Will the economic climate effect an architects typical style?

[David Stamm]

Will the downturn change the way some of the big name architects design their courses? Will there be an effort made by architects that have typically designed expensive courses to "get more lean and mean"? Is it crucial for their survival? Will the times force them to change their style if that style has always been big budget?

[David_Elvins]

Definitely.
For the very few courses that are buit in the next 10 years, sites won't be as good for starters. closer to population centres.

generally Less bunkers, narrower fairways, less on-site supervision meaning less intricate detailing. 

[paul cowley]

....yeah...as in life styles....

[Jeff_Brauer]

I agree with 2 of 3 for DE's comments and 1 of 1 for PC!

I am not sure that there will be huge reductions in on site time.  There shouldn't be. If a gca is expected to make a course interesting with fewer sand bunkers and less width, then the green contours and surrounds will need more detail.

Fazio has long predicted that courses will continue to get built faster to keep construction costs down.  That makes sense and if a gca can compress his visits by seeing more of construction at one time, all will be well.  There is a greater chance of mistakes, though.

[David Stamm]

Fazio has long predicted that courses will continue to get built faster to keep construction costs down.  That makes sense and if a gca can compress his visits by seeing more of construction at one time, all will be well.  There is a greater chance of mistakes, though.

It's ironic, Jeff, that you mention Fazio. He was the first one I was thinking of when I started this thread. He's been known to produce very expensive courses despite the construction times going down. I have heard through the grapevine that he does not have one project slated for 2009, but that could be wrong.

[paul cowley]

"I agree with 2 of 3 for DE's comments and 1 of 1 for PC!"

Wow....batting 1 oh oh oh....except I forgot what I said!