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B
illy Fuller, ASGCA, a graduate
of North Carolina State
University, worked for many
years as a golf course superintendent,
at clubs including Kiawah Island
Resort and Augusta National, where
he oversaw operations for five
Masters tournaments. He moved into
the golf course architecture industry
in 1988, joining Cupp Design, where
he worked as a design associate and
senior agronomist. Fuller’s time at
the firm saw him carry out work on
more than 100 new courses.
The Atlanta-based architect
established Billy Fuller Golf Design
in 2004. His design portfolio
includes the courses at Ballantrae
Golf Club in Pelham, Alabama,
Reunion Country Club in Jackson,
Mississippi, and Estuary at Grey
Oaks in Naples, Florida.
How is your game?
I play to an eight handicap. I love
playing golf, and try to do so when
time allows. With a 12-year-old son,
I also play soccer, lacrosse, ultimate
frisbee, baseball and ping pong, so
getting some time to play out on the
course can be tough between all that.
But I love doing so when possible.
Which three people would make up
your dream fourball?
My ultimate fourball would include
Bob Cupp, John Lawrence and Jerry
Lemons. Maybe with Bill Murray as
a caddie! I miss my rounds with Bob
Cupp, who sadly passed away earlier
this year. We had so much fun! I believe
he is master planning the ultimate 18
with St. Peter as we speak. There won’t
be any practice facilities though—you
don’t need to practice in heaven
because your game is always perfect!
What is your favorite hole in golf?
My favorite golf hole is any great
short par four—it doesn’t have to
be drivable, but those holes that are
always tempting you to go for it are
just great. I just finished converting a
medium par three to a short par four
at Cherokee Plantation in Georgia. I
think it’s a really fun hole! Bob Cupp
always tried to include one on all his
courses, and I always looked forward
to those holes whenever we played
our courses. But asking for a favorite
golf hole is like asking for my favorite
golf course—there are too many great
ones to just choose one!
If you could change or add one rule,
what would it be?
All out of bounds would become
lateral hazards to help speed up play.
What project are you currently
working on?
I am currently in the master planning
stage of a project at the Cypress Tree
Golf Course at the Maxwell Air Force
Base in Montgomery, Alabama. They
have 36 holes spread over two 18 hole
tracks—the University Course and
the River Course. There are several
holes adjacent to the base’s runway
on the University course, which can
no longer safely be used. Some holes
on the River course are prone to major
flooding when the Alabama River
rises, so those will be eliminated. We
will use nine holes from the University
Course and nine holes from the River
Course and leave the rest for green
space. The end result will be two very
contrasting nines.
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FIVE TO FINISH
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By Design
Billy Fuller, ASGCA
Asking for a
favorite golf hole
is like asking for my favorite golf
course
—
there are too many great
ones to just choose one!
Fuller has just converted a medium par three to a
short par four at Cherokee Plantation in Georgia