By Design - Summer 2018

15 plan,” says Fought. “I often develop Photoshop images, existing and proposed, so the committee can understand my concept for the hole.” “There’s so much modern technology and software available now to help us in the paper stage. I feel if you complement that with going to the site a lot, it’s a home run, and helps you avoid expensive changes in the construction phase,” says Hearn. “In the preliminary phases of a new golf course design, I tell my clients to focus on the foundations of the design, the routing and flow of holes. Once we get that done, we can go into strategy, angles and options, golf course feature development,” he adds. New golf course projects are often underpinned by real estate, and it’s crucial for the golf course architect to understand those economics. “A complete understanding of the market for both the housing and golf components of the project must be gained before beginning the design work. Items such as the price ranges, types of lots, total number of units needed and other facts about the real estate demand must be considered in the planning in concert with the golf market factors. Making sure that the style, cost to build and operate, type of memberships to be offered and relationship to layouts for maximum housing value of the golf amenity are all incorporated into the design,” says Robbins. “The golf course design and master planning both need to be done with the same attention to sustainability and environmental preservation. Criteria for environmental planning should be set for all design elements of the project so the required permits and approvals can be more easily acquired,” he adds. “Good planning must account for both the creation of value for real estate and the necessity to operate the golf amenity as an independent business.” Scheduling and costing Once a golf course architect has a thorough understanding of the site and has worked with the client to define goals, their project management skills are put to the test. CARMEL CC For the 2016 renovation of the North course at Carmel CC in Charlotte, North Carolina, golf course architect John Fought, ASGCA, prepared initial thoughts for each hole on a sketch pad. After consultation with the club’s committee, he prepared final detailed plans for each hole, often accompanied by visualizations of the proposed changes, to help the committee and club members to fully understand his concepts for each hole. TUPELO CC At Tupelo CC in Tupelo, Mississippi, golf course architect Nathan Crace, ASGCA, master planned the entire property to be phased-in over a period of several years. Phase one was a new practice facility including driving range, short game area, putting green, and a six-acre short course with two double greens and a triple green so members can ‘wander and play,' play golf with their children, practice, or just have fun. Phase two was the total redesign and renovation of the par-three eighth hole to demonstrate to members what the entire course could look like when they approve the renovation of the other 17 holes. Since the development of the plan, membership numbers have soared from the mid-200s to nearly 650.