By Design - Winter 2016

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ASGCA members have long been
working with their clients to provide
teeing solutions that can help golf
facilities attract and retain golfers
(see, for example, the work of Jan
Bel Jan, ASGCA on ‘scoring tees,’
profiled in the Spring 2016 issue
of By Design). ASGCA members
are uniquely qualified to design
and oversee construction of tee
complexes at golf courses in North
America and around the world.
Introducing new tees is a practical
and affordable catalyst for growth,
by helping courses to increase the
number of rounds played, enhance
player enjoyment for all golfers
and improve pace of play. These
factors combine to help golf courses
improve their operating results.
“ASGCA members must help clients
determine what is best,” says ASGCA
Past President Bruce Charlton, ASGCA.
“Many courses will not be able to afford
to build so many tees and that’s fine.
Others may combine formal teeing
grounds with thoughtful cut-outs in
the fairway. And still others may use
these ideas for better operations.”
Many high profile courses are
introducing new teeing areas,
including Medinah No. 2 in Medinah,
Illinois (with ASGCA Past President
Rees Jones, ASGCA, and Steve
Weisser, ASGCA) and Sugar Creek
Country Club in Sugar Land, Texas
(with Jeff Blume, ASGCA).
“The beauty of the Longleaf tee
system is that you don’t lose the
integrity of the design,” says Jeff
Cowell, General Manager of Longleaf
Golf & Family Club. “It’s not just an
arbitrary layout of the tees to make
a hole shorter. So most importantly,
the players still feel a sense of
great accomplishment and fun as
they play. Since Bill’s work here at
Longleaf, our total rounds are up
nearly 20 percent over a year ago
and I’m hearing from a lot of happy
members and guests.”
“This tee system has given me a
completely different confidence about
playing,” says Longleaf Golf & Family
Club member Emily Simeon. “I can
go out and play with many people
who are much better golfers than I
am – and I can compete.”•
If you are interested in improving
accessibility at your club, contact your
local ASGCA architect. Find their
details at
The club’s scorecard clearly communicates
how to select the appropriate tee location
Since Bill’s work
here at Longleaf,
our total rounds are
up nearly 20
percent
22 | By Design