By Design - Issue 54, 75 Years Special Report

17 because it is, well… different. It’s the reason there has been a resurgence of nine-hole golf, reversible golf courses, unusual numbers of holes, putting courses, arcade-like video golf and more. Owners are keying into that marketplace now which in turn allows designers to let their imaginations run wild.” Bill Amick, ASGCA Fellow, points out that smaller golf courses have been around for much longer than ASGCA’s 75 years. “Those include executive, par three and even courses with 12 instead of 18 holes. These require less land, a shorter total playing time and are easier to score on than the more demanding conventional course model. And comparatively, they also cost less to construct, have a lower annual maintenance budget and require less water for irrigation. Developers, operators and a large golfer audience could benefit because of these facts. Such realities could combine to increase the number of such more efficient courses in the future.” “Arbitrary values like 18 holes and par 72 have seemingly always been the prescribed benchmarks for creating a ‘proper’ golf course,” says Thad Layton, ASGCA, of Arnold Palmer Design Company. “One of the most refreshing trends in our industry is the emergence of alternative golf facilities: Himalayas putting greens, par-three courses, short game labs, playable driving ranges, and elaborate putting courses are just a few examples of the many new or recycled ideas that are catching on. I think we are in the early stages of this movement with myriad new forms of golf on the horizon to satisfy the evolving preferences and demographics of this wonderful game.” Getting creative The ASGCA’s annual Design Excellence Recognition Program recognizes clubs that have deployed the innovative and problem- solving skills of golf course architects to address unique design challenges. Now in its ninth year, you can read more about the projects most recently highlighted by this program in the Spring 2021 issue of By Design. Photo: Arnold Palmer Design Company The new putting course at Lake Lorna Doone Park in Florida was designed by Brandon Johnson, ASGCA, to enrich the lives of a historically at-risk community