Last month’s Feature Interview centered on the new edition of the World Atlas of Golf and the yeomen like work put in by Mark Rowlinson and Dan Wexler to update this seminal book. I will forever contend that its original 1976 edition has influenced my generation (I’m 45) of golf course architects more so than any single book. Thus, it is little surprise to see golf course architect Ian Andrew’s response to question one in this month’s Feature Interview that points to the World Atlas of Golf as being a major influence on him as well.
From first playing the board game Par Golf to being given The World Atlas of Golf by his Dad to working for Doug Carrick to establishing Ian Andrew Golf Design in 2006, Ian’s design career has progressed smartly. Presently, he has several great projects on the go at hidden gems like Plymouth Country Club and Country Club of Scranton. As far as I’m concerned, Ian rivals Bruce Hepner for being as knowledgeable as anyone on Walter Travis’s work. Wait till you see two photographs of the greens at Country Club of Scranton and you’ll quickly appreciate that Travis was a designer apart. Unfortunately, his work is little understood and thus many of his features like his singular mounding have been lost across his northeast courses. Fortunately, Ian is methodically helping CCS bringing back such features. Given that it already starts with fifteen original Travis greens, CCS is well on its way to returning as one of the star courses in golf-rich Pennsylvania.
In addition, Ian now is the consulting architect on record at Highlands Links on Cape Breton island. This course is NOT
universally considered the best in Canada simply because it continually suffers from too many turf issues. Ian is going to help fix all that in part by hopefully opening back up the playing corridors and letting some sunlight in as well as addressing drainage issues. If you start contemplating the day that you might be walking down the tumbling second fairway and be staring at the crashing surf of the Atlantic to your right (presently now it is a thick strand of evergreens), you may conclude that the best course in Canada debate will soon be over (at least before Cabot Links arrives
).
Impressive for man who ventured out on his own just three years ago, Ian was selected on January 14th, 2009 to be a partner in Weir Design. That falls under the category of nice guy finishing first. Hopefully, like it has for Bob Harrison and Bill Coore, teaming up with a star golfer will get Ian some choice property upon which to work. Read what we can expect from their designs going forward and you too will conclude that the game will be all the better for it.
Here is an official
(don’t accept a cheap substitute!) GolfClubAtlas.com prediction: great things lie ahead for Ian. Apart from the success he already enjoys, I say that for two reasons. First, he had the guts to go out on his own. Many talented architects never quite reach that point but Ian has every reason to bet on himself. Second, in the Bill Coore and Baxter Spann mode, Ian is quick to pay compliments to many of his peers and their work. By such gracious actions, he again displays his own quiet confidence in his proven ability. Also, though, it sends a clear signal that this is a person of quality, the very sort of which any club would want to enter into a long range relationship.
Cheers,