By Design - Issue 54, 75 Years Special Report

18 SPECIAL REPORT ‘The Cairn’ is a six-hole short course at McLemore in Georgia, which has been designed by Bill Bergin, ASGCA Layton and his colleague Brandon Johnson, ASGCA, recently donated their time to design a new putting course at Lake Lorna Doone Park in Florida, as part of a development to transform the 12-acre park and enrich the lives of the local community in this historically at-risk neighborhood. The course was inspired by the design of the nearby Bay Hill Lodge & Club course, which hosts the Arnold Palmer Invitational on the PGA Tour. 4. Bunny slopes are more important than ever Many of the creative new facilities that clubs are now offering have been designed not just to give existing golfers a different experience, or one that can be played in less time, but also as a means to introducing new people to the sport. The 2000s have brought a distinct shift away from the construction of longer and more difficult courses that was a feature of the late 20th century, towards facilities with an emphasis on accessibility and fun. This might come in the form of a completely new offering, or in adding new forward tees to an existing course so that it can be played at a much shorter total distance. “For non-golfers interested in taking up the game, it can be a daunting task,” says Bill Bergin, ASGCA. “Golf has its own vocabulary and 14 different clubs to master. Course design and topography vary dramatically and the surfaces we play on often require an intimate understanding. And, it takes a significant time commitment!” “We’ve come a long way in the past 10 years,” says ASGCA Past President Jan Bel Jan. “From skepticism to marginal interest to expectation that courses have more- forward tees to welcome and engage the breadth of new golfers, yet help highly experienced golfers further hone their course management and short game skills. “Bold-thinking club governors and course operators engaged visionary golf course architects to create new short courses, putting courses, short game areas, and practice ranges, even if the facility is landlocked. Tradition and technology are integrated to yield a positive ROI as well as healthful, socially beneficial family and beginner entertainment, plus provide infinite strategic challenges to seasoned golfers.” Bergin says that short courses help combat some of these real or perceived barriers to the new golfer, to make the game fun and Photos: Dave Sansom