By Design - Summer 2019

24 | By Design FIVE TO FINISH The ninth at Cypress Point is such a great short par four with so many options M ichael Benkusky, ASGCA, grew up working and playing on the Donald Ross–designed Cedar Rapids Country Club in Iowa. He attended Iowa State University to study Landscape Architecture with an emphasis in golf design. Benkusky then worked as senior project architect with Lohmann Golf Designs, Inc., before starting his own design firm, Michael J. Benkusky, Inc.—Golf Course Architecture. How is your game? It’s a work in progress. When I started my firm in 2005, I had a handicap of four and now it is up to eight. Lately, I’ve found a better balance between work, home life, and golf and have started playing more. Hopefully I can get back to where I was. Which three people would make up your dream fourball? First, it would have to be one of my parents. Without them playing golf and encouraging me and my siblings, I would not have learned to love this game. I owe them everything. Next would be Jack Nicklaus. I grew up idolizing him in the 1970s and always rooted for him. It was amazing how he could either run away with, or comeback to win, a tournament. You never counted him out. As Nicklaus’s career wound down, Seve Ballesteros became my new favorite. I was enchanted with how aggressive he was and with his short game around the greens. He taught me to not worry about hitting a bad shot and to move on to the next one. What is your favourite hole in golf? So many to choose from but the ninth at Cypress Point has always been high on the list. Such a great short par four with so many options. When you see and play it you come away inspired with your own designs. If you could change or add one rule, what would it be? Getting relief from a divot in the fairway. It’s man-made damage to the course and should be a free drop. What project are you currently working on? I’ve been fortunate to work with St. Charles Country Club here in Chicago. It has 11 holes that were routed by Tom Bendelow in the 1920s and seven holes completed by David Gill in the 1980s when they moved the clubhouse. We are in the process of rebuilding the bunkers and expanding greens to get the entire course to the Bendelow 1920s ‘feel’. Now the members won’t feel like they are playing two different courses. It’s been a great project and will be completed this year. • Michael Benkusky, ASGCA Photo: Michael Benkusky Benkusky is currently working on St. Charles CC in Chicago, Illinois