By Design - Fall 2018

15 another activity to check off the list during the trip.” “The goal with a resort golf design is to strike a balance between the thoughts ‘I need to go there’ versus ‘I want to come back’, both of which are exceedingly important,” says Forrest Richardson, ASGCA. “Fun is essential,” he says. “If there is one thing I have learned from my resort clients, it’s that room nights are paramount to everything else. We want people to extend their stay, go home and talk it up to their friends, and come back next season.” A fun challenge “People come to resorts for relaxation and to unwind. The last thing we need is a knock-down, drag-out course that causes them to cancel their tee time the following day,” says Richardson. “Let the course appear intimidating but provide a solution to get to the green that is fun—not just penal.” “While a person on vacation at a resort does not want to get beat up all day on the golf course, the challenge should be fun, beautiful and inspiring,” says Johnson. “‘Meaningful width’ is a phrase we use often on site and in the office. The ideal lines unlock different advantages while errant shots or conservative plays aren’t overly penalized but rather provide an opportunity to recover from less-than- ideal positions or angles by using slopes, a clever imagination or the well-executed shot. “If every tee shot or approach went unchallenged or was without strategic purpose, while extremely playable to some, interest levels would plummet. So, variety across the board is key. The endless combinations of fairway widths, degree of challenge, severity of hazards, the plethora of decisions to make, the variety of different shots required, sizes and placement of features or even the contrast of flat Brian Curley, ASGCA, has completed the first two courses at the FLC Quang Binh development on the coast of the East Vietnam Sea, on a site that is entirely white sand. “I have described it as Pine Valley by the beach,” says Curley. “The project has six kilometres of coastline and the main interior dunes rise up to 40 meters tall. “The first course promises to be the most natural in Vietnam, and maybe all of Asia.” “The desire is to create a playground of golf course design variety that offers golfers a different experience from day to day and makes the entire project a true golf destination that stirs the soul of the avid golfer who must normally tour the world for all these different experiences. Here, you get that all,” he says. Read more about this project in the July 2018 issue of Golf Course Architecture magazine. PROJECT PROFILE FLC Quang Binh Dong Hoi, Vietnam At the new West Cliffs course in Portugal, Cynthia Dye McGarey, ASGCA, provided tees that allow golfers of all abilities to enjoy the experience Photos: Brian Curley Photos: West Cliffs