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By Design
C
hris Wilczynski, ASGCA,
started out in the golf course
architecture industry as a
partner and design associate at Arthur
Hills/Steve Forrest and Associates—a
firm he worked with for two decades.
In 2010, he set up C.W. Golf
Architecture in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
How is your game?
My game is OK. I had a 12.9 index
at the end of the golf season. Some
good rounds and some we will
forget! I am horrible off the tee
and scramble from that point to
make a score. I could be a scratch
player if the scoring was just based
upon the short game and putting! I
don’t devote the necessary time to
practice and eliminate my bad swing
habits. I would rather play and just
enjoy the experience!
Which three people would make
up your dream fourball?
At this point in my life it would be
my wife and my boys, who are nine
and fourteen. We played together
quite a bit in the last year. I truly
see the game of golf evolving into
a family sport. It’s nice to be able
to spend time together, enjoying
the outdoors and each other.
Where else can you spend this
much uninterrupted time together
playing such a fun game? I love the
excitement and joy of seeing my kids
hit a good shot or make a long putt.
I also like that we can play this game
together for the rest of our lives.
What is your favourite hole in
golf?
I like short par four and par five
holes. There are so many options
and variables for scoring on a short
par four and a par five. One of the
first short par fours I ever designed
was the second hole at Red Hawk
Golf Club in Michigan. It’s a slightly
uphill, 290-yard hole. The fairway
sits at a slight left-to-right angle to
the tees. Bunkers flank the right
side of the fairway landing area.
The green is raised slightly and
falls away in the back. Smart or
conservative play will yield a par or
bogey. Aggressive play could yield
a birdie or other! Crystal Downs in
northern Michigan has some really
great short par fours. And the par
five eighteenth hole at Pebble Beach
is one of the best par fives in golf.
It’s fun, beautiful and strategic, with
the ocean down the entire left side
of the hole.
If you could change or add one
rule, what would it be?
I think that out of bounds with
white stakes needs to go away.
The game is hard enough as it is.
Stroke and distance for a ball hit
out of bounds is very punitive in
my opinion. I would change the
rule so that everything is played as
a lateral hazard. Take a one stroke
penalty and play the next shot from
where the ball crossed the hazard.
Changing this rule would speed up
the pace of play and make the game
more fun for all golfers.
What project are you currently
working on?
We are wrapping up a multi-phased
renovation project at the Wanakah
Country Club in Buffalo, New York.
The last two holes were finished this
fall. It took us nine years and seven
phases to complete the renovation
of the course. With the exception of
the greens and the course layout, we
have completely redesigned every
hole. It has been very rewarding
to help the club define a vision for
improvement and then work hand-
in-hand with them to see the vision
become reality. As an architect, that
is one of the best parts of our job—
to see our vision come to life! We
are finishing a golf course master
enhancement plan for Blythefield
Country Club in Michigan, which is
home to the LPGA Meijer Classic.
We are also starting on a new golf
course residential community
project in Florida. We are staying
pretty busy and are thankful our
clients are entrusting us to help
them develop great golf.
•
FIVE TO FINISH
Chris Wilczynski, ASGCA
I love the
excitement
and
joy
of seeing my
kids hit a
good shot
or
make a long putt