Golf course architect Randy Thompson (
www.americangolfcoursedesign.com) is treated – there is no better way to put it – like a rock and roll star in South America. No matter where you go with him, be it hotels, ferries, golf courses, vineyards, people come running up wanting to talk with him.
Based in Santiago, Chile, it is wonderful to see what he, an American by birth, has created for himself. From courses with the Andes as the back drop to ones along the ocean, the range in courses that Randy has been involved in is astonishing. Such varied opportunities must be every architect’s dream when they set out on their own and Randy has accomplished that objective.
A review of Kelly Blake Moran and Randy’s Four Seasons Carmelo is found here
http://www.golfclubatlas.com/carmelo1.html. Not only is it considered the best in Uruguay, it was voted in a magazine while Ben and I were there as the best in South America. My one regret is that we don’t have Randy’s best photos in this month’s Feature Interview. His laptop was stolen
as we waited in a long taxi cue in Buenos Aires and the photos he had shown us are gone forever. One day, we’ll get posted photos from his La Serena course with its six to fifteen feet sanddunes set along the sea. Once again, he successfully teamed with Kelly on that project and they made the most of the great opportunity by disturbing the land as little as possible and leaving well enough alone.
Anyway, it’s great to bounce from Japan and last month’s Feature Interview to this one re: golf in South America. The challenges in building great courses in different parts of the world are diverse but common themes emerge including the difficulty in finding good property, a good owner, and skilled labor.
Golf in South America is lucky to have Randy Thompson and his experienced eye and Randy is the first to tell you how lucky he is to live on that great continent – a win for all.
Cheers,