My Approach to Golf Course Design
My Approach to Golf Course Design
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17th hole, Golf Club Hamburg Oberalster
Make it Beautiful
Make it Beautiful
Like in photography, the difference between good and great golf course design lies in perspective. Balance, harmony, and framing are all vital elements, but ensuring excellent visibility of all hazards is paramount.
This not only creates an engaging and fair playing experience, but it also highlights the playing surfaces and enhances the natural beauty of the landscape.
8th Hole, Hardenberg Golf Resort
8th Hole, Hardenberg Golf Resort
Find something Memorable
When you think of a golf course, or your favorite holes, what do you remember most? Was it the strategy of the challenge, or a striking landmark that made the moment special? Every piece of land holds a unique story. My goal is always to discover those distinct natural elements and seamlessly weave them into the flow of the round—and to create something special if they do not already exist.
When you think of a golf course, or your favorite holes, what do you remember most? Was it the strategy of the challenge, or a striking landmark that made the moment special? Every piece of land holds a unique story. My goal is always to discover those distinct natural elements and seamlessly weave them into the flow of the round—and to create something special if they do not already exist.
By framing a distant church spire from the tee, incorporating an old stone wall, or opening up a panoramic vista, we anchor a course to its surroundings and give a hole its distinct identity and sense of place. Ultimately, great golf design is about more than just routing; it is creating memories that stay with golfers long after they leave the final green.
By framing a distant church spire from the tee, incorporating an old stone wall, or opening up a panoramic vista, we anchor a course to its surroundings and give a hole its distinct identity and sense of place. Ultimately, great golf design is about more than just routing; it is creating memories that stay with golfers long after they leave the final green.
Keep it Enjoyable
Keep it Enjoyable
Designing for the Everyday Golfer: Fair and Strategic
Designing for the Everyday Golfer: Fair and Strategic
For most of us, golf is a wonderful but difficult sport. Data shows that nearly 95% of golfers have a handicap of 11.5 or higher, with 64% playing above a 26 handicap. While everyone enjoys the thrill of a carry over water or a deep bunker, I believe this penal style should be the exception, not the rule. My mentor Robert Trent Jones Sr. believed that "every hole should be a challenging par, but a comfortable bogey," and I entirely agree.
For most of us, golf is a wonderful but difficult sport. Data shows that nearly 95% of golfers have a handicap of 11.5 or higher, with 64% playing above a 26 handicap. While everyone enjoys the thrill of a carry over water or a deep bunker, I believe this penal style should be the exception, not the rule. My mentor Robert Trent Jones Sr. believed that "every hole should be a challenging par, but a comfortable bogey," and I entirely agree.
To achieve this, hazards should be limited in number, and optional routes to the green must nearly always be available. A missed shot should challenge a golfer's recovery skills, not result in a lost ball or a ruined scorecard. Average golfers spend their precious free time on the course; by balancing strategic challenge with genuine fairness, we ensure players return to the clubhouse in a great mood.
To achieve this, hazards should be limited in number, and optional routes to the green must nearly always be available. A missed shot should challenge a golfer's recovery skills, not result in a lost ball or a ruined scorecard. Average golfers spend their precious free time on the course; by balancing strategic challenge with genuine fairness, we ensure players return to the clubhouse in a great mood.
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