[goldj]

If you were developing a golf course, what instructions, if any, would you give your architect?  Would your choice of architects be dependent on his or her willingness to accept iinstructions?

[Adam Clayman]

Jim,
 There's as many answers to your first question as there are stars in the heavens.
 So much would depend on what my goal was for building the golf course. I'm of the opinion that someone should only develop a GC because they love the sport. So, I would only hire a guy who shared my vision and passion for the sport. He'd receive few in any instructions. Something along the lines of "Make me a medium that's great fun to play in most, if not all, conditions".  Their employment would most certainly depend on how they reacted to those instructions.

[John Moore II]

My only instructions would be for something that is playable on a daily basis (read somewhat easy) but can be made very hard when necessary, if necessary. That would be about it. Just a course that can be fun to play for the average golfer, challenging for the good player, and can be made to punish the great player if needed.

[paul cowley]

If you were developing a golf course, what instructions, if any, would you give your architect?  Would your choice of architects be dependent on his or her willingness to accept instructions?

Goldji......I'm yours to direct and am willing to accept your instructions.


 

[Mike Bowline]

I am always interested in the role the owner plays when it comes time for the actual design to begin. Of course budget is most always an issue with the owner, but many times I have read about architects who get the owner's opinion on design details that are not related to budget. Or maybe I should say the "owner gives his opinion on design details". I guess it is his money, but the architect will also put his name on the final product.

I have yet to be a part of the architect/owner dynamics, so everything I state is heresay.

[Jon Wiggett]

I think that the wise developer/owner would take the time to talk to several GCAs who's style in the past is appealing to them. Once the suitable candidate is selected, then let him do his thing within the constaints of the budget.

[Jason Connor]

Step 1: Hire a guy whose vision I tend to share.

Step 2:   I'd just let him know what I wanted:

a) a walking course
b) a course I can play every day and never tire of (to me that can require great greens with plenty of contour)
c) since I'm paying for upkeep, I want a course that is relatively inexpensive to maintain

Step 3:  Then I'd have him ask me whatever questions he wanted.

Step 4: Then I'd get out of his way, tell him he has total autonomy and I don't worry about conformity (I don't need a 36-36, 4,10,4 course if the land doesn't dictate it) .  Call me when I can come see it.

[Tom_Doak]

There is only one good way to do this.  The developer should sit down and describe his goals with however many architects it takes, until he finds a designer who is on the same page.

But once he's hired the architect, the developer should let the architect do his thing, and limit any input to questions about why things are designed as they are.

It's essential for this meeting of the minds to happen before there is a contract in place, which makes it difficult for the architect to disagree with his client and keep the process professional.

There's nothing wrong with the client saying at that early point that there are certain types of holes he wants to include, or even particular holes he's found himself, or dictating how he wants to be involved more deeply throughout the project.  If that's the case, the architect knows up front what to expect, and can decline the job if he feels that the client may be more interested in realizing his own ideas than with getting the architect's best product. 

If it's a good job, many architects would jump at it even with such warnings on the table -- but some of us wouldn't unless it's a client who we think will be understanding of our ideas.

[Melvyn Morrow]

Instructions to Golf Course Architects

First I would need to know where in the world we are taking about?
Second is the intention to have ultimately a Championship/Tour course,
a general course aimed at Mr & Mrs Average or a course in a development.?

Would I have very deep pockets and afford everything, or on a limited budget of what precisely?

Am I obliged to accept any restraints regards use of natural resources (i.e. water) or planning permission constraints?

A few more questions but that’s not what you are seeking, so if I had a Links site I would want a my Architect to provide me with a challenging course that would be compatible with the landscape, no water or tree hazards, with a combination of undulating and free running wide fairways plus a number of doglegs with a verity of tricky and deep bunkers (exit via sides or rear, not impossible but hard front exit), large Greens some multi tires and well protected all round. If the land had rock outcrops or boulders, reuse them on fairways and rough areas around the greens. I would seek a grass finished cart track for those occasions that it might be needed, otherwise a full walking course. I would be open to suggestions, but in the end I want what I have asked and paying for.

If I had deep pockets the course would be for my own private development  for friends and family, perhaps even invite a few of you guys. I have the exact site I am looking for just south of Cruden Bay approx. 6-8 miles, although it may have to be a 9 hole course, it’s probably the site of one of Old Tom’s lost and closed courses. Dreams, don’t you just love them.

Perhaps the question should be - Which Architect would be most willing to take on a commission like this? 

[W.H. Cosgrove]

You wouldn't ask the architect to create a top 100, US Open, future tour site walking only playable and fun for all?

How many developrs want it all and how do you handle the discussion when you know the site won't handle the optimistic expectations?

[Adam Clayman]

I've actually met a person who, while a golfer, fell into a certain special circumstance where he could develop a golf course in an untapped market. He knew nothing about it. He'd interviewed many gca's and still I sensed he had little or no idea of what he wanted gcawise.

Is that a dream or a nightmare client?

[goldj]

Adam,


I would submit to you that this client is most likely going to be a nightmare as the chances that he is going to be unhappy are substantially higher than with a client with whom the objectives have been more clearly defined at the onset of the project. And changes mean money and time and lots of mutual frustration.

I appreciate the thoughtfulness of all those who have responded to my initial post..  Many of you have touched on some of these points already but it seems to me that "instructions" would include whether this is to be a walkable course, how hard it is supposed to be, how much "glitz" the developer is looking for, whether there is a need to have a waterfall, whether it should be it be thought of as the second/third/fourth coming of ANGC, something that looks like it has always been there, and so on. 

If a course requires the golfer to walk 15 miles in order to play it on foot, can it ever be considerd a great course?

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