By Design - Issue 54, 75 Years Special Report

13 measures in both sustainable design and maintenance!” says Stenson. 2. Changing lifestyles will challenge existing norms Golf became firmly established in the United States in the late 19th century. The United States Golf Association was officially formed in late 1894, with five charter clubs: Newport GC, St Andrew’s GC, Chicago GC, Shinnecock Hills GC and The Country Club in Brookline. The game experienced another surge in popularity in the 1950s, driven by the arrival into tournament golf of Arnold Palmer and, in the early 1960s, Jack Nicklaus, who would both later become members of the ASGCA. Traditions of the game that were developed in those growth phases of golf in the U.S. have remained to this day. The dominance of a standard 18-hole course in the region of 6,000-7,000 yards in length means that a round typically takes between 3-5 hours to play. When considered alongside initial hurdles of skills acquisition and cost, the level of devotion required for golf is higher than for many of the alternative activities that are available and popular in the 21st century. “Golf course architects are finding new ways to modify and adapt to the ever-changing social landscape,” says Jeff Lawrence, ASGCA, who has been a designer for Jack Nicklaus, Tom Fazio and Gary Player before beginning his own firm, Lawrence Golf Design. “One of the biggest influences on golf participation is time management… so many options, obligations and constraints on people’s time has forced architects to explore new and creative ways to engage people to play golf.” Many clubs, including some of the best-known golf resorts in the U.S. like Bandon Dunes in Oregon and Pinehurst in North Carolina, have added alternative courses to allow golfers to enjoy a full experience in less time. “I have encouraged my clients to consider alternative golf concepts, Photo: Evan Schiller