Golfadelphia

My father-in-law was apparently a hell of a golfer. He was scratch without ever taking a single lesson. Unfortunately, I was never able to meet him. I have seen the golf clubs he used which are still around, a razor thin set of Johnny Pott blades that I used to cut up my Prime Rib once. He also had a large collection of golf books and magazines from the 1980’s. Looking through them has been interesting. In the May 1988 issue of Golf Digest, the first armchair architect contest was held with the winners announced. A voting board of some of the day’s most famous architects, including RTJ, Pete Dye, Roger Rulewich, and Dan Maples went back and forth on the entries, which included a discussion of a lot of the valued design traits of the time. What struck me is their discussion largely could have taken place yesterday. Playability for all, taking down trees, strategy over penalty (from RTJ), were all praised and encouraged. The architects also encouraged features and greens being raised so that the golfer could anticipate and plan for them, an ideal hole has to be playable for everyone, designs that were sustainable and economical were rated over those with unrealistic considerations of earthmoving and budgets, “mimic nature, not overwhelm it (RTJ); an ideal hole should look natural, even if it isn’t,” a more balanced approach that doesn’t favor one golfer over another was preferred. All were strong in their suggestion, however, that they wanted water some where around the green. The winning entry was simplistic, yet extolled the virtues above and didn’t feature anything extraneous, like waterfalls or fountains. One entry took a few shots for being too hard for the average golfer. Strategy, accessibility, versatility and budget friendly. The more things change, well you know. 

New construction is now back in full swing. In many ways, things have come full circle yet for slightly different, meaningful reasons. Sustainability and cost effective design build models are mostly dominating projects at the moment but that is not stopping exclusivity and high priced memberships to do its thing. Meanwhile, the public golf scene remains seemingly starved for quality yet help is on the way. Landmand apparently sold out its tee times for the year in a matter of minutes, Sweetens continues to sell its playing slots out completely and booking resorts like Bandon usually means looking more than a year ahead. The golf boom from 2020 is very much still in effect. Aside from new construction, restorations and renovations continue to dot the landscape. It is now at the point where thinking of courses doing little to no work stand out, then wonder why or think of them admirably. 

Golf is adjusting to a new audience in a new era. While many still enjoy golf at their club with their established groups at a preset day and time each week, the golfer wanting an array of various courses at several different locations is growing. This golfer is fine with travel and above all, is after substantial course architecture. Sure the accommodations matter but they are beginning to no longer be the primary driver of where one goes. This has led to a lot of remote places with extraordinary land for golf becoming command destinations as it is becoming less and less of an issue for many to make such a pilgrimage. Networking beyond one’s region is much easier nowadays as well, which is making national memberships more and more sensible. Groups that live at all corners of the country can now arrange to assemble at this club or that, unconcerned about crowds or sold out issues or making sure reservations are made for dinner each night. If memorable golf awaits, golfers are much more willing to take their game on the road. The wealthy among us have caught on and are finding ways to build their own vision of an ideal course and club. Finding founding members is now easier than ever and really if all else fails, opening the club to the public will likely ensure the place stays around. 

Along with the new golf, we are now seeing the emergence of newer architectural firms finally starting to realize their projects. How their styles impact course design remains to be seen but these new projects no doubt signify a shift to a newer generation. A newer generation inspired and influenced in their own separate ways, all of which will make its way to the golf courses we all will eventually play. 

What are these new places telling us? Are they pushing course architecture in new directions or simply fortifying what is en vogue at the moment. If they are fortifying, in what ways? Are any of any interest? Let’s take a look.

Graybull Golf Club

One of the more intriguing openings this year is a course David McLay Kidd designed in the Sand Hills of Nebraska. A bit closer to North Platte than the courses in the area at present as well as a touch more South, Kidd hand selected the site upon which he would have his course. Kidd has declared the course will follow his design philosophy of player emboldenment found at Gamble Sands, Mammoth Dunes and Rolling Hills CC, among others. As I’ve written in “Kidd’s at the Craps Table,” https://golfadelphia.com/2020/09/20/kidds-at-the-craps-table/, this design philosophy has the potential to upend traditional course design tenets and become something remarkable. Kidd being able to fully explore and double down on the philosophy on ideal land he hand selected is enough to get me excited. The course will be part of the Dormie Network, a private club embracing the emergence of the wandering golfer with several courses within its portfolio all over the country. 

Kidd also has Loraloma at Thomas Ranch opening this year (or possibly 2025), his first course in the Southern U.S. Part of an exclusive holistic meditative upscale enclave, the course rests on the high river banks of the Pedemales River with infinite open space. 

Seven Mile Island

I have been to Australia a whopping total of zero times yet I keep trying to figure out when I’m going since I will not live a life without golfing its courses down there. This becomes all the more mandatory when I learned of Seven Mile, which is located in Tasmania. The sandy soil and climate make it ideal for grass excelling in links while I believe it’s the first collaborative new course by Clayton, DeVries & Pont, a firm with a wealth of knowledge and penchant for thrilling golf, with Clayton and Pont’s new projects largely in Europe and Australia. The partnership is intriguing and Seven Mile looks like a striking links that may have been the final push I needed to get down under for a spell. Extra snaps for a great course logo.

Cabot Citrus

The land at World Woods was taken over and reinvented to completely new golf courses. These include Karoo by Kyle Franz, which uses the old Pine Barrens course and its sandy soil for an entirely new routing that dances between strategic options and brawn; The Roost by Franz and Mike Nuzzo with Ran Morrisett in an advisory role, the course includes dramatic elevation changes and transitions from one naturescape to another while taking inspiration from Mackenzie and the Australian sand belt; and The Squeeze and The Wedge by Mike Nuzzo, a mega short course conglomerate where the Squeeze has 10 holes modeled after a nine holer and the Wedge has 11 short holes for a total of 21 holes that can be played a variety of ways. Cabot Citrus continues its expansion of sophisticated, interesting designs with a touch of innovation. While I dream of Australia, Cabot Citrus seems like a worthy substitute and much easier to get to. 

Franz also teamed up with Don Mahaffey to design-build Lulling Sport Golf Club in Lulling, Texas. There will be two courses among the Savannah Oak, brooks and streams, and most intriguing of all, barrancas. Both will focus on firm and fast amidst strategic options. 

Last but not least, Broomsedge Golf Club is opening in the South Carolina Sandhills this fall, yet another design by Franz with Mike Koprowski. Mike Kaiser is a founding member while both designers were personally involved in the selection and purchase of the property, likening the landscape to that of Shoreacres. Their adoration of the land is contagious, where they will work from the green sites out. This is one to watch.  

Pinehurst 10

Speaking of craft-based designs full of sophistication, strategy and fun, Pinehurst wants to continue to get in on the action. The Cradle providing the casual short course angle along with the restoration of Pinehurst 2 and renovation of 4 starting to settle in, it was time to get the land from the old Pit up and running again and why not get Tom Doak involved. One of Doak’s notable attributes is recognizing, keeping and thrusting talent in the spotlight and for this project, long time associate Angela Moser headed things up. The terrain is sharp and undulating, which is used well in conjunction with a terrific set of greens all while facilitating an older style walkable layout that makes me reminisce about Pinehurst 3. Indeed, it seems to be along the lines of 3 yet of its own persona and identity that should diversify the Pinehurst golf design style bandwidth even more. 

Sedge Valley

Doak has indeed been busy. Among his projects, there’s no denying there’s some pushing and prodding about the edges of course design norms. The recently opened Lido was modeled after Peter Flory’s computer modeling of the course with Doak and lead associate Brian Schneider ensuring its physical embodiment could thrive while Doak now has Eric Iverson lead Sedge Valley, which represents a push back of the width and options trend prevalent today. Instead, Sedge is more intimate and a bit contrived in the best way possible, evoking an English heathland playing style at a shorter overall length and par with something in the 60’s. I can’t help think of my own club, Llanerch, as well as those of its ilk, such as West Sussex, Myopia and Garden City. Such a different scale than the other courses at Sand Valley will accomplish the same diversification Pinehurst is looking for, but I suspect with a lot more definition. 

Palmetto Bluff – Crossroads

King/Collins is building a reversible nine holes that looks to me like an intriguing combination of Inness and Sweeten’s. Their track record of excellent nine hole layouts continues to grow and here, there are a couple to take in. Their design style continues to broaden and set itself apart with strategic versatility. 

Bounty Club

King/Collins strikes again, this time in Nashville. On rolling terrain with crisscrossing creeks, I can’t help thinking of Dornick Hills. This is one of the more naturally advantageous sites King/Collins has been able to work on, allowing them to embrace the natural features within their design, which will emphasize an exciting match play form. The course is mere minutes from downtown Nashville, bucking the trend of remote locations. 

Warmouth Sands Golf Course

With a surging public scene, what of the municipals? Leave it to Mike Young, a damn fine principled architect who prioritizes accessibility, affordability and community. I have been meaning to visit his course, The Fields, which promotes these ideals and has been met with much acclaim. Warmouth is in Toombs County, close to Ohoopee Match Club, and the local community is already embracing the course, which will be set on the same type of terrain as Ohoopee. This new course is a wonderful example of the asset golf can be to a community, economically while promoting good old camaraderie with fellow neighbor and fellow.

In fact, there are a few new municipal courses opening recently or in the near future. I am using a list compiled by Tim Gavrich, which shows many of them:

Indian Pines (AL)
East Potomac Park (DC)
Langston (DC)
Rock Creek (DC)
Bobby Jones (FL)
Dunedin (FL)
Warmouth Sands (GA)
West Palm Golf Park (FL)
Francis Byrne (NJ)
Old Bridge (NJ)
Cobbs Creek (PA)
Links at Audubon (TN)
Percy Warner (TN)

This is promising. The municipal scene is an important one for several reasons and quite honestly, one I enjoy often. I’ll be enjoying it a lot more often soon as things keep transforming down the road at Cobbs. Aside from Cobbs, of the above I’ll be getting to Francis Byrne shortly, which takes up the lower land upon which Essex County takes the higher, Bobby Jones for its reversible nine hole layouts, The Links at Audubon which Bill Bergin refreshed and re-routed, having played his Chariot Run years ago and finding it full of new stuff and Old Bridge by Stephen Kay, who has thrilled us in the Philadelphia/NJ area for decades. I also heard Rancho Park in L.A. is getting its act together (yet still impossible for find a tee time), so here’s to the muni momentum growing!

The Tribute

In Central Oregon at the base of the Cline Buttes Mountains, the Tribute is one of the first new builds by Whitman, Axland & Cutten, an artistically talented team mentored mainly by Coore and Crenshaw. The course was planned over a decade ago but stalled over funding but now is ready to proceed, at which point Coore recommended the new firm take it on. The naturally gifted site allowed for a wealth of strategy and expressiveness in the remote destination, uncorking the potential of the terrain and contours. Remember the firm name, I have a feeling we will be seeing much more of them. 

Bandon Dunes – Shorty’s

And yes, you’ll hear about them again right now. Whitman, Axland & Cutten also recently designed the new short course at Bandon, 19 holes that sit off to the right of the First hole at Bandon Trails, which utilize the costal hillside towards the ocean and holes ranging from 60 – 160 yards. A fitting addition to the Bandon resort and named after the late Shorty Dow, the first caretaker of the Bandon and someone who knew the land well before the resort came to be. I’m interested to compare to Bandon Preserve and am expecting a little more rambunctiousness at both bunkering and the greens. 

Fall Line Golf Club

Georgia has its own sand hills and another new firm, Ogilvy Cocking Mead, are designing two new courses in them. One course takes inspiration from the Australian sand belt with its razor edged bunker lips while the other will take on an English heathland style. The sandy soil allows the team a lot of creative freedom for one of their first new projects in North America. The contrast in styles of both courses, the new blood and the natural terrain have me curious about these, can’t wait to hear more.

Old Sawmill and Spy Ring

Tyler Rae starts in on new courses with one in Charleston (Sawmill) and Long Island (Spy Ring). Other than a few photos of the site for Sawmill, that’s all I can find. Rae is a special talent with a penchant for above all else, engaging restoration and design. I have been able to play one of his new courses also opening this year, Spy Ring; a nine holer, which is calculated in how angles and contours play and present themselves. Rae is also working on a new course slated for opening this year in Charlotte, yet unnamed.  

Apogee Club

In Martin County Florida with Jupiter nearby, Apogee is a new club consisting of three courses, a 360 degree practice facility and a short course. Gil and Jim did the first course, Apogee West, which opened in December. A low profile affair that relies on the flat terrain, Apogee South will include much more elevation change and earthmoving. One of the first courses from the newly joined duo of Tom Fazio and Mike Davis, the course will follow the club’s charge of fun yet playable for all skill levels, from beginner to the tour pro. The owners of the club are no stranger to successful golf models and here, it appears the monicker of fun, strategy and interest without a lot of the toil is being planned out nicely.

Atlantic Fields Golf Club

Just down the road, Tom Fazio has designed Discovery Land’s first club in Florida. Martin County is indeed in the middle of a golf course boom, with what is mentioned here as well as Panther National by Jack Nicklaus opening in December and The Park at West Palm by Gil and Jim opening last April.  The Grove XXIII is next door as well. There’s a rich and distinct natural setting in this area, with canals, wetlands and the famous Becker tree farm (the Beckers are involved with the development). The setting is indeed incorporated into the design and club, while the tree farm has been secured free of development. A photo of the tree farm is below because of how impressive it is. 

Soleta Golf Club

Still in Florida, now moving over towards Sarasota. Nick Price is getting in on the design craze down there in this new residential development that will feature a practice facility designed by David Leadbetter. Price has spent loads of time at the site and is focused on producing a top shelf golf course while over a million cubic feet of earth will be moved to manage waterways and create elevation. 

Wohali Golf Club

This course is intriguing in the sense that the course architect, David Boyden, designed it on land owned by his family that he has known and been on for decades. This intimacy of the land is unique and with Boyden’s experience working with Fazio and Davis Love, this is certainly not an amateur excursion.  

Kinsale Golf Club

In the Naples, FL area, Gil Hanse and Jim Wagner are designing a course emulating the template holes of Macdonald and Raynor. Just about every template you can think of will be represented. The question begs itself why someone has not asked Hanse and Wagner to do this before right now. While templates have been modified and others incorporated in an array of designs and re-designs and even Old Macdonald with its tribute concept, Silva used this design concept at Black Creek in Chattanooga, so now we will get to see Gil and Jim’s version of it. 

Darmor Golf Club

In Columbus, Texas. Hal Sutton and Doug Wright are designing a C.B. Macdonald, Seth Raynor inspired course with templates on a sandy site. Sorry, but the Fonz is putting on his water skis and the sharks are circling. 

The Keep

Bill Bergin and Rees Jones teamed up at the McLemore resort in Georgia to re-purpose a cliffside mountain site that will wow with its views while managing to remain walkable. McLemore has another course in the works as well, setting their sights on all the talk of resorts and travel out there nowadays. 

Tell us anything?

The discussion from the 1980’s Golf Digest article is telling. It’s not because things are still the same and nothing has changed but instead because it shows valued design principles are timeless for a reason. The courses of present day reflect these virtues yet go about it differently. The main difference is an emphasis on the ground game, as well as an embracing of the Golden Age as opposed to more of a we’re-going-to-improve-it-with-technology phase. There are common threads of inspiration and influence today just like yesteryear. The Australian Sandbelt, English Heathland, reversibility, short courses and of course, templates, are all represented well. Most if not all of these courses seem focused on interest for golfers of all levels, which is wonderful and exciting. The newer architectural firms are alliances of architects with lots of experience with visions that have matured, which now get to see their way to new courses. Architects like King/Collins, Tyler Rae, Kyle Franz and the like are getting more and more new projects, allowing them to explore those aspects of course design. Strategy, options and ground contours are the main emphasis as they are expressed in a variety of styles. Short courses, courses with different loops of assorted holes, and putting courses all show the fun, casual side of the game, which are becoming a lot more frequent yet are such welcome additions.  

In all, a lot of the new batch seems promising. Naturalistic, strategic, many focusing on ruggedness and walkability. Interest and engagement over challenge. Not one seems focused on becoming a championship behemoth. The template craze may have reached a point of necessary remission. I adore several of the courses designed by Macdonald, Raynor and Banks. I adore several that have used templates within their design. But we’re getting to the point where I think we’re ok moving on. Aspects of the natural rugged presentation may be next but there’s many more iterations of that to keep it fresh. I have my own thoughts on what could advance course architecture in new and exciting paths but that’s for another time. For now, I’m excited what 2024 has in store for us.