Links Mag. Design Contest

[Pete_Pittock]

The Links Magazine architecture issue has a design contest
www.linksmagazine.com/designcontest

   The winning design will be used as the 13th hole at Arthur Hills' Westhaven, in the 'emerging town' of Franklin, just south of Nashville. Winner will get two site visits, during construction and at the opening. Construction begins this summer.
    Hills said" I would encourage contestants to be bold and innovative, even whimsical. However, I do recommend that the designers gain some familiarity with our design style"
The exisitng topography should be used as carefullt sa possible to incorporate the hole's strategy and beauty.
  The article includes a finished draring of the routing, a picture of the land where the hole will be built. The land allows a relatively straight hole with the initial shots traversing a side slope. The approach will be about 140 yds with a 20 foot rise.

[Adam_F_Collins]

U.S. residents. Great.

[Ryan Farrow]

Where is Chuck?

[Pete_Pittock]

Adam,
Probably the cost of providing two site visits, or other legal restrictions.

[Mike_Young]

Westhaven should be a very nice site.....I have about 3 routings we did  there....some rock but should be a great project.....I know Gil Hanse had een awarded the project at one time....did not know it had changed....BTW the owner is not a golfer......don't know if they have a "golf guy" yet or not.

[Pete_Pittock]

Can anyone define "whimsical" in regards to GCA? Or point to examples?

[John Moore II]

I would say that whimsical would mean odd or off the wall, but how can you really do this and have it fit with the rest of the course?

[Tim Bert]

I wonder if those of us living in Franklin would be allowed to walk the property to get a better feel for the 13th we want to design.

I've driven by the site on several occasions.  I just hope that the houses are going to be far enough away from the course that it is not bordered with claustrophobic OB markers.

Whoever wins, look me up when you are in town to claim the victory!

Good luck to all.

 

[Tim Bert]

Looks like we are all out.  I just read the rules...

1. Entries must be received by March 1, 2008.
2. Each contestant is limited to one entry.
3. The contest is open to U.S. residents age 18 and older.
4. Contestants may not have worked as a golf course architect or for a golf course architecture firm at any time.
5. Contestants must fill out all the information on the entry form to be eligible.
6. Entries will be judged by Arthur Hills and Chris Wilczynski.
7. The winning design will be featured in the July/August 2008 issue of LINKS and will be built as the 13th hole at Westhaven Golf Club in Franklin, Tenn.
8. The winner will receive two visits to the course, the first during construction and the second for the course opening.
9. Arthur Hills reserves the right to alter the winning design as needed.
10. Entries will not be returned and will remain the property of LINKS Magazine.
11. Employees of LINKS Magazine, Arthur Hills/Steve Forrest and Associates, Southern Land Company, their immediate families, affiliates, subsidiaries, vendors and agencies are not eligible.
12. Participants of GolfClubAtlas.com are ineligible due to continued criticism of Longaberger Golf Club.

[Mark Bourgeois]

I can't believe I actually read 1 through 11...

[Tim Bert]

OK, my rules post was just a joke, but here's a serious question...

What does an established GCA stand to gain from opening up a hole for design by Joe Public?  I could see someone with fewer projects under their belt using this technique to gain some public name recognition.  Hills doesn't need it.  I think of GCA's as artists.  I can't see an established writer running a "write a chapter in my next bestseller" gimmick and I can't see myself being thrilled if I commission an artist to paint something for me and he/she offers up a portion of it to be painted by a contest winner.

Obviously, the owner/developer has to be giving this the green light as well.  Is anyone here able to explain the benefits (to the GCA, developer, or owner) of such a contest?

This is in no way intended to be an Art Hills attack.  Please note, I've only played one of his courses (Newport National) and I loved it.  In addition, I would be honored for my submission to be selected as the winner of this contest.  I'm just scratching my head trying to figure out why it works for those initiating it.

[Jay Cox]

Is anyone here able to explain the benefits (to the GCA, developer, or owner) of such a contest?

Benefit to the developer:  instant publicity.  You get a magazine article or two about the contest.  You get every entrant reading something about the course.  You get discussions like this mentioning that there is a new Art Hills course coming near Nashville.

Benefit to the architect:  As long as you get a decent number of entries, and you're the one who gets to pick among them, you probably can build a hole more or less like the hole you would have built without the contest, but in addition you get some new perspectives and maybe one of them strikes you as a better idea than what you'd thought of in the first place.

Unless you're aiming very high on a new project, it seems like the benefits more than make up for any harm done to the architect's vision.

[Mike Nuzzo]

I agree with Jay....

And the routing looked pretty good.
Some interesting looking holes.
Only one cart path crossing the middle of a fairway too...  

[Kirk Gill]

I would say that whimsical would mean odd or off the wall, but how can you really do this and have it fit with the rest of the course?

Take a look at the following hole on the existing course map. That 14th seems fairly whimsical, compared to a lot of other holes on the course. Multiple central hazards, lots of width, shared fairway with the 17 hole.........seems like a fair bit o' whimsy already.

[Norbert P]

 I don't see anything wrong with the contest (except Tim B's rule #12, of course).  I remember when Geoff Shackleford had a contest in his book, "Grounds For Golf". Unfortunately, if I recall correctly, there wasn't much feedback. Probably because it was in book form and not a mass market publication and didn't have a PRIZES of going to Opryland, Dollywood, etc.  
  (BTW Geoff, I did a plan but I never sent it in.)

 Anyway, I welcome these exercises in involvement with architecture for regular (and irregular) golfers. Who knows, it just may broaden the fanbase of golf course design appreciation.  

             

[Mike Hendren]

"My" design is a mirror image of:



Winner, winner, chicken dinner.

Mike

BTW, for a nominal fee I will take more photographs of the site which is about 20 minutes from my double-wide.

[Norbert P]

Mike, that is exactly the hole that popped into my head when I opened my magazine to the contest sketch.

[Garland Bayley]

Bogey,

You had exactly the same idea as I and perhaps many others.
 

[Matthew Hunt]

I can't enter on two counts but there is one famous hole which would be perfect for this and i'm surprissed no-one has suggested it. Let see who will get it first.

[Garland Bayley]

Or perhaps #10 (upper right) in the routing below.

[Garland Bayley]

I can't enter on two counts but there is one famous hole which would be perfect for this and i'm surprissed no-one has suggested it. Let see who will get it first.

Obviously the famous hole you are referring to is my #10 in the routing exercise seen late last year on this very website.  

[George Pazin]

U.S. residents. Great.

You needn't worry, my Canadian friend. There is a time honored tradition within golf course architecture of having one person design and while another receives credit for it. You need only find a willing partner. I'd do it, but I will likely enter myself.

 

Nice to see you posting again.

[Peter Zarlengo]

Matthew-
If the famous hole you are referring to is...



then it was my first thought as well.

[Kyle Harris]

Ask Ryan Farrow, I through up a Principal's Nose idea yesterday... hehe

[Ryan Farrow]

Yes Chuck, you did think that up, but it would not have topped my idea, unfortunately I can't apply.


Michael and Mr.Slaggg  you have got to be kidding me! Number 2 at Talking Stick North! Did you not see the elevation change and contours in the diagram. Damn, I'll have whatever your having, must be some good stuff.