Golf Architecture

Aloha Golf Club golf course

How necessary is the rebuilding of greens at Aloha Golf Club?

By: 2023. 03. 07.

How many of you know that the golf course at Aloha Golf Club was designed by Javier Arana? Aloha Golf Club - Par 72, 6,293m (6,882 yards) - has hosted the PGA Tour 3 times between 2007 and…

Te Arai Links _Ricky_Robinson_resized

Guide to how to fall in love with Te Arai Links

By: 2023. 02. 21.

Mike Keiser's book - The Nature of the Game - was very instructive for me. Perhaps it was this book that convinced me how exciting and beautiful the links courses are and why minimalist golf course architecture is…

Pinehurst Resort 10th golf course by Tom Doak

How memorable will be the new Tom Doak-designed golf course at Pinehurst Resort?

By: 2023. 01. 05.

Probably one of the first golf architecture books I read was Tom Doak's The Anatomy of a Golf Course. I've followed his work since (e.g., The Loop at Forest Dunes, Barnbougle Dunes (Tasmania), Cape Kidnappers, Streamsong, Tara Iti…

Terras da Comporta Rodrigo Ulrich David McLay Kidd

How Terras da Comporta is preparing for the grand opening in 2023?

By: 2022. 12. 15.

I got very excited by the news that Terras da Comporta (Portugal), the first David McLay-Kidd-designed golf course in mainland Europe, will open next spring. Therefore, I quickly contacted Rodrigo Ulrich - Golf Director, Terras da Comporta, Vanguard…

Apes Hill Barbados golf course natural look

How fun is Apes Hill Barbados’ new, Ron Kirby-designed golf course?

By: 2022. 12. 08.

Those of you who are not familiar with Ron Kirby's life work. Here is a quick overview. In the early 60s, he was a design associate of Robert Trent Jones Sr. From 1970-1986 he worked with Gary Player…

Cypress Course at Bonita Bay Club_0072

What kind of a renovation was needed on the Cypress Course at Bonita Bay Club?

By: 2022. 12. 07.

ASGCA published the 2022 ASGCA-SLRG Golf Facility Market Trend study early this year. It found that the 3rd most frequent project type in the last 2 years was green complex renovation or redesign. The very same study found…

Silk Path Golf Nguyen The Dai GM_resized

How will the Vietnamese Silk Path Golf attract golf tourists & boost golf tourism?

By: 2022. 12. 05.

I am very impressed and fascinated by Vietnam's efforts to grow golf tourism in the country. Another example is Silk Path Golf's 18-hole course designed by Sir Nick Faldo. In principle, the new golf course will be ready…

Ballyshear Golf Links 14 Short low angle

The Lido-inspired Ballyshear Golf Links is ready to impress you!

By: 2022. 12. 01.

I see that C.B. MacDonald designed The Lido (the long-lost Long Island course) not only impressed Mike Keiser's two sons, Michael and Chris, but also the developers of Ballyshear Golf Links (Ban Rakat Club, Thailand). The 18-hole Ballyshear…

The Manor House Golf Club 8th hole with bridge

What would you improve on The Manor House golf course?

By: 2022. 11. 21.

We do not hear often criticisms or complaints about The Manor House golf course. I only heard of such remarks as the distance between some of the greens and tees or the size of the bunkers or the…

David McLay-Kidd at Terras da Comporta_resized

Who will enjoy the McLay-Kidd-designed golf course in Terras da Comporta?

By: 2022. 09. 15.

I am still under the spell of Mike Keiser's book The Nature of the Game: Links Golf at Bandon Dunes and Far Beyond. I believe links courses are far more exciting and closer to the authentic form of…

Tom Wiskopf Garmany and Despain at Troon North

Tom Weiskopf R.I.P.

By: 2022. 08. 22.

I am unfortunate to start the week with this news. Tom Weiskopf passed away on August 20th at the age of 79. Winner of 16 PGA TOUR titles, Tom Weiskopf was a prolific golf course designer/co-designer, responsible for 70-plus…

Chart Hills Golf Club_Putting Green_SR-C_A4_250

The Chart Hills Golf Club is expanding with a new par-3 golf course

By: 2022. 08. 09.

I like to think about a new investment idea in the way how it can improve the overall customer experience at the golf club. I thought I'd mention this because Chart Hills Golf Club is now building an…

EIGCA AM2022 - Jason Straka ASGCA, Tim Lobb, EIGCA

Where is the EIGCA action plan & recommendations to tackle climate change?

By: 2022. 07. 14.

In recent years, the efforts of Sentosa Golf Club have impressed me the most as they try to make their operations environmentally friendly and sustainable. The 2022 EIGCA Annual Meeting was held from Monday 27th to Wednesday 29th…

Gamble Sands - Sands Course_resized

What would make the golf experience at Gamble Sands more attractive?

By: 2022. 07. 13.

Last year Gamble Sands (located in Brewster, Wash.) launched the David McLay Kidd-designed QuickSands Course a 14-hole short course. The 18-hole Sands Course opened for play in 2014 to widespread acclaim, with the 100,000 square foot Cascades putting course following shortly thereafter. Now Gamble…

Lake Merced Golf Club 13th hole after renovation

What does “the MacKenzie vibe” look like at Lake Merced Golf Club’s golf course?

By: 2022. 07. 12.

The Hanse Golf Design and Heritage Links won the renovation project of the Lake Merced Golf Club golf course renovation. Starting in October 2021, Hanse Golf Design (HGD) has collaborated with course builder Heritage Links on a comprehensive,…

golf course development IMG_0813

What new expectations must be met in golf course development?

By: 2022. 07. 04.

Last October, Jason Straka was elected president of the American Society of Golf Course Architects (ASGCA) at the organization’s 75th Annual Meeting in Cleveland. Fry/Straka Global Golf Course Design won this renovation project for the Belleair Golf Club’s 2…

Belleair Country Club Fry Straka golf architects

What will the Belleair Country Club West Course look like after the renovation?

By: 2022. 05. 25.

I am so happy that I can share with you this great news. Belleair Country Club - the oldest golf club in Florida - has got two Donald Ross-design golf courses. Now the club has decided to renovate…

Farleigh Golf Club Operation Pollinator program 2021 Syngenta

Farleigh Golf Club won England Golf’s ‘Sustainability Project of The Year’ award

By: 2022. 04. 25.

The Royal Horticultural Society says the main problem affecting most pollinators is thought to be the loss of suitable habitat. Including forage, nesting, breeding sites, climate change, and pesticides.  Those golf clubs who are already paying attention to the above-mentioned phenomenon…

Country Club of Colombus fairway

What justified the upgrade of the bunkers in the Country Club of Columbus?

By: 2022. 04. 14.

The Country Club of Columbus in Georgia was founded in 1909. The course was rebuilt in the early 1920s by Donald Ross. Architect Drew Rogers, at the time working for Arthur Hills, renovated it between 2000-2002, but until…

16th hole Entrada at Snow Canyon Country Club

The new David McLay Kidd-designed golf course of Entrada at Snow Canyon Country Club

By: 2022. 04. 12.

To be more precise, David McLay Kidd has just completed a 17-month renovation project (a $7 million dollar project) and redesigned Entrada at Snow Canyon Country Club’s former Johnny Miller and Fred Bliss-designed course, which opened for play…