Ernie Els GCA in Hawaii

[Steve_ Shaffer]

Who's the real archie here?

From the Honolulu Star Bulletin

Els breaks ground on Ewa course
Plans call for the three-time major winner's layout to open in 2008

By Dave Reardon
dreardon@starbulletin.com

Ernie Els -- already possessing the travel schedule of a rock star on international tour -- took the long way from Los Angeles to San Diego yesterday. Between shooting a final-round 67 at Riviera on Sunday and the start of match play tomorrow at La Costa, Els was in Hawaii for a few hours to break ground and bread with the locals and talk about penning a unique autograph: a signature golf course at Ewa Beach.

Hoakalei Country Club, scheduled to open in early 2008, will feature the history of a Hawaiian legend and the vision and approval stamp of a golf icon from South Africa. And, perhaps, as Els mused yesterday, its bunkers will be filled with sand from China.

Here's the link to the article:

http://starbulletin.com/2006/02/21/sports/story01.html

[Steve_ Shaffer]

Apparently, Els used Nicklaus Design for the work for his early courses. Now, he has his own company.

http://www.ernieels.com/default.aspx?comp=Desi

[Bill_McBride]

I'm not familiar with Michael Kenney.  Anyone?

[Joel_Stewart]

 This has to be the most naive quote in history.

"We had done an analysis of all the golf course designers, and all the golf-playing designers on the tour, and Ernie was far and away No. 1, and our choice because of his history here, winning the Sony and the Mercedes, his style of play and his personality, his appreciation for the land and the island itself."

[Brad Klein]

Maybe Don Ho wasn't available.

[Mike_Young]

I'm not familiar with Michael Kenney.  Anyone?

Mike Kenney is the son of Tim Kenney who is an attorney with JN.

[Robert Thompson]

Son of an attorney? He must have credentials beyond that!

[Kelly Blake Moran]

 Quotes from the Article:

"Els breaks ground on Ewa course-Vol. 11, Issue 52 - Tuesday, February 21, 2006"

"Els said he'll be back in the summer to check on progress."

Is there still snow on the ground in Hawaii

[jg7236]

Michael Kenny is a great guy who has been in the business for a good while now.  It is indeed the Ohio/Nicklaus connection.  Ernie Els, still is a pretty small design firm.  Last time I spoke with Michael they are still pretty small.  I believe they still use Nicklaus for design assistance.  Such things has CAD, plotting, etc.

[Garland Bayley]

...
"We had done an analysis of all the golf course designers, and all the golf-playing designers on the tour, and Ernie was far and away No. 1, and our choice because of his history here, winning the Sony and the Mercedes, his style of play and his personality, his appreciation for the land and the island itself."

Bet those ASGCA members are green with envy. I doubt Ernie has even done the minimum necessary to qualify for ASGCA membership.  

[Kelly Blake Moran]

...
"We had done an analysis of all the golf course designers, and all the golf-playing designers on the tour, and Ernie was far and away No. 1, and our choice because of his history here, winning the Sony and the Mercedes, his style of play and his personality, his appreciation for the land and the island itself."

Bet those ASGCA members are green with envy. I doubt Ernie has even done the minimum necessary to qualify for ASGCA membership.  

Not to beat up on the ASGCA I think Jeff, Forrest and Paul have done an admirable job explaining the organization, but on your point about Els joining the interesting thing is it was my understanding you had to submit 5 sets of construction documents for the projects you use to qualify, now I always thought it was plans you actually did, but that can not be possible because there are members in the organization that have never done a set of construction documents, so as long as Ernie can attach his name to 5 projects he probably would qualify.

[Tiger_Bernhardt]

We do seem to making a bit of a todo over a course that will likely not have much said about it later.

[jg7236]

Members who have never done construction drawings, or don't even know what they are......

[Kelly Blake Moran]

Members who have never done construction drawings, or don't even know what they are......

John,

I have done a lot of plans, and actually I feel it can be a helpful part of the process, it certainly is not the final word but it informs the process and helps you get from A to B so you can move onto to C.  Creating something is as much a process of solving problems whether preceived problems on the ground or design concept problems, working and working to solve issues, as opposed to always dreaming up grand ideas so some problems do lend themselves to grinding out solutions with a pencil on paper.  However, on the other hand there is nothing more I would hope to accomplish someday than to do a project from start to finish with nothing more than a routing plan made while walking the land for several days, and spending everyday on the site making the course and solving the problems on the ground face to face..