Issue 11 | Summer 2012 BY DESIGN Excellence in Golf Design from the American Society of Golf Course Architects Growingtogether How long-term relationships with architects benefit golf clubs Also: Golf and the environment • Trump Scotland • Future of golf design • Joy in golf FOREWORD hat goes around comes around. As we brace for summer, it helps to CONTENTS remember it is fall in Argentina, South Africa and Australia. W We have learned to plan for both hemispheres. Whatever time we used to carve out around Christmas and New Year has evaporated. For many, Digest 5 the work is ongoing. Unfortunately, for too many of our brethren, things An important guide to sustainable continue to be slow though we are seeing positive signs. In the meantime, golf development, plus a raft of new enjoy the time with family and friends. members for ASGCA and some good A subject dear to my heart is the reputation of our organization. We have news about global golf tourism. always been recognizable, but in this difficult time it would be nice for us to gain some traction. My goal is not to make proclamations but to ask Growing together 8 hard questions about where we are and what the industry must do to move Why building a long-term relationship forward. Do I, do we, have the answers? No, nor, it seems, does anyone else. with a golf architect is a smart move But our task is to bring people to the game. for clubs. Technology means this magazine can be read not only in print but also a myriad of electronic ways. At the same time, the fulfillment of ‘instant A different game 12 communication’ has the unintended consequence of sometimes drowning Three leading ASGCA members out contemplative thought and true dialogue. describe their hopes and expectations This issue of By Design shines a light on the work being done by ASGCA for the next few years. members around the world. The cover story discusses why it makes good sense for clubs and owners to develop long-term relationships with an Golf cares for the planet 14 architect; a report from the recent ASGCA Annual Meeting shares a thoughtful A selection of great examples of look to the game’s future from several of our members. how golf courses enhance their So detach yourself from cyber land long enough to enjoy the peace and environments. enjoyment of the game that first drew you to it. We can’t share it if it is not alive in us. What goes around comes around. A grand dream 16 Gavin Kelly explains how Donald Trump’s new Scottish links was successfully constructed. Lifelong fascination 18 Don Knott details why he prefers the Yours sincerely, game of golf to the sport. Bob Cupp President American Society of Golf Course Architects COVER Editor: Adam Lawrence; News: Michele Witthaus; Design: Paul Robinson; Bruce Graham; Publisher: Toby Ingleton; ASGCA Staff: Chad Ritterbusch; Therese Johnston; Mike Shefky; Aileen Smith; Marc Whitney; Photography: Chris Cunningham; Brian Morgan; C. Sheffield Subscribe to By Design at www.tudor-rose.co.uk/bydesign © 2012 American Society of Golf Course Architects. All rights reserved. www.asgca.org By Design is sponsored by: The new-look Church nine at the Wisley club in England 03 DIGEST Sustainability Sedgefield goes New guide to sustainable golf bermuda Sedgefield CC in he Golf Environment Organization GEO chief executive Jonathan Smith said: Greensboro, N.C., the home has published guidance for the “We want to help people integrate the full of the PGA Tour’s Wyndham T sustainable development and range of sustainability issues throughout Championship, has become renovation of golf facilities. the unique and complex process of golf the latest high profile course Designed to support a wide audience development and renovation—creating in the US transition zone to including the international golf development resource-efficient, ecologically rich, and convert its greens to warm community, plus government, environment community integrated golf facilities.” season grasses. Course and community-based organizations, Theodore Oben, head of sport and owner McConnell Golf the document sets out practical ideas to environment at the United Nations bought the Donald Ross- help golf projects comprehensively and Environment Programme said: “It’s designed Sedgefield in early consistently deliver against the mainstream heartening to see golf engaged in highly 2011. Now, to prevent staff sustainability agenda. credible sustainability action. The amount from having to worry about Sustainable Golf Development: Creating a and quality of guidance, education, practical the effects of hot weather Positive Legacy is freely available to download programmes and communications is on bentgrass, Sedgefield on the GEO website, and also available to indicative of a sector that recognises there will convert to a more heat- order in print. Launched in English and is everything to gain and nothing to lose by resistant strain of Chinese, Portuguese and Spanish editions embracing the subject.” bermuda grass. are also underway. Veteran Chinese golf leader Dr Aylwin Tai, said he was pleased the guidance had Annual Meeting been made available in the Chinese focuses on education language. “Social and environmental The 66th ASGCA Annual issues are the largest external Meeting in Chattanooga, factors impacting the growth of attended by 100 ASGCA golf in China,” he said. “Golf members, included golf must fit the Chinese culture and at several unique courses landscapes, respecting and and education sessions working for people and the featuring members and environment.” some of the golf industry’s leading figures. Presenters included: Mike Davis, ASGCA USGA; Joe Guerra, Sequoia Golf Holdings; Joe Munsch, Eagle Golf; Darrell Crall, New members, president, for ASGCA PGA of America. Four days of meeting and seminars The American Society of Golf Course ASGCA Fellow Bob Cupp was elected as gave members a chance to Architects elected three new Associate the Society’s President. He worked with share best practices. Members at its recent meeting in Jack Nicklaus, ASGCA Fellow, as a senior Chattanooga, Tenn. Cynthia Dye McGarey, designer for more than 15 years before New edition of Richard Mandell and Kevin Norby join forming his own firm. As President, Cupp Darwin classic the more than 175 ASGCA members who says he hopes to generate a discussion American publisher Tri-Horn practice around the world. among those both inside and outside the International has launched McGarey is principal designer with Dye golf industry about the state of the game. a new e-book edition of Designs in Englewood, Colo. Her courses “Golf is a fun game; it is why 99 percent of Bernard Darwin’s legendary include CTS Tycoon Golf Club in China. us continue to play,” he said. “So let’s be 1911 volume The Golf Mandell runs his own firm in Southern upfront and ask ourselves some difficult Courses of the British Isles. Tri- Pines, N.C., and has designed courses questions that might bring the attention Horn says the new edition of including the new Skydoor project in back to the basics—why we play the game.” Darwin’s classic is especially Zhangjiajie, China. Norby is a partner of Five ASGCA Associates, Jim Engh, Robert noteworthy as it has carefully Herfort Norby Golf Course Architects in McNeil, Doug Myslinski, Ted Robinson, Jr. restored all 64 of Harry Chaska, Minn. His courses include The and Mark Voss, were advanced to Regular Rountree’s famous illustrations Preserve on Rathbun Lake, in Moravia, Iowa. member status at the meeting. from the original book. 05 DIGEST Tourism Golf architecture Golf tourism bouncing back documentary for PBS The United States’ Public olf tourism is Broadcasting System has bouncing back produced a documentary G from the economic on golf course architecture downturn, according to a in America. Scheduled to new survey by KPMG. air in the U.S. and parts According to the Golf of Canada 3 August, Travel Insights report, 60 the television special percent of golf tour operators and companion book, experienced an increase in Golf’s Grand Design, will the number of golf breaks highlight golf architecture in booked in 2011, compared America. ASGCA President to 38 percent in 2010. Bob Cupp said: “ASGCA Similarly, just 12 percent of members Bill Coore and tour operators reported a Billy Fuller, along with decrease in bookings in 2011 60 percent of golf tour operators reported an increase in bookings myself and Ron Whitten, compared to 54 percent the have participated in the year before. While North America travellers. KPMG also organization of the video The survey, published maintains a strong found that golfers spend and Ron and I are writing by KPMG’s Golf Advisory domestic golf travel significantly more on a the companion book.” Practice, included feedback market, Argentina and holiday than regular leisure from 90 golf tour operators the Dominican Republic tourists. New sprinklers from in 35 countries. Spain and are becoming popular Andrea Sartori, head of Rain Bird Portugal remained the most outbound tourism KPMG’s Budapest-based With irrigation customers popular destinations, ahead destinations for US citizens, golf advisory practice, seeking cost-effective ways of the UK & Ireland, while tour operators reported. said: “The quality of the to maintain landscapes and Turkey, as well as Thailand Golfers from the USA golf courses is the most abide by local watering and Vietnam, continue and Canada, the UK, important factor for a restrictions, irrigation supplier to emerge as popular Scandinavia and Germany consumer when choosing and ASGCA Major Partner destinations. remain the biggest golf a destination.” Rain Bird says its new NT Series Micro Pop-Ups John Harbottle offer contractors and their customers an ideal solution to irrigate non-turf areas. The Architect Harbottle dies suddenly NT Series combines the water efficiency of low volume ASGCA member John Harbottle III died its noted sensitivity to the environment, irrigation with the trenchless suddenly on May 24, 2012.