By Design - Spring 2020

FOREWORD G olf course architects require a great degree of ingenuity for design and renovation projects. There will always be challenges and obstacles to overcome, and it is our obligation to help clubs find a solution that will benefit the club and its local community. I recall ASGCA Past President Erik Larsen’s words: “Golf courses benefit communities as revenue and tax sources, green space, wildlife and plant sanctuaries and aid in water filtration, among other uses. There is an inherent goodness to the community that comes from the positive financial, social and environmental impact of a golf course.” Erik walked this talk when helping to bring a course in Jacksonville, Florida, back from the brink. Atlantic Beach Country Club features in this issue’s cover story, which begins on page 18. Golf writer and ASGCA Donald Ross Award winner Joe Passov looks at this and other examples of golf courses that have been reborn, and the positive impact that ingenious work by ASGCA members has on clubs and their communities. Also in this issue of By Design , ASGCA members pay tribute to one of the most ingenious architects in the history of golf. We were all saddened to hear that Pete Dye, ASGCA Fellow, passed away at the start of the year. Pete, a Past President of ASGCA, was responsible for many of modern golf’s most ground-breaking and celebrated designs, including TPC Sawgrass, Whistling Straits and The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island. ASGCA members reflect on Pete’s impact in the article that begins on page 12. There’s plenty more in this issue too, including distance research, member project news, and an interview with Richard Mandell, ASGCA, on the concept course he created for a site close to his office. Jan Bel Jan, ASGCA President American Society of Golf Course Architects CONTENTS COVER Digest 4 The issue opens with the latest in the distance debate, following the USGA and R&A’s publication of the results of its Distance Insights project. We also learn about an ‘art of the golf course’ exhibition, golf facility trends and ASGCA member projects. A golf architecture great 12 ASGCA members share their stories of ground-breaking golf course architect Pete Dye, ASGCA Fellow, who passed away in January 2020. Back from the brink 18 It’s not just golfers who suffer when a golf course closes. Joe Passov considers the impact for the entire community, and finds out about the reinvention of courses in peril. The art of routing 26 Golf course architect Richard Mandell, ASGCA, talks to By Design about his concept course design, The Sandhills Club. Five to finish 30 A. John Harvey, ASGCA, answers our five questions to finish the issue. BY DESIGN Excellence inGolfDesign from theAmerican Society ofGolfCourseArchitects Also:Distance research• PeteDye,ASGCA Fellow• Routing a concept course Issue 48 | Spring2020 brink Back from the Cover photography courtesy of Atlantic Beach Country Club in Jacksonville, Florida. Design ingenuity Editor and Publisher: Toby Ingleton Editorial contributors: Richard Humphreys, Joe Passov Design: Bruce Graham, Libby Sidebotham ASGCA Staff: Chad Ritterbusch; Mike Shefky; Aileen Smith; Marc Whitney Photography: Ahwatukee Foothills News; ASGCA; Atlantic Beach CC; Black Diamond Ranch; Daniel Burke; A. John Harvey, ASGCA; Raymond Hearn Golf Course Design; Chip Henderson; Istockphoto/ Dmytro Aksonov; Istockphoto/sonyae; Kemper Sports; Kohler Co.; Larry Lambrecht; Larsen Golf; Tim Liddy, ASGCA; Richard Mandell Golf Architecture/Jim Ryan; Nicklaus Design; Brian Oar; Forrest Richardson & Assoc.; Sanford Golf Design; Art Schaupeter, ASGCA; Scot Sherman, ASGCA; USGA Golf Museum; David Spencer/Palm Beach Post/ZUMA Press Subscribe to By Design at www.tudor-rose.co.uk/bydesign © 2020 American Society of Golf Course Architects. All rights reserved. www.asgca.org By Design is sponsored by: 3