Mark you’ve posted on here before about how little interest there is in Architecture over here and I’m in complete agreement. About ten days ago Marc Haring posted some pictures of a new upmarket course near Bournemouth that had no name designer. Could you imagine any upmarket project in the States trying that?
Tom is probably about right in the number of new courses. I would say about 90% of the new courses are designed to cater for the tail end of the pay and play explosion of 20 years ago. Then there are a few top end designs which are usually private. I've played Bearwood Lakes an exclusive club laid out by Hawtree it wasn't bad but it wasn't great.
http://www.bearwoodlakes.co.uk/The market is driven by developers who are obsessed with putting in features they see on the PGA tour; hence you get the course Marc showed with Heathland course featuring white sand and lakes in front of greens. Another recent opening, a CCFAD (thanks Brent
), which is marketed as 'The Blakes Experience' is an ‘inland links’ complete with lakes and an island green.
http://www.blakesgolfclub.com the extensive local marketing makes more of the Chef having worked in a Michelin starred restaurant than it does of Swann Designs, the architects. Also it features sleepered bunkers and Carts with GPS plus. Don’t you get the impression the potential punters are not a terribly sophisticated market?
The only 'recent' opening that featured an 'Architect' as a part of it's marketing strategy was Chart Hills, again a CCFAD (love it). The course has been generally very well received and has hosted the Womens Open. The named architect was Nicholas Alexander Faldo who is one of our all time hero's, but as far as I know it's his only British commission to date. (Steve Smyers was heavily involved behind the scenes though it’s not usually credited as a co design). Faldo is still high profile over here with his youth program etc and he writes a monthly column for one of the big golf magazine's which is mostly about architecture he loves.
(We do have an insider on the last two courses and hopefully he’ll post on these – haven’t seen anything in a while).
Tom Doak it would be interesting to know if there are plans to use your name in the marketing of Archerfield. I understand the developers are American so they might have a different take on it, do they think they British Market is different in this respect or will it be marketed solely to Americans where your name means something?
The magazines mostly pay lip service to the subject, but credit where credit is due Golf World has been running more on the subject. The April issue features Faldo commenting on Augusta's back 9 and the changes, an article by David Owen on the early days, an excerpt from Taylor's autobiography (one of a series of excerpts from the archives on the old dead guys), a two page photo spread that each month features 'Top 100 Gold' (this month Cruden Bay) and 3 pages celebrating the best Harry Colt courses. Hopefully they are increasing their circulation and will attract more interest in the subject.