By Design - Winter 2019

28 | By Design FIVE TO FINISH Maybe there should be a mandatory two stroke penalty at the end of the round if you’re over five hours ? J ames Cervone, ASGCA, graduated from Penn State University with a degree in landscape architecture before starting his career in golf course architecture with Ault, Clark & Associates. Cervone has worked on projects across the US, and also in China, the Caribbean, Canada, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates. He founded Cervone Golf Design in 2002, which is based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. How is your game? I do not play as many rounds as I would like. I do hit balls or work on my short game as often as I can, which is a form of therapy for me. My game is in decent shape—I’m still able to score well and I have had a few sub-par rounds this season despite my ongoing fight for more distance. I really look forward to playing golf and I thoroughly enjoy the comradery with family and friends out on the course. Which three people would make up your dream fourball? I am fortunate to play with my three sons from time to time who make up my favorite foursome. But in the spirit of the question; for entertainment purposes and because he always reminded me of my dad, who didn’t play golf, I would pick one of my top crooners and golf enthusiast Dean Martin. From a historical perspective, I would love to play a round with Alister MacKenzie or A.W. Tillinghast, just flip a coin. And, for the sheer thrill of it, I’ve got to go with Tiger Woods. I would also ask my good buddy and player-consultant Rocco Mediate to caddy for me and help strategize in case Tiger wanted a side bet! What is your favorite hole in golf? This question gives me agita! There are so many good answers and so many holes that come to mind from a design standpoint. I would agree as Pete Dye once said, ‘par three holes are amongst the most memorable,’ but I’m not going with a par three. I wanted to choose a hole from a course I’ve actually played, and I’ve been fortunate to play many great golf courses. Ultimately, I decided to go with a hole from my beloved hometown area in Western Pennsylvania, which had an emotional effect on me—the eighteenth at Oakmont CC. I remember standing on the tee and being intimidated and I was also just struck by all the history involved there. Playing into the green with the clubhouse off in the distance, I was also thinking of the 1962 US Open ending in a playoff between Arnie and Jack. I remember playing there like it was yesterday. If you could change or add one rule, what would it be? It would have to be some refinement or just more enforcement of a rule we already have for undue delay or slow play. I think St. Andrews’ target time of 3h 57m for 18 holes is about right. Maybe there should be a mandatory two stroke penalty at the end of the round if you’re over five hours? What project are you currently working on? Lately, it’s been a lot of hamburgers and no big juicy steaks! I’ve been working near home at Pittsburgh National (pictured below), relocating greens and changing up several holes to address playability issues and slow play. • James Cervone, ASGCA Photo: James Cervone, ASGCA