Golf Course Architecture - Issue 56: April 2019

53 At Cobb’s Creek in Philadelphia – other than Merion East, Hugh Wilson’s only design – a similar project, with Jim Wagner of Hanse Golf Design in charge, is getting ready to go. And in Washington DC, architect Mike McCartin is trying to rouse interest in a similarly-ambitious project at East Potomac Park, located on an island in the Potomac River (Walter Travis’s original design, heavily influenced by St Andrews, was reversible!). So the future for the muni is likely to vary. For those with a history sufficiently storied to rouse golfers’ interests, the possibility exists for a very grand future. For others, it may be more difficult. But one thing is certain, the muni will not be going away any time soon, and the gospel of municipal golf is spreading to some unlikely quarters. Who would have thought that a city in north-eastern Turkey would build a municipal golf course? But that’s what the city of Samsun has done over the past few years, with golf course architect Kevin Ramsey. Developed and owned by the Samsun municipality, the linksy Samsun Golf Club is located on reclaimed land at the edge of the Black Sea. Ramsey says: “The town has been very proactive in creating sporting activities along the entire waterfront. It has miles of pathway along the beach connecting all waterfront activities via bike, roller blade or jogging/walking. They have built many outdoor parks with soccer facilities, tracks and other indoor sports venues in this area as well. It seems to me that they want to be known as the sports city for the people. This is now the home of the Turkish Golf Federation, again adding a strong public flavour to the course as it is where the national team plays.” GCA MUNI C I PAL GOL F Photo: Kevin Ramsey, Golf Plan The gospel of municipal golf is spreading to some unlikely quarters, including the city of Samsun in north-eastern Turkey “America is seeing an interesting trend develop; the restoration of the historic muni”