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By Design
a golf course and initial imaging for
the course. Perhaps more golf course
plans will be drawn from an oblique
perspective with ‘base mapping’
being drone footage?
“It is my dream, and perhaps it
will happen before 2030, to design
a golf course that can only be
played in virtual reality mode; a golf
course that is designed on a piece
of land that is purely the figment
of one’s imagination and cannot be
replicated in any way. Therefore,
I think the knowledge of ‘moving
images’ and how to create them
digitally may come to the forefront
in the skills of the future golf course
architect.”
Focus on repurposing
There is general agreement that the
trends we have seen in the industry
in recent years will continue and
accelerate. “I don’t believe there will
be more new work than what we see
now. I think this cycle is going to be
very, very long,” says Ian Andrew,
ASGCA. “The major trend from
2018-2030 will be the repurposing of
existing golf courses. The focus will
be on playability and environmental
sustainability (lower input models
will be legislated in most areas). There
will be lots of carving off land and
reducing facilities for economic gain or
survival, implying shorter courses—
lower par—and no remaining spaces
between holes. The underlying
theme of the majority of non-elite
club projects will be economic
sustainability—half of private golf will
be in some kind of survival mode. And
the architects themselves will all be of
the design/build model by this point.”
Andrew’s comment about the
primacy of design/build projects is
echoed by many architects. There is
no doubt that this model has been
growing in popularity of late, and
lots of designers who come from
a traditional contractor-focused
construction background have realized
the advantages of being responsible for
more of a project. But to have a design/
build contract on a perfect sandy site is
very different from agreeing to one on
heavy clay where major earthmoving
is required. It remains to be seen
how the design/build (or design/
shape) model will be adapted to cope
with mainstream projects. Andrew is
confident it will.
Environment first
“Architects will need to be able to
understand the unique aspects of
local and community environmental
needs and reduce inputs,” says Martin.
“Some will gravitate toward more
technical expertise, while others will
move toward on-site/shaper/field
condition value.”
“Many architects have the ability to
build their designs as well as design
and communicate them graphically
and verbally,” says Rogers. “There is
a large stable of these designer types
out there—and they will continue to
do well as their names become more
exposed. We’ll continue to see some
architects collaborate—combining
personal and design-related skills that
complement particular project goals.
This sort of arrangement, if matched
up properly, can produce some
incredibly varied and dynamic results.
“I truly believe, and already see signs
now, of the length issue changing,
DESIGN IN 2030
Irrigation technology will continue to
have an impact
as well—the ability to
better manage water
and distribution
of water so that playing surfaces are more
complementary of the intended architecture
Drew Rogers, ASGCA