The Journey throughout a round of golf. But for at Pechanga golf course in Temecula, players to respond well to the golf California is situated on a beautiful course, to the property itself and piece of property with rolling terrain to the overall experience, we need located at the base of the mountains. to take players through different However, portions of the dramatic landscape settings. site were very steep and unsuitable for “Of course, if you don’t have a An extract from the routing ASGCA Past President Steve Smyers, ASGCA, golf, and there were multiple cultural strong site with strong natural created for Maridoe in Dallas, Texas. Below, field notes on a plan by areas and protected live oak trees features, you should create them. Forrest Richardson, ASGCA, giving direction to shapers that needed to be avoided. The first If you don’t create strong features step to developing the routing was to first, you’re going to have weak identify the areas of the site that were holes—maybe not weak from a shot not useable for the golf course. value standpoint, but you’ll have Holes were then weaved around weak holes from a memorability the multiple points of interest, turning standpoint. That’s because, in any areas that had been constraints to the great golf course, the landscape golf course layout into features of the features don’t come from the holes; golfing experience. the holes come from the landscape.” “Almost always it is the case that numerous routings are created for a piece of land,” says Richardson.

“We go back into the field to walk Assoc. & Richardson Forrest Image: the land again, and sometimes over and over until we sense the routing will be enjoyable from many perspectives. The list is long. Flow, pace of play, vistas, downhill holes, uphill shots, reasonable safety and even the way the holes interact with each other—or not. It is very similar to writing a piece of music. There is structure, and it is defined usually have a by movement, bridges, melody and specific idea of what crescendo. I suppose the only real they are wanting to rule is that what goes out must develop when they hire always come back.” me, but I tell them that I will wander out ‘into left field’ Changing demands with initial concepts, routings As the golf industry evolves to address and ideas so that they can the common challenges of time and fully evaluate all of their difficulty, have golf course architects options before we get committed changed their approach to routing? to a final plan.” “I do try to present clients with a “When the opportunity presents wider range of routing options for itself, I will try to return a number The first step was to eliminate areas that them to consider,” says Schaupeter. of holes in close proximity to the would be unsuitable for golf (top images) “That might include shorter formats clubhouse so that golfers can before routing golf holes that would either incorporated into a longer play a loop of three, six or nine weave around points of interest course or as a completely separate holes,” says Carrick. His new layout for their evaluation. Clients design at Friday Harbour Resort in

16 | By Design An extract from the routing ASGCA Past President Steve Smyers, ASGCA, created for Maridoe in Dallas, Texas. Below, field notes on a plan by Forrest Richardson, ASGCA, giving direction to shapers Photo: Clive Barber Clive Photo:

The clubhouse at Copper Creek Golf Club in Kleinburg, Ontario,was the first feature to be located on the routing plan developed by ASGCA Past President Doug Carrick, ASGCA, creating a dramatic backdrop and views over the ninth hole

Big Bay Point, Ontario, “To keep the youth of tomorrow which is currently under interested in the game, we have to construction, will give build golf courses that hold their golfers that option. interest,” says Smyers. “Not only are we more often “Even a hundred years ago, asked to look at shorter formats, the legendary Alister MacKenzie but there is a genuine shift away from understood the importance of the par-72-must-be-above-7,000-yard forward thinking in course design. threshold,” says Richardson. “The As he put it: ‘Unless we provide golf pursuit of length led to the need courses full of intricate problems, for width. That led to using more players will get sick of the game land, demanding more time and without knowing why they have inflicting more cost. Today we are gotten sick of it and golf will die embracing clients who understand from a lack of abiding and increasing that the game is supposed to be fun, knowledge.’ That quote has been on and fun does not always translate my office wall since I started my own to giving the golfer a long and tiring design firm in 1984 because I believe Routing the Golf Course by Forrest journey. In terms of routing this means it is as true today, maybe even more Richardson, ASGCA, covers the we are seeing more courses where the so, as it was in MacKenzie’s era. early history of how courses came ‘rules’ are relaxed. Old presumptions “That’s why I have always felt an to be formally routed, as well as the are being replaced by innovative ideas. obligation to stay true to what made process and considerations that go Solutions no longer need to conform as the game of golf popular when it into developing routing studies and much as they need to perform.” began hundreds of years ago and final plans. But in a changing marketplace, it what remains its most alluring quality is important not to lose sight of the today—the challenge of playing a The book is available to purchase via factors that have made golf appealing demanding game over an infinite www.cswebstore.net/gcsaa for hundreds of years. variety of landscapes.”• 17 INSIGHT

Par | Ty Butler, ASGCA Does golf need par? Par has become the universal yardstick against which golfers measure their performance. Ty Butler, ASGCA, considers the origins of par and asks “Is it right for the modern game?”

’ve always wondered where the ‘Par’ appears to precede bogey by as a standard by which the elite concept of par developed and some 20 years. In 1870, golf writer players were measured. This begs the Ihow it became such a significant A H Doleman borrowed the term question, what if the standard had standard by which the game from financial circles where it was not been set as a measurement of measures success. commonly used to describe the normal what was considered excellence, but According to Robert Browning’s value of a stock. Prior to the start of against what was truly normal for the 1955 book A History of Golf, the The Open at Prestwick that year, he day? Had Mr. Doleman asked a group system originated in 1890 when asked professionals David Strath and of average golfers their expectations Mr. Hugh Rotherham, secretary of James Anderson the expected winning over Prestwick’s twelve holes, he the Coventry Golf Club in Great total for the competition. Their probably would have received a much Britain, sought to establish a standard response, “perfect play would produce different answer. number of shots an accomplished a score of 49 over Prestwick’s twelve We continue, to this very day, to golfer should take playing a hole. measure everything in golf against a This system became known as the standard that only few can achieve. ‘ground score’ and was later adopted The mythical Many golf courses have been designed for match play competitions at the for the elite golfer, with the average a Great Yarmouth Club. During a standard of par secondary concern. I’ll certainly admit match, a Mr. C A Wellman is said to to having fallen prey to this approach have exclaimed to the club secretary: leads to frustration on a couple of occasions. “This player of yours is a regular bogey Maintenance expectations for many man.” This was probably a reference and disappointment players are influenced by what we to the popular song Hush! Hush! Hush! see on television every week, not Here comes the Bogey Man, and led to appreciating that the organizers have the ground score concept becoming holes,” was labeled par for Prestwick targeted a single moment in time for known as the “bogey score.” by Mr. Doleman. However, par was not the course to look its absolute very The term ‘bogey’ derives from a firmly established until 1911, when best. And by using par as a reference, 16th century term ‘bogle,’ which was the United States Golf Association we golfers are measuring our play a Scottish goblin. Consequently, 19th established standard yardages for against the elite professionals we see century golfers measuring themselves determining par and, much to the on television every week. Talk about against the bogey score considered vexation of British golfers, Americans an unrealistic standard! Those guys themselves to be playing against began referring to a score of one over are not just good, they’re really good! ‘Mister Bogey.’ So from the outset, par as a bogey! I am not proposing that all golfers golf’s measure of success was based From the inception of the modern should aspire to mediocrity. But I have on the age old notion of good vs. evil! game, it appears that par evolved come to ask myself, would the average

18 | By Design The eighth hole at Cruden Bay, Scotland is a short par four, but could easily be a long par three. Or just a fun golf hole Photo: David Cannon/Getty David Images Photo:

golfer enjoy the game much more if so our group consisted entirely of golfers to simply erase this concept there was not an impractical standard American golfers, with no caddies for from their minds. However, if a looming in the background? I am an assistance. This aspect alone presented concerted effort began now, eventually average golfer and play most of my golf quite a challenge, but despite these future generations of golfers would not with other average golfers, and although handicaps we were enjoying the round find themselves competing against the we might hit a few really excellent shots, and the wonderful golf course. By the bogey man, and as a result may take there are usually enough real stinkers to time we reached the eighth hole my much enjoyment from the experience. ensure that marking my score alongside score had become less important to me, That might be the best thing that could the mythical standard of par leads to and I was not paying homage to yardage happen to the game. frustration and disappointment. or par and was simply playing the • In the middle of a round however, course as it was laid out in front of me. when I’ve lost track of how far over par The eighth at Cruden Bay is a short I am and start to simply play the course uphill par four, which I had mistaken without scoring expectations, a truly for a long demanding par three. After remarkable thing happens… I start to finishing with a four I was happy with take delight in the golf experience. what I thought to be bogey. After it For me the game becomes a lot more was pointed out the hole is a par four, enjoyable when the expectation of par I was ecstatic to have made par, yet disappears in my mind. This got me disappointed to not have made birdie thinking, what if we could truly make on a somewhat short benign hole! par disappear? Would golf be better, But guess what? A four is a four. It worse or indifferent if the concept was makes no difference to classify it as no longer part of the game? birdie or par; my score at the end of the What if every course simply listed round was still the same. It was then Ty Butler, ASGCA total yards for a hole? Or better yet, I realized how strongly the concept of A former vice president and senior simply provided a diagram of the par can influence your experience and project designer with Robert Trent hole. There would be no expectation your approach to playing a hole. Jones II Golf Course Architects, set of what score you should aim for, I’m certain there are golfers around Ty Butler, ASGCA, now runs his own and you would simply play the game. the world who love par and feel it is a practice, Brio Golf. Based in Arkansas City, Kansas, Butler’s designs include Would this free golfers to experience sacred part of the game. And I know the Kaluhyat course at Turning Stone an entirely different game? there are people who would assert that Casino Resort in New York, Sunday I remember the first, and only time, I any endeavor to remove par would River Golf Club in Newry, Maine, and played Cruden Bay in Scotland. It was be impossible. It certainly would be the newly-opened Sewailo Golf Club during an ASGCA Annual Meeting, difficult for the current generation of in Tucson, Arizona.

19 CASE STUDY

Case Study | Longleaf Golf & Family Club

Fun golf, down to a tee The redesign project completed by Bill Bergin, ASGCA, at the Longleaf Golf & Family Club in Pinehurst, North Carolina, includes multiple tees to make the game more fun and accessible for golfers of any age, gender or skill level. By Design finds out more.

n 1987, ASGCA Past President of 600 yards of separation between rather than location. Twenty-nine tees Dan Maples took 170 acres of each tee marker option. Beginning were cut into existing fairways, of which INorth Carolina land and designed with 3,200 yards from the forward four had to be shaped and a few more and developed a golf facility that tees, most golf courses can be fitted may be modestly levelled in future. included a clubhouse, driving range, with six, seven or even eight yardage Because of the increased number of tennis courts and more. Longleaf options to choose from. The gap tees, size-per-tee could be reduced, and Golf & Country Club held its grand between markers on each hole is many existing tees could be reduced by opening in November 1998. about 30 yards, but that decreases on simply adjusting mowing lines. By 2015, U.S. Kids Golf Foundation (USKGF)—the charitable arm of the leading maker of golf equipment for , regardless of skill, can play kids—was looking for what their Every golfer president Dan Van Horn describes as at a good pace, , “a living laboratory for growing kids shoot lower scores and family golf in a club environment, and have more fun implementing best practices in a real-life situation.” They found this laboratory at Longleaf, buying the par threes and increases on par fives. The back tees and more heavily- property and working with Bill With a broader range of tee used middle tees may hold more Bergin, ASGCA, to bring their vision locations, every golfer, regardless of than one set of markers each, and to reality. They renamed the facility skill, can play at a good pace, shoot are respectively about 800 sq. ft. and Longleaf Golf & Family Club. lower scores, and have more fun. between 900-1,200 sq. ft. each. The A key feature of the redesign was the At Longleaf they settled on a seven-tee forward two-to-three sets of tees are conversion of the club’s traditional system, following the principles set out smaller, approximately 400 sq. ft. each. four tee pads per hole to a new above but also factoring in the course’s With the tees in place, the next configuration developed by USKGF. topography, choosing locations that challenge for Longleaf was to Following extensive data analysis, facilitated ease of construction. effectively communicate to golfers how it was determined that on any given Forty tee pads were constructed, to select the appropriate tees to use. course there would ideally be a total mostly related to size or conditioning A crucial part of this is clear signage.

20 | By Design On the practice range, there is a guide for golfers that shows which tee they should use based on the distance they carry their driver

“The charts and illustrations elevate this over other tee initiatives. From the pro shop and range to the first tee and scorecard, it is all packaged in a way that encourages more players to play from the correct tees,” says Bergin. On the practice range, there is a guide for golfers that shows which tees they should use, which is determined by the distance they carry their driver. The tees are color-coded and there is even the option of using a ‘blended’ tee, essentially alternating between two adjacent sets of tee markers. With the seven sets of colored tees and six ‘blended’ options, there are 13 possible options in total yardage. While the USKGF’s approach was initially created to target kids, it can easily be used by all golfers, including seniors, beginners and women. USKGF’s Van Horn summarises how the work at Longleaf makes the game more fun and accessible for all players: “There are no ‘ladies tees’ or other labels. It’s not about gender or age; it’s about skill level and playing from a distance that gives the player a chance to have a par on virtually every hole.”

21 ASGCA members have long been working with their clients to provide Since Bill’s work teeing solutions that can help golf facilities attract and retain golfers here at Longleaf, (see, for example, the work of Jan Bel Jan, ASGCA on ‘scoring tees,’ our total rounds are profiled in the Spring 2016 issue of By Design). ASGCA members up nearly 20 are uniquely qualified to design and oversee construction of tee percent complexes at golf courses in North America and around the world. “The beauty of the Longleaf tee Introducing new tees is a practical system is that you don’t lose the and affordable catalyst for growth, integrity of the design,” says Jeff by helping courses to increase the Cowell, General Manager of Longleaf number of rounds played, enhance Golf & Family Club. “It’s not just an player enjoyment for all golfers arbitrary layout of the tees to make and improve pace of play. These a hole shorter. So most importantly, factors combine to help golf courses the players still feel a sense of improve their operating results. great accomplishment and fun as “ASGCA members must help clients they play. Since Bill’s work here at determine what is best,” says ASGCA Longleaf, our total rounds are up Past President Bruce Charlton, ASGCA. nearly 20 percent over a year ago “Many courses will not be able to afford and I’m hearing from a lot of happy to build so many tees and that’s fine. members and guests.” Others may combine formal teeing “This tee system has given me a grounds with thoughtful cut-outs in completely different confidence about the fairway. And still others may use playing,” says Longleaf Golf & Family these ideas for better operations.” Club member Emily Simeon. “I can Many high profile courses are go out and play with many people introducing new teeing areas, who are much better golfers than I including Medinah No. 2 in Medinah, am – and I can compete.” Illinois (with ASGCA Past President • Rees Jones, ASGCA, and Steve If you are interested in improving Weisser, ASGCA) and Sugar Creek accessibility at your club, contact your Country Club in Sugar Land, Texas local ASGCA architect. Find their (with Jeff Blume, ASGCA). details at https://asgca.org/architects

The club’s scorecard clearly communicates how to select the appropriate tee location

22 | By Design If you aren’t following ASGCA on social media, here’s some of what you’re missing:

asgca1946 ASGCA asgca1946

When cost is a factor in reducing your Chicago Cub Kris Bryant owes it all to ASGCA Founding Member Donald Ross: course’s annual maintenance costs, look ASGCA (sort of). The “New York Times” “When I was a young man in Scotland, to @asgca1946, @gcsaa and@GCBAA. reports Bryant was raised by his father on I read about America, and that the http://tinyurl.com/gq7eesz #asgca “The Science of Hitting,” from Hall of Famer American businessman was absorbed Ted Williams, with illustrations from ASGCA with making money. I knew the day would Past President Bob Cupp. come, he would relax & want some http://tinyurl.com/zg3yneg ma games to play, & I knew that game would be golf. I read about the start of golf in the US, so I learned all about the game; teaching, playing, club making, green keeping, golf course construction & came to the America to grow up with a game in which I had confidence. Golf has never failed me.”@asgca1946 #ASGCA

Ian Andrew, ASGCA ASGCA Home Offices @IanAndrewGolf @ASGCA Work on 5th partially done #TreesGone 8th Leaders of two industry partners - ongoing. #Knollwood @ASGCA President @gm_mdgolf & @TheNGCOA CEO @jaykarencae - ASGCA supporting @pgaofamerica at 100th Annual Meeting ASGCA remembers Bruce Borland, ASGCA, who died this week in 1999 in the plane crash that also took the life of Payne Stewart and four others. #RIP #fbf

asgca1946

A #tbt memory of two-time ASGCA Past bergingolf President James Harrison. A disciple of ASGCA Founding Member Donald Ross, Par Three of the Week - 3 Harrison designed largely in Pennsylvania, Staying with short 3’s for a while, the 131 Drew Rogers including Sewickley Heights Golf Club (now yard 6th at the Oaks in Tulsa can bedevil @JDRgolfdesign being renovated by Jim Cervone, ASGCA). the best of players when the wind blows, Not a bad pedigree for @TheClubatOS @asgca1946 which is always. #bergingolfdesigns Been ten years since we cut the ribbon. #oakscountryclub#tillinghast #asgca What’s next? #golfdigestbestrenovation2015 #golfcourserenovation

To stay up to date with the latest news and updates from ASGCA, visit the following pages: www.asgca.org

www.twitter.com/asgca www.linkedin.com/company/ american-society-of-golf-course-architects

www.facebook.com/pages/ASGCA-American- Society-of-Golf-Course-Architects/117859318239338 www.instagram.com/asgca1946 23 FIVE TO FINISH

Asking for a favorite golf hole is like asking for my favorite golf course—there are too many great ones to just choose one!

Billy Fuller, ASGCA

illy Fuller, ASGCA, a graduate a caddie! I miss my rounds with Bob If you could change or add one rule, of North Carolina State Cupp, who sadly passed away earlier what would it be? BUniversity, worked for many this year. We had so much fun! I believe All out of bounds would become years as a golf course superintendent, he is master planning the ultimate 18 lateral hazards to help speed up play. at clubs including Kiawah Island with St. Peter as we speak. There won’t Resort and Augusta National, where be any practice facilities though—you What project are you currently he oversaw operations for five don’t need to practice in heaven working on? Masters tournaments. He moved into because your game is always perfect! I am currently in the master planning the golf course architecture industry stage of a project at the Cypress Tree in 1988, joining Cupp Design, where What is your favorite hole in golf? Golf Course at the Maxwell Air Force he worked as a design associate and My favorite golf hole is any great Base in Montgomery, Alabama. They senior agronomist. Fuller’s time at short par four—it doesn’t have to have 36 holes spread over two 18 hole the firm saw him carry out work on be drivable, but those holes that are tracks—the University Course and more than 100 new courses. always tempting you to go for it are the River Course. There are several The Atlanta-based architect just great. I just finished converting a holes adjacent to the base’s runway established Billy Fuller Golf Design medium par three to a short par four on the University course, which can in 2004. His design portfolio at Cherokee Plantation in Georgia. I no longer safely be used. Some holes includes the courses at Ballantrae think it’s a really fun hole! Bob Cupp on the River course are prone to major Golf Club in Pelham, Alabama, always tried to include one on all his flooding when the Alabama River Reunion Country Club in Jackson, courses, and I always looked forward rises, so those will be eliminated. We Mississippi, and Estuary at Grey to those holes whenever we played will use nine holes from the University Oaks in Naples, Florida. our courses. But asking for a favorite Course and nine holes from the River golf hole is like asking for my favorite Course and leave the rest for green How is your game? golf course—there are too many great space. The end result will be two very I play to an eight handicap. I love ones to just choose one! contrasting nines. playing golf, and try to do so when • time allows. With a 12-year-old son, I also play soccer, lacrosse, ultimate frisbee, baseball and ping pong, so getting some time to play out on the course can be tough between all that. But I love doing so when possible.

Which three people would make up your dream fourball? My ultimate fourball would include Fuller has just converted a medium par three to a Bob Cupp, John Lawrence and Jerry short par four at Cherokee Plantation in Georgia Lemons. Maybe with Bill Murray as

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