Drawing in GCA?

[Matthew Hunt]

I am a bit worried my artistic standard isn’t up to being a GCA. I can draw alright 2-D drawing but I struggle with 3-D Images. How essential is drawing in GCA and what type is mainly needed?

Would I be better practising Hand-done Images or Computer Generated ones?

Many Thanks

[Mike Nuzzo]

I've read hear that a few favored archies can't don't won't either draw or cad.

Have you ever seen one of Jack Nicklaus' sketches....  Picasso comes to mind.

Communication is key, if a simple sketch conveys your ideas to your client or a shaper it will be very useful.
If you create plans you will get better by the time you finish your first set - there are a lot of lines to draw - I added them all up once - it was miles and miles.

Read my essay in Golf Architecture 9 about how you can do both at once...  

Study contour lines, try to draw contour lines of existing green complexes as a good exercise.

Cheers

[Marty Bonnar]

One reply. ONE Reply. ONE REPLY.

Sometimes this place AMAZES ME. 20-odd frikkin pages of ego-'stimulation' and no-one bats an eyelid.

One good question regarding a fundamental skill of ANY designer and only one archie has the time/energy/inclination to post. Harumph, harumph.

Young Master Hunt. Drawing is a splendid form of communication. No other language is so UNIVERSAL. Go to China and try to describe, say, a reverse cambered, 1:40 slope with a drainage swale set midway along it's length and you'll probably get a bowl of Birds Nest Soup. DRAW it on the other hand and the machineman will have it knocked up in seconds...

Draw, Draw, DRAW!

best,
FBD.

[Matthew Hunt]

Thanks for the relpies.

Could I ask what is the main form of drawing 1PP, 2PP Isoimetric or is it mainly 2-D?

[Mike Nuzzo]

Construction drawings are all in plan form - 2-D.  Learn to show your ideas in contours.

There are several architects that use illustrations to convey their messages as well.  Most notably - Mike Strantz - but I don't think he needed them to build what he did.
Kelly Blake Moran creates nice sketches, which is a vonHagge technique.

I don't think the shaper will care what perspective technique you used...  

[Yannick Pilon]

Matthew,

My answer would sit somewhere between Mike and Martin.  Yes, how you communicate your ideas is very important. You need to explain to people what you see in your mind.  But putting it on paper makes it clear for everyone what you are trying to do.  It is "the" universal language of course design.

Doing CAD work is important if you need to do plans yourself.  But being able to draw in 2D, or better yet, 3D, will help you a lot more to start with.  The CAD stuff is easy to learn, once you know how to draw what you want to illustrate with the CAD software.  Understanding scales and contour maps is also an art that can learned through practice and that will be extremely helpful.  So is drawing.

Just study all the golf course drawings you can find, and try to create a style of your own.  A style you will be able to use to clearly communicate your ideas.  And then, practice, practice, practice.  "Routing the Golf Course", by Forrest Richardson, has a good number of different plans that are interesting.  So does many other golf books.

Good luck,

YP

[Tyler Kearns]

Matthew,

I work in a golf design office and my drawing skills (3D) are limited at best. I feel very confident producing plans in 2D, and like Mike just posted, expressing my "ideas in contours".

Being able to sketch is an asset that should not be overlooked. A shaper we often use does not read 2D plans very well, and relies on sketches of greensites and bunkers to produce our designs. Some people are gifted artists, I am not, but practice does help. Comparing my ability to sketch before and after an education in Architecture School is testament to that fact. You could try placing trace paper over photographs and try reproducing the photographic image. This will help you understand how to produce a 3D image of a complicated landscape.

TK

[Jeff Doerr]

Matthew,

Did you check the drawn examples of holes at Chambers Bay?

http://www.chambersbaygolf.com/layout10.asp?id=173&page=3342

I'd ask the group here to suggest some of the best books with drawings in them. "The Good Doctor Returns" has some drawing and references to it in the reading.

Keep praticing! If you are brave, post a few here for critique.

Cheers, Jeff

[Mike Nuzzo]

I'd ask the group here to suggest some of the best books with drawings in them.

The Architectural Side of Golf - Simpson - has the best.
Favourite Holes by Design - Daley - has the most styles.

Get both.

[Jeff Doerr]

Matthew,

I was thinking of some artwork I'd seen that you might like.

Robert Wade has some very nice work:
http://members.ozemail.com.au/~rawade/golf.htm