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how golf can solve greater problems,
whether storm-water management,
wetlands creation, habitat expansion,
erosion control or economic viability.
“ASGCA Past President Pete Dye likes
to overwhelm you and get in your
head, and I’m a big fan. But another
way is to design with slight-of-hand
using a wide berth, then slap you with
something hard, like a Perry Maxwell
design. I tend to lean toward that. It’s
not as sexy, but it is effective.”
That design philosophy is on
display at Martin courses throughout
the Midwest, including Glen Erin,
Janesville, Wisconsin; Rich Harvest
Farms, Sugar Grove, Illinois; Millwood
Golf & Racquet Club, Springfield,
Missouri and Wildridge at Mill Run,
Eau Claire, Wisconsin.
Martin-led municipal projects benefit
not only the course and golfers, but
the environment. And in many cases,
collaboration has been key.
“What can we do to provide
environmental benefit within a
golf course? That intrigues me,
and I cannot do it alone. I need to
collaborate with experts,” he said.
“The more we can communicate
with a variety of experts outside of
golf course architecture, the better
the project. And maybe, the less
intimidated they will feel and be more
likely to understand the universal
benefit and opportunities of golf.”
A case in point is Coyote Run in
Flossmoor, Illinois. “We were 25% of
the way through the project and they
said ‘we have a nearby neighborhood
flooding issue.’ So I got together with
engineers and we found a solution.”
The facility now includes 80
acre/feet of stormwater storage
on a 125-acre piece of land
(including a practice range and
3-hole junior course).
Martin’s designs provided wetland
mitigation and water quality
improvements for the Wilmette
(Illinois) Park District while solving
their flooding issues. “We made the
course more playable, more strategic,
more maintainable while improving
the water quality in the North
Chicago River.
“The skills of an ASGCA member go
far beyond golf. Where we build golf
and improve habitat, we have done a
service to golfers, the community and
their region. When golfers are engaged
with both the game and the place,
everyone wins.”
Martin notes, “ASGCA members are
problem solvers. We benefit from the
skill and expertise of fellow members.”
Which can sometimes lead to asking
the tough questions.
“A fellow member visited a site of
mine recently,” he said. “Another set of
eyes confirmed some of what I thought
I saw, but he also noted some things I
wasn’t ready to be uncomfortable with.
It challenged me in a positive way.”
As for the future, Martin focuses on
areas not seen with the naked eye.
“You cannot grow grass until there are
roots. The health of the plant depends
on the depth of the roots. The golf
industry needs to make sure we create
deeper roots.”
•
Martin’s designs include the courses at
Millwood (left), Rich Harvest (top) and Glen Erin
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