By Design – Issue 53, Summer 2021

By Design is sponsored by: FOREWORD Making the complex simple Forrest Richardson President, ASGCA C omplexities are part of the job description for a golf course architect. They arise from the brief, the site, the budget and countless other factors. Sometimes this demands a complex design. But quite often, a simple solution can be just as effective. I am a strong advocate for simpler solutions to golf course design. In the future we will need to leave smaller footprints; rethinking golf ’s water usage, maintenance requirements and use of resources. The challenge is to achieve all of that while providing a golf experience that is enjoyable and sustainable. For our cover story in this issue of By Design (which begins on page 18), several ASGCA members discuss the virtues of a simpler approach, and share details of projects which have delivered a positive impact in many ways, including finances, pace of play and the overall golf experience. ASGCA Past President Arthur Hills was among a handful of golf architects who subscribed to a newsletter I published about golf design in the 1970s, and he also took time to comment and contribute. We provide a tribute to his life as a golf course architect on page 14. While he left an incredible legacy of work across the world, for me I will always recall the kindness he showed a young aspiring student — a gift we should all pay forward. I hope you enjoy this issue of By Design .