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enough about the society to know that
it was the benchmark for golf course
architects to aspire to, and something
I wanted to become… it’s hard to
believe that was 20 years ago! As with
all things that take time and effort to
achieve, it was well worth the wait.”
Chad Goetz also achieved associate
membership status in 2015, having
16 years’ experience with Nicklaus
Design, since graduating from Kansas
State University with a degree in
Landscape Architecture. “Becoming
a member of the ASGCA has always
been a career goal of mine. This dates
back to my high school years when I
wrote to the society for advice on how
to pursue a career in the field,” says
Goetz. “I was extremely fortunate to
be a part of a great junior golf program
where I learned the game and also
was allowed very affordable access to
a nearby golf course. The course itself
was nothing terribly inspiring, and
my interest in golf design grew out of
comparing it to the amazing courses
I saw in magazines and on TV. I did
well in school and wanted to pursue
a career that would get me excited to
go to work every day. As we all know,
golf design is not the largest, most
accessible profession, but after a lot of
study and consideration, I decided to
go after my dream.”
For Goetz, the journey to ASGCA
membership was via Europe: “I was
a member of European Institute of
Golf Course Architects, but upon my
transfer from our European office
to the main office here in North
Palm Beach, Florida, the region
of my work changed somewhat.
While I will continue to be involved
in some international work, my
focus is becoming more and more
domestic. The EIGCA is a wonderful
organization, but becoming a part
of the ASGCA has always been a
professional goal of mine and it allows
me to be part of an organization a little
closer to my base.”
There have only been 282 members
of the ASGCA since it was founded in
1946. Its original charter membership
of 13 included some of the industry’s
most influential figures, including
Donald Ross, Stanley Thompson
and Robert Trent Jones. So it is
perhaps no surprise that acceptance
to the ASGCA requires the very
highest standard of work. Each of
the new ASGCA associate members
submitted details of a range of golf
course design projects as part of their
application process.
Crace’s portfolio of courses had
already received multiple accolades,
including the renovation of Ole Miss
Golf Club in Oxford, Mississippi,
that was named one of the top three
renovations in America among public
courses by
Golf Inc.
, and the new
course design of Copper Mill Golf Club
in Zachary, Louisiana that was voted
the Best New Affordable Public Course
in America for 2004 by
Golf Digest
.
For Goetz, his submission for ASGCA
membership included some of the
INSIGHT
Becoming a member of the ASGCA has always
been a
career goal
of mine. This dates back to
my high school years when I wrote to the society for
advice on how to pursue a career in the field
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By Design