By Design – Issue 50 // Fall 2020

9 DIGEST Photo: Fox Chapel Golf Club Marzolf completes Fox Chapel restoration ASGCA Past President Tom Marzolf of Fazio Design has overseen the completion of a golf course restoration project at Fox Chapel Golf Club in Pennsylvania. The project has included building 97 new bunkers to shapes as seen on Seth Raynor’s original 1923 course. Sand lines, mowing lines, green shapes, fairway widths have all been restored. Greens have also been restored at the second, fourth, fifth, seventh and ninth holes. “In an era that rewards things new, this course will serve as the benchmark restoration on how to properly and historically preserve the game and recreate the flair of the 1920s golden era of golf course architecture,” said Marzolf. In the latest podcast from Golf Course Industry ’s “Tartan Talks” series, David Whelchel, ASGCA, talks about his varied career and how he got into the golf course design industry. Whelchel’s interest in golf design was sparked while visiting Pinehurst as a golf coach. “I played No. 2 in a practice round with the kids and we would talk about how we would play the holes,” he said. “It was the best golf course I ever played and from there I ended up picking up books to see what design was.” Following advice from his friend and golf course architect Ron Garl, Whelchel tried his hand at golf construction. He ended up being connected with the director of golf at DisneyWorld, Phil Ritson. “He was going to be involved in a project called Golden Ocala and he got me involved in the construction crew,” said Whelchel. “I was the only one on the crew that knew anything about golf, so I wound up running most of the golf construction. I ended up working on and learning about every piece of equipment. “A couple of projects later, Ron rang me and asked if I still wanted to get into the design side of things and I said, ‘yes’ and moved into a trailer near the project site three days later. That’s how I got into it. It has been a great ride.” Listen to the full “Tartan Talk” at golfcourseindustry.com. “I ended up working on and learning about every piece of equipment” David Whelchel , ASGCA • Todd Schoeder, ASGCA, discusses six-hole loops, complex projects and working with an overlooked major champion. • ASGCA Past President Steve Smyers shares lessons and stories from his career as a golf course architect. Here are links to other recent “Tartan Talks,” now featuring over 20 episodes: