Feature Interview No. 2 with Jeff Mingay is posted

[Ran Morrissett]

 http://golfclubatlas.com/feature-interview/jeff-mingay-no2/
 
I received the customary season's greeting card from Mingay Design.  Jeff's number was on the back of the card, so, what the heck, I called him.  Not too long into the conversation, it became evident how busy Jeff has been. In fact, he is currently working on seven (!) Vern Macan courses. I was duly impressed because that volume demonstrates success on several levels.

In this month's Feature Interview, Jeff describes some of these 'in-house' works. In his model, the middle man is eliminated, there’s no mark up on materials, and clubs get on-site, hands on treatment - what's not to like?  It requires the appropriate Green Keeper and crew but when present, in-house work has all sorts of appeal. Additionally, I would contend that there persists a deeper pride of workmanship and commitment to making sure things stay right when the same guys who built it, maintain it.

Jeff was my first GCA visitor when I moved to Southern Pines in 2000, so I have enjoyed a front row seat for his progress. He grew up playing Essex Golf & Country Club in Windsor, Canada. Though built on flat ground, it has some amazing Ross greens and you can probably imagine how such a design could get under a young man's skin as he wonders how a gem could be made of featureless land. In fact, Jeff’s curiosity and insight led him to pen the Essex centennial book - when he was 28 years old! Our first Interview with him in February 2003 largely centered around that book. His first in-the-dirt was at Blackhawk with Rod Whitman in the spring of 2001. Now, Jeff is on his own - and happily busy. Despite a dearth of new construction, Jeff has successfully carved out a niche in the profession he loves.

What’s next for Jeff - perhaps, an original design, hopefully in his gorgeous home country of Canada? For now, he feels quite fortunate to have the projects he does. Such gratefulness is very appealing - I think it ultimately helps create comfort for clubs to select and then work with him.

When GolfClubAtlas went live, I didn't know who Vern Macan was. Jeff's resuscitation of his designs and Michael Riste’s biography have enabled Macan to finally get his due just as Jeff is now getting his.

Hope you enjoy this month's Feature Interview!

[PCCraig]

A terrific interview, Ran.


I have had the pleasure of "working" with Jeff when I was on the Green Committee at Town & Country. What Jeff and Bill Larson have accomplished in roughly three years at T&C has been remarkable. While the course was certainly moving in the right direction, bringing Jeff in to complete a Master Plan greatly accelerated some much needed initiatives like tree removal, reclaiming mowing lines, and green expansions.


T&C's superintendent, Bill Larson, is one of the best in the business and a strength of his is his ability to tackle hands on projects. As Ran mentions in his interview Jeff's strength is also his ability to not only be an architect, but a shaper.


Last spring before the course opened, Bill & Jeff completed a renovation of the par-3, 18th green over a matter of three days, in house. They removed unsightly arborvitae behind the green, expanded the putting surface, reshaped the area between the green and the nearby 1st tee, added a small practice putting green connected to the back tee on the 1st, and reconfigured the middle tee on the opening hole. All of these massive improvements were done in house and on a *tiny* budget.


At this point Jeff has reworked about 6-7 of the greens at T&C with the same hands on approach. His work has had a huge positive impact on the quality of T&C's golf course and I can't wait to see what they do next there.


In addition to being one of the brightest architectural minds out there today, Jeff is a terrific person to work with and I would highly recommend him to any club looking to improve their classic golf course.

[Will E]

Jeff is a thoughtful, smart, and talented guy. I am hopeful that he'll get his shot at his own design, I have no question that it will be interesting and a place worthing spending a day on. I'll help with strategy off the tee

[Anthony Gholz]

Ran:


Thanks for this well deserved interview.



Kudos to Jeff for the Macon work and, hopefully after Briergate/Briarwood he'll get a chance at Hamilton!


Anthony

[mark chalfant]

Ran and Jeff,

Thanks so much for this interview about a Golden Age master !   I have only seen a few Macan designs.
I need to play some more, including Broadmoor.  A.V. Macan had exceptional routing skills and built many fabulous greens !


Fircrest in Tacoma is worth  a special trip  and  Jeff's work there is superb. I cant wait to  visit his artistry at Town  and
Country

[Jeff_Mingay]

Thanks for the kind words, everyone. Much appreciated.

Will hits it too good and too straight to be of any help to a golf architect 

As noted on another thread, the timing of this interview is interesting. Last week it was announced that A.V. Macan will be inducted into the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame later this year. It's been a privilege to be a part of shining more light on his pioneering talents and legacy.

Thanks for the summary of the T&C project, too, Pat. That's a fun one, mostly because Bill and his staff are so great to work with. That's one key reason the results of our work there have been excellent. We'll be doing more at T&C, starting back up this spring.

As you know, I've also learned that Minneapolis-St. Paul has a long list of great courses!

[Garland Bayley]

Thanks for the interview Ran.

Until now, all I have heard was that Fircrest was the most true to original Macan out there. It certainly appears that Jeff is doing great research for the work he does as he certainly appears to have disproved that. Great job Jeff!

On another note, Overlake, Fircrest, Broadmoor, and Inglewood would make a great Kings Putter event in April should you choose to organize it Jeff.

Buda organized by archies Ally and Robin at Carne and Enniscrone, with addtional rounds at Strandhill and Roses Point was the best event I have attended.

[Jeff_Mingay]

Thanks Garland.

That's a good idea, re a King's Putter event, too. I think we should wait a bit until we're finished with more work at those courses though. I'll keep it in mind!

[Ian Andrew]

There's an expression I've always liked in investing called core and explore. It essentially says find your foundation first and then expand your ideas and reach after that has been accomplished. I've enjoyed watching Jeff find his niche with Vernon and then expand his business and architecture to other areas and other designers. Building a business - rather than finding short-term work - is challenging in this over-saturated (too many architects/not enough work) market. Kudos to you Jeff.


We had a conversation a while ago about the fact there is almost no new work here where we live. One of the more interesting aspects of his journey is how far Jeff has had to go to establish that business. It's a sign of what young designers are facing.

[Jeff_Mingay]

Thanks Ian, you've long been a great supporter and friend ... like, for two decades, now! I've always appreciated your support and friendship.


Because of that, it's sometimes awkward these days when we're both up for the same job(s). But, Ian's one of the passionate, thoughtful, knowledgeable, talented "good guys" I never mind losing an opportunity to.

[Matthew Essig]

Just received a confirmation that I'm going to be a volunteer the final 2 days at the Pac 12 Women's Tournament at Broadmoor in Seattle. I'm looking forward to seeing what Jeff is doing to the place!


Based on the pictures of 18 before and after, I think I'm going to like them!


Before:
http://static1.1.sqspcdn.com/static/f/128687/1439875/1206414870113/broadmoor-003.jpg?token=vrCKlk5JFxKhXfKvt2a4U7Hh9IE%3D

After:
https://twitter.com/jeff_mingay/status/982694573842382848

[Doug Hodgson]

I was a member at Derrick in Edmonton as a junior early 1980s.  Was fascinated to hear about Mingay rebuild there.  I hope I'll have a chance to get a look. 
In those days I was lucky enough to play Royal Colwood, Victoria, Shaughnessy.  I was already a GCA geek and knew they were all designed by Macan.  I'm very pleased to see he's finally getting his due.  I Also hope I'll get a chance to head out to the west coast one of these days and check out some of these courses!

[Jeff_Mingay]

Thanks for posting the "before" and "after" of Broadmoor's 18th hole, Matthew. That view is looking back from the clubhouse. Broadmoor's very well-suited to host the women's Pac 12 tournament. Have fun.


And, Doug ... I hope you have a chance to get back to the Derrick soon, too. You won't recognize the place.