By Design - Summer 2018

21 “Bob said, ‘Remember, when a foursome is playing, one guy is hitting, three guys are looking around. Put them in an environment that is beautiful.’ He wasn’t interested in the technical side, but he was an incredible salesman.” With von Hagge, Blume served as Project Manager for assignments in the United States, Japan, Mexico and the Caribbean. After five years with von Hagge, Blume formed his own design firm, Jeffrey D. Blume, Ltd. Blume and his company have, among numerous projects, designed the Grand Pines Golf Club at Bentwater, in Montgomery, Texas, and led renovation projects at a number of courses including Golf Digest Best New courses recipients The Golf Club at Texas A&M in College Station, Texas, and Boiling Springs Golf Club in Woodward, Oklahoma. “Grand Pines is a special place because of the setting, nestled between Lake Conroe and a 20,000- acre natural forest,” Blume said. “It looks like the course has been there 100 years. It sits on rolling hills in the middle of a pine forest, and you can be playing one golf hole and not even see another.” Another project dear to Blume’s heart is the work at his alma mater. “It was fun and special to work where I had gone to school,” he said. “When you drive into College Station, from Houston, the first thing you see is the golf course; it is the entry. It’s a nice piece of land, with unique views that look toward the campus. “The course is surrounded by roads, so we needed to look at a full 360-degree view. I put bunkers on the backsides of greens, which I don’t like to do, but it looks good when you drive along the roads on campus outside the course. I wanted to create a great golf course and landscape at the front of the university.” Brauer had long encouraged Blume to apply for ASGCA membership, but Blume chose to wait until he compiled a complete body of work on his own to seek entry. His deep involvement in ASGCA was spurred along by two ASGCA Past Presidents who brought Blume to the Board of Governors and then the Executive Committee: Rick Phelps and Rick Robbins. Robbins also had worked for von Hagge at one time. “ASGCA is truly unique among professional societies and reflects the traditions and values of the game we serve,” Blume said. “We are a group of competitors who battle for commissions and attention on a daily basis, but collaborate, assist and mentor those with whom we compete. The camaraderie that we all share as a result of our common love for this great game binds us together.” As he focuses on his time as ASGCA President, Blume plans to draw attention to the positive economic results being seen by those who invest in golf facilities of all sizes and shapes. “The state of the game is strong, and we should all be committed to reminding folks of this whenever we have the opportunity,” he said. “Golf is a sound financial investment that carries with it many social, environmental and physical benefits. “Golf course owners and operators are taking steps each day to reduce costs and improve revenues, often with the assistance of ASGCA members. This investment benefits communities in a number of ways, as seen by golf’s $84 billion annual impact on the U.S. economy. And through it all, golf remains an affordable means of recreation for 24 million people each year, at just $38 per round, on average.” • While working for Robert von Hagge, Blume served as project manager for assignments in the United States, Japan, Mexico and the Caribbean