By Design - Fall 2019

19 more playable for golfers. “We did add a good bit of width to enhance the strategic options and all but three greens allow for a running approach,” says Davis. At Ole Miss Golf Club, the home course for the University of Mississippi teams, Nathan Crace, ASGCA, took a similar approach: “The task was to modernize the course to current standards and make the course more playable for a wider range of clientele,” he says. “The course serves students, but also an increasingly larger number of non-students including a growing number of retirees in the area.” Collaboration challenge While every golf course project requires architects to work in tandem with their clients, university projects can involve more stakeholders, each bringing their own agenda and opinion to the table. “What can be different versus a course with a single owner or a member renovation committee is meetings where a dozen decision- makers are sitting around a conference table and making sure everyone is on the same page and is being heard,” says Crace. “That can be time- consuming, but it’s worth the effort when you see the finished product.” “As it comes to the budget on this project we have worked closely with many representatives of the university, the general contractor we technically work for, and the golf course contractor, which is more people than what we typically work with,” says Cochran, of his experiences at FSU. “But the relationship with everyone on this project has been great.” Alma mater honor For some ASGCA members, one of the most gratifying aspects of university golf design has been the opportunity to return to their alma mater. “It is an honor to have one’s alma mater reach out,” says Rogers, who studied at the University of Kentucky. “I’m proud to give back and to remain involved at a school which has also given so much to me. My returns to Lexington always feel welcoming and familiar and hopefully always will. It is also especially pleasing to see the golf teams do well, knowing that we’ve had this interaction and that they utilize facilities that we’ve very purposely developed together.” “Designing a course that carries the Jayhawk name was very exciting for me personally,” says Gogel. “We grew up Jayhawks, even living in Lawrence as young kids. Most of my immediate and extended family graduated from KU so to design a course and practice facilities that will be used to help build a college program and develop potential future professional golfers and top tier amateurs and know I have a very small part in that... I am not certain I’ll ever have a more personal attachment to a project.” “I have loved working at my alma mater, and I am actually enjoying it more and more,” says Davis, a graduate of the University of Oklahoma, member of the 1989 National Championship golf team and NCAA-All American selection. “I was a little hesitant at first to be as strong-willed as I might be normally, when necessary. While we are still doing things to make it better, I am at a point I can enjoy it now.” And for some architects, the tables have been turned. “I did take a lot of ribbing from friends because I graduated from Mississippi State,” says Crace, of his work at in-state rival Ole Miss (he has done work at MSU’s course too). “My friends from Mississippi State would kid me about working for ‘the other school’ and my friends who were Ole Miss fans would kid me about ‘finally seeing the light’ and helping them recruit for the golf teams with a new course. It’s all good-natured fun!” • Design graduates Other ASGCA members to successfully complete design projects for universities include: ASGCA Past President Jeffrey Blume redesigned the Campus course at Texas A&M University, as well as designed the Goodman Family Aggie Golf Complex practice facility. Thomas E. Clark, ASGCA, returned to his alma mater Penn State University in 1992 for a project that saw 14 holes added for their 36-hole golf complex. He later improved practice facilities for the golf teams. As part of his work with Fazio Design, ASGCA Past President Tom Marzolf has helped to create golf facilities at the Georgia Institute of Technology, Oklahoma State University and The University of North Carolina. Kevin Ramsey, ASGCA, of Golfplan designed the John and Diane Watson Short Game Training Center at El Macero Country Club, which is used by the golf teams at UC Davis. Andy Staples, ASGCA, has recently finished working with Marquette University and The University Club of Milwaukee on an innovative short game range and four-hole short course. I’m not certain I’ll ever have a more personal attachment to a project Photo: Jeffrey D. Blume Ltd Photo: Golfplan