How ASGCA Architects Are Helping to Reposition Golf
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Issue 8 | Fall 2011 BY DESIGN Excellence in Golf Design from the American Society of Golf Course Architects Changing thescene How ASGCA architects are helping to reposition golf Also: ASGCA membership by the numbers • Lessons from the ski business • China • Bunkers FOREWORD ike it or not, change is inevitable. We must change with the times. The CONTENTS golf industry, as traditional as it is, is not exempt from the changing times. LAs such, golf course owners and operators must continuously alter their business models and management methods to deal with the new circumstances Digest 5 in which they find themselves. France’s Le Golf National wins the When a golf course’s business model is changed, it’s hardly surprising that race for the 2018 Ryder Cup, plus the golf course itself—the facilities greatest asset—must be remodeled, too. a fresh start for golf in Cuba and the Across America and the world, ASGCA member architects are helping clubs and results of the recent Tee it Forward owners to refine their courses to suit the economic environment of today, and of initiative tomorrow. Read our cover story on golf course repositioning to find out more. Even in a golf market as young as China’s, renovation and repositioning of golf Changing the scene 8 courses is happening. At this year’s ASGCA Annual Meeting in Denver, members How ASGCA architects are helping heard from Chinese golf industry leader Ernie Wang on the state of business in golf facilities around the world his country. A summary of his report, and of several of the excellent presentations reinvent themselves to suit changing given at the meeting, can be found in our ‘Lessons from Denver’ feature. economic circumstances When planning the Denver meeting, and the golf that went with it, I wanted members and guests to see some of the excellent public courses we have in The meaning of the area. Public golf is central to the game’s development, as it allows new membership 12 players to access the game. Joe Steranka of the PGA of America told ASGCA ASGCA membership is as much about members that seeming unwelcoming to beginners is a major problem for architects’ design future as it is their past golf’s image. It’s something we all need to work on. Lessons from Denver 14 The state of the Chinese golf business, plus other presentations from ASGCA’s Annual Meeting Yours sincerely, Golf trends 16 Henry DeLozier of Global Golf Advisors highlights four key worldwide trends in the golf business Closing thoughts 18 ASGCA President Rick Phelps on his hopes for his year in office Rick Phelps, ASGCA President American Society of Golf Course Architects COVER Issue 8 | Fall 2011 BY DESIGN Excellence in Golf Design from the American Society of Golf Course Architects Editor: Adam Lawrence; News: Sam Ballard; Design: Paul Robinson; Bruce Graham; Publisher: Toby Ingleton; ASGCA Staff: Chad Ritterbusch; Therese Johnston; Mike Shefky; Aileen Smith; Marc Whitney; Photography: supplied by iStockphoto Subscribe to By Design at www.tudor-rose.co.uk/bydesign © 2011 American Society of Golf Course Architects. All rights reserved. www.asgca.org Changing By Design is sponsored by: thescene How ASGCA architects are helping to reposition golf Also: The ASGCA membership process • Lessons from the ski business • China • Bunkers Deltona Club, Orlando 03 DIGEST Ryder Cup Watson inducted Albatros set for 2018 Ryder Cup Tom Watson was inducted into the ASGCA at the 65th course co-designed Annual Meeting in Denver. by two ASGCA Watson’s firm has created A members has been designs around the world, chosen to host the 2018 including the Cassique Ryder Cup. course at Kiawah Island Le Golf National Albatros, in South Carolina and the which was designed by Independence course at Rick Baril, ASGCA and Reunion Resort in Orlando. Mike Smelek, ASGCA; in collaboration with the late Rain Bird Robert Van Hagge and film awards French architect Hubert Rain Bird’s fourth Intelligent Chesneau was designed as Use of Water film the permanent home of the competition has honored French Open. three winners at its screening “We designed Le Golf in Beverly Hills, California. National with the vision The Albatros course was previously a flat, featureless field The ceremony, which was that one day, it could, hosted by Jack Hanna, gave indeed, host the Ryder the final magnificent now, hosting the Ryder Cup out three awards: by the Cup!” said Baril. “We course that was 100 per truly renders that reward!” jury, the audience and green developed the course in cent pure fabrication and The course, which is industry professionals. a very dramatic fashion, collaboration. capable of holding more where the final four hole “I know Bob von Hagge than 70,000 spectators, will Golf Industry Show ‘gauntlet’—15, 16, 17 (who died in 2010) would be just the second to have The Golf Course and 18—can all feel the have been thrilled,” he ever hosted the competition Superintendents Association drama. This all materialized added. “He always said, on continental Europe, after of America (GSCAA) and from a flat featureless ‘The true reward will be the Club de Golf Valderrama in the National Golf Course field, to chaos, then to recognition we receive.’ And Spain in 1997. Owners Association (NGCOA) have announced that San Antonio will be the Development venue for the 2015 Golf Industry Show. This will follow visits to Las Vegas, Cuba opening up to golf development San Diego and Orlando in 2012, 2013 and 2014 The Cuban government appears to be respectively. reversing a hard-line stance it made against golf courses 50 years ago. Programs to be When Fidel Castro originally gained power, launched in China in 1959, one of his first acts was to get rid The Golf Course of all golf courses in Cuba, which, at the Superintendents Association time were seen as being against socialist of America is to launch principles. some of its educational However, in an unprecedented move, programs in China. the administration has given preliminary GSCAA, which has approval to four new golf resorts, the first of become a partner of two more than a dozen that are in the pipeline. leading Chinese golf shows, The four projects total more than US$1.5 will work with organisers billion, with the government due to take an Reed Guanghe to conduct approximate 50 per cent cut in the profits. educational events at the Tourism benefits to Cuba’s economy are also Asia Golf Show and China likely to have influenced the new policy. Cuba is set for four new golf courses Golf Show. 05 DIGEST Master Planning Toro introduces Fall the time to master plan Workman Toro has launched the all is the perfect new Workman MDX-D, time to evaluate the company’s first mid- F a golf course and duty utility vehicle with a develop a master plan for diesel engine. The firm says improvements, says Rick that the new unit provides Phelps, ASGCA president. powerful performance, “Golf courses everywhere greater fuel efficiency and are subject to standard wear operator comfort with a and deterioration, while payload capacity that is one others were damaged by of the highest in its class. floods or scarred by drought this year,” Phelps said. “That Boom in Thai makes this a particularly golf tourism good time for golf course The value of foreign golf management to review what the typical life expectancies tourists to the Thai economy needs to be done before the of golf course components. is expected to hit $2 billion next golf season—and those Phelps is hopeful for in 2012. The figure, which that follow.” developments to be made is based on a forecast by His points, which are in the creation of family the local tourism authority, included in the ‘Master tees, turf reduction leading predicted a record 19 Planning: Questions to water and maintenance million inbound visitors next and Answers’ brochure, savings, irrigation system year with 600,000 of those published by ASGCA, are consultation and aesthetic being golf tourists. aimed to help golf course and functional advances to managers, superintendents, the practice range. Wind power professionals and owners Whitehead Golf Course, understand the process of The free brochure is available Northern Ireland, is developing a master plan and at: http://www.asgca.org/ beginning to see a return the importance of assessing free-publications on a $156,400 investment it made in 2009 on two 15 kW wind turbines. The course is now set to make Course length approximately $20,339 per year from the investment Positive results for Tee It Forward in saved electricity bills and government incentives. Results following the first year of the Tee said that 86 per cent of the facilities that It Forward campaign have been extremely trialled the scheme said they would be China firm in Iceland positive, according to a survey looking into continuing to use it. Chinese businessman the success of the initiative. “We are extremely pleased with the initial Huang Nubo is trying to The program, which has been supported results from golfers using Tee It Forward,” buy 300 sq km of northern by the PGA of America and the United said PGA of America president Allen Iceland, with plans for States Golf Association, encourages faster Wronowski. “Golfers told us that they had a wilderness tourism play and more fun with tees best suited to a positive experience. It was our hope that development, including a players’ ability. by moving to a different set of tees, golfers golf facilities. According to According to the results: 70 per cent would have a more enjoyable, relaxing and reports, the land sale has found golf more enjoyable, 91 per cent fun experience—that certainly appears to been agreed and is waiting were likely to recommend the scheme to be the case.” on government approval to a friend and 52 per cent said they were compete the deal.