A Golf Course Design Travelblogue

Royal Melbourne, Australia - Joint Meeting EIGCA, ASGCA, and SAGCA

2009-12-03T10:12:00.000-08:00

Paraparaumu Beach Golf Club - Kapiti Coast, New Zealand

2009-11-18T01:27:00.003-08:00

After experiencing my first 4.1 earthquake at 7:30 in the morning (apparently NZ has over 500 per year), we were off to Paraparaumu Beach, our final stop on the golf course architecture tour in New Zealand.

Green surrounds with tightly cropped turf created challenging and interesting approach shots. A near miss could easily mean a lost stroke.

Kinloch - Lake Taupo, New Zealand

2009-11-18T01:27:00.001-08:00

Golf Course Designer: Jack Nicklaus

Despite the rain, Kinloch was my favorite course of the New Zealand tour. Each and every hole memorable, great strategic options, wonderful undulating greens, bunkers that fit into the landscape, and an overall character of rugged vastness.

At tee time, the rain was just starting to fall, by the fourth tee it was moderately heavy and by the eighth green it was a downpour! Luckily I had my rain-gear.

A subtle clubhouse.

By the twelfth hole, the sun was starting to come out and the rain-gear was being shed one piece at a time.

Kari Haug - USA, David Krause - President, European Institute of Golf Course Architects, Peter Klerkx - Holland

Wairaikei - Lake Taupo, New Zealand

2009-11-16T03:16:00.001-08:00

Cape Kidnappers - Hawkes Bay, New Zealand

2009-11-16T03:11:00.001-08:00

So winds are gusting to 60 mph? No problem, we still fly.

I think I can see for 100 miles from here.

Clockwise: Christoph Stadler -Germany, Peter Klerkx -Holland, Christine Kerr -NZ, Kari Haug -USA

The clubhouse was modest and classy, and reflective of the of the landscape as it was historically used as a sheep farm. Some old farm implements and equipment were used as furniture in the clubhouse.

Kingston Heath - Melbourne, Australia

2009-11-13T12:53:00.000-08:00

Tiger wins the Australian Masters!
No cameras allowed - bummer.

Royal Melbourne - Melbourne, Australia

2009-11-12T14:16:00.000-08:00

Women Golf Course Architects (ASGCA, EIGCA, and SAGCA) Christine Kerr, Vicki Martz, Connie Kang, Jan Beljan, Line Mortenson, Kari Haug

Metropolitan - Melbourne, Australia

2009-11-12T14:14:00.000-08:00

Great fun! Superb design. Exceptional maintenance and attention to detail.

Bunkers were like waves in the fairway.

Royal Sydney Golf Club, Australia

2009-11-09T12:20:00.000-08:00

Championship 6344 m

Men's 6054 m

Women's 5258 m

New South Wales Golf Club - Sydney, Australia - 2009

2009-11-08T11:43:00.001-08:00

Approach shot on the 5th hole par 5 after driving the flattish crest of the hill. The bunkers on the left came into play on the second. I would have preferred to have been about 10 yards further right on my tee shot for a better angle in, but that would have been flirting with a steep slope off to the right of the crest of the hill. The green is not visible from the tee, only the crest of the hill.

The spectacular hole 5 green complex.

6th Hole

6th Green

7th Hole (view from the side of the green, approach is from the right in the photo.) The photo doesn't do this green justice. Tight cropped surrounds (especially on the false front) and a bunker on the far side that is like a funnel for mis-hit approach shots and putts.

Ross Perrett - Australia, Kari Haug - USA, Rodney Wright - Singapore, Ken Moodie - Former President, European Institute of Golf Course Architects

Architect: Alister MacKenzie
Year: 1928
Style: Links

                       Par - Distance - Rating
Championship 74 - 6323 m - ACR74

Blue                72 - 5954 m - ACR72

Ladies             75 - 5542 m - ACR75

Kingsbarns - St. Andrews, Scotland - July 2007

2009-11-05T00:34:00.000-08:00

Kingsbarns is one of my favorite courses in Fife. Not only was the course challenging and fun to play, someone in my foursome got a hole-in-one on hole number two (it wasn't me.)

Above: The 18th - The fairway comes into the green from the left in the photo (photo taken from the clubhouse.) This is a challenging two-shotter, especially into the wind. I watched quite a few shots miss short in the burn or roll over into the bunker beyond.

The par 3 - 15th hole. Aim at the right edge of the back bunker and the ball will trickle to the right to a flagstick on the point (that's the safe route.) Go for the flagstick and you may end up on the rocks...it's windy beyond the treeline.

Transitions between holes were a work of art.

Parsinen and Phillips used challenge, charm, mystery and discovery to create some very memorable holes.

Another artistically thoughtful transition between holes - this one is between the 14th green and the 15th tee.

Gullane - East Lothian, Scotland - June 2007

2009-11-05T00:11:00.000-08:00

The golf courses of East Lothian were a short bus ride from Edinburgh: Gullane 1-2-3, Muirfield, Kilspindie, Longniddry, North Berwick (usually rode the train here), Renaissance, Craigielaw, Dunbar, and Musselburgh to name a few.

Lothianburn - Edinburgh, Scotland - July 2007

2009-11-04T23:58:00.000-08:00

From the tee! Overlooking the city of Edinburgh and the Firth of Forth from high in the Pentland Hills. This was the most difficult course to walk of all that we played. It sure was fun looking down the hill at a high-flying drive, but the walk up was like hiking in the mountains. And - NO we did not take a cart.

North Berwick Again - East Lothian, Scotland - June 2007

2009-11-04T23:53:00.000-08:00

North Berwick became one of my favorite "home courses" while living in Scotland. The staff was friendly and welcoming, and the train stop nearby.

DEJA VU

Same bunker, different day. Same shot.

North Berwick - East Lothian, Scotland - June 2007

2009-11-04T23:23:00.001-08:00

We began our round on June 18th, 2007 in unusually sunny conditions. By the 8th hole, a thick haar had rolled in off the Firth of Forth. It was one of the most memorable days on the golf course.

My first experience of "haar" (sea fog.)

The haar can be seen in the distance rolling in from the Firth of Forth.

Visibility is down to 130 yards at the most. The ball disappears into whiteness at about 75 yards off the tee. We hope there is nobody out at 200 yards.

The famed 13th in the background. Don't try to approach this one from right of the green - the wall will really mess up a good round. Every hole at North Berwick is distinctly memorable. I had to plan my shots carefully on this course to stay out of trouble.

Castle Course Under Construction - St. Andrews, Scotland - May 2007

2009-11-04T23:16:00.000-08:00

Course Tour with David McLay Kidd - Master Plan

Double click master plan to enlarge. Note the 9th and 18th double green out on the point.

Sunningdale - Ascot, England - May 2007

2009-11-04T23:06:00.000-08:00

Challenging carry on this par 3.

A monster par 5. The green is in the upper right hand corner of the photo.

Swinley Forest - Surrey, England - May 2007

2009-11-04T22:51:00.000-08:00

Swinley Forest has some of the best par 3s ever designed - Architect: Harry Colt - 1909

Hole 4

Hole 8 drops off severely to the right of the green.

Number 13 - 174 yard par 3.

Number 17 - par 3.

Walton Heath - Surrey, England - May 2007

2009-11-04T22:29:00.000-08:00

"Braid's Hat"....smack in the middle of the fairway.

Hankley Common - Surrey, England - May 2007

2009-11-04T22:16:00.000-08:00

Heathland restoration at Hankley.

Stair-stepped tee.

Horse trails weave between holes.

Note the horseback rider on the left.

Carnoustie walking tour to view preparation for 2007 British Open - Scotland - April 2007

2009-11-04T22:01:00.000-08:00

Longniddry - East Lothian, Scotland - April 2007

2009-11-04T21:48:00.000-08:00

An interesting bi-level green on this woodland and links course which was originally routed by Harry Colt. It was later revised by James Braid and again by Donald Steele.

Towering pines.

A long snaking bunker.

This was my view for my 30 yard pitch to the green on the 18th.

Musselburgh - The Old Course @ the Racetrack - April 2007

2009-11-04T21:27:00.000-08:00

This course was located in the middle of a horse racing track in the city of Musselburgh, Scotland.

Musselburgh Monktonhall - Scotland - April 2007

2009-11-04T21:21:00.000-08:00

Renaissance Under Construction - Scotland - January 2007

2009-11-04T12:03:00.000-08:00

Tom Doak, and crew

Tools of the trade - building a sod wall bunker

A craggy little tree - saved.

Overlooking coast from 12/13th? tee

Establishing marram grass

Kilspindie - East Coast Scotland - March 2007

2009-11-02T21:52:00.000-08:00

Craigmiller - Edinburgh, Scotland - March 2007

2009-11-02T21:38:00.000-08:00

Barberton - Edinburgh, Scotland - January 2007

2009-11-02T21:25:00.000-08:00

Gleneagles - Central Scotland - May 2007

2009-11-02T20:51:00.000-08:00

Royal Dornoch - Northern Scotland - April 2007

2009-11-02T20:15:00.000-08:00

Cruden Bay - Scotland - April 2007

2009-11-02T20:00:00.000-08:00

Cruden Bay - Scotland - April 2007

2009-11-02T19:39:00.000-08:00

The Old Course - St. Andrews, Scotland - March 21, 2007

2009-11-02T19:27:00.001-08:00

The Old Course - St. Andrews, Scotland - March 21, 2007

2009-11-02T19:24:00.000-08:00

The Old Course - St. Andrews, Scotland - March 21, 2007

2009-11-02T19:14:00.000-08:00

Turnhouse - ECA study project - R Lumsden greens project

2009-11-02T18:38:00.000-08:00

Swanston Farm - ECA study of construction techniques - 10/2006

2009-11-02T18:31:00.000-08:00

Kingsknowe - Edinburgh, Scotland - 10/2006

2009-11-02T18:16:00.001-08:00

Morton Hall - Edinburgh, Scotland - 9/2006

2009-11-02T18:05:00.000-08:00

Dunbar - Scotland - 9/2006

2009-11-02T17:22:00.000-08:00

Braid Hills - Edinburgh, Scotland - 9/2006

2009-11-02T17:19:00.000-08:00