By Design - Fall 2018

26 | By Design A s a native of Augusta, Georgia, golf has long been in the blood for Troy Vincent, SGCA. Having graduated from The University of Georgia with a degree in Landscape Architecture, he initially worked for golf course architect Gene Bates, ASGCA Associate, and then spent fifteen years working throughout the world for Nicklaus Design. In 2009 he established his own firm, Vincent Design, and he also works with two-time major winner and Ryder Cup captain Tony Jacklin. How is your game? I really don’t have the opportunity to play as much golf as I would like, in large part due to a back injury. It seems the older I become, the longer it takes for me to recover from a round! Over the years I have come to expect less and just try to enjoy the course and camaraderie. I tend to spend more time at the practice range than out on the course. Which three people would make up your dream fourball? Wow, there are so many people that I would enjoy playing a round of golf with, but I would have to say Arnold Palmer. He was such a great ambassador for not only the game but from a business perspective as well. I would choose Donald Ross, one of the founding fathers of golf course architecture. I would be really interested in his views on the game today and how design and construction techniques have changed. I’d also invite Ben Crenshaw, who is an incredible golfer and historian of golf course architecture, which is apparent from the many great courses he has designed. What is your favorite hole in golf? Like many golf course architects, I have had the opportunity to see many great courses and it would be nearly impossible to pick just one hole! But growing up in Augusta, Georgia, it would be remiss of me not to select the thirteenth hole at Augusta National Golf Club. Having had the opportunity to play the course a number of times, I would say it is one of the best holes from tee to green. If you could change or add one rule, what would it be? The most recent changes in the rules were good and I feel they were well received. I would like to see the R&A and USGA address the ongoing debate regarding limits on the golf ball. The advances that have been made in technology, from clubs to ball, have taken the game to another level and greatly affect the courses that we design or redesign. It is difficult to make the game fun when the strategy of many great courses has become inferior, due to the distance many players are hitting the ball. What project are you currently working on? Most of our business these days consists of renovation and redesign. We currently have several projects in various stages, particularly in the southeast, and are also providing consulting services on two projects out west. But the one I am most excited about is the Augusta Municipal Golf Course, originally designed by David Ogilvie in 1928. We have teamed up with The Warrior Alliance to completely renovate the course from top to bottom. What makes this project so special is that during the construction, grow-in, maintenance and daily operations, the golf course will be used as a vocational rehabilitation work site, offering veterans the opportunity to learn new skills. The end result will be a very unique golf course for the area. • FIVE TO FINISH Troy Vincent, ASGCA The golf course will be used as a vocational rehabilitation work site, offering veterans the opportunity to learn new skills Casamar Golf Club, San Carlos, Panama Photo: Troy Vincent