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UNIVERSITY GOLF DESIGN
College courses
take architects
back to
school
Many academic institutions across America have their
own golf courses, where university teams practice and
play matches, and alumni and the golfing public can
enjoy a round. Richard Humphreys finds out what is
required for success in collegiate golf course design.
12 | By Design
Tripp Davis, ASGCA, renovated the Jimmie Austin course
“to produce championship golf” for the University of Oklahoma
Photo: Branden Hart
T
he ‘Golden Age’ of golf course students, and as an attractive amenity a William Flynn redesign in 1927.
design in the early decades for staff and alumni. College golf courses soon began to
of the twentieth century saw Springdale Golf Club in Princeton, emerge across the country. In 1921,
the creation of many of America’s New Jersey, may lay claim to being Bob Rutherford and R.D. Pryde,
finest courses. It also saw the birth America’s first university course. professors at Penn State, laid out nine
of university golf courses, with Formed in 1895 by a group of holes on campus, with Willie Park, Jr.
leading institutions like Princeton, alumni, faculty and undergraduates, arriving the following year to extend
Yale and Stanford investing in their nine holes opened in 1902 and their work to a full eighteen. The
own facilities for their golf teams and another nine followed in 1915, before renowned nine-hole Culver Academies
13
UNIVERSITY GOLF DESIGN
Photo: Love Golf Design
Scot Sherman, ASGCA, is currently working on a renovation of the Birdwood course at
Boar’s Head Resort, home of the University of Virginia golf teams
layout in Indiana was created by the University of Georgia, Colgate difficult to understand and meet
William Langford and Theodore University and Duke University, the everyone’s needs.
Moreau in 1924. The Course at Yale in latter renovated by his son, ASGCA So, what makes a great college
New Haven, Connecticut, a celebrated Past President Rees Jones, himself a golf design? What do academic
C.B. Macdonald creation with many of former NCAA golfer at Yale. institutions want from their golf
his famed template holes, opened in
1926. Wayne Stiles’ Taconic Golf Club
in Williamstown, Massachusetts, was We are trying hard to make golfers
originally built for Williams College
students in 1928. think. After all, isn’t that the point of the
By the early 1930s—with George
Thomas and Billy Bell completing college experience?
their design at Stanford University
in California and the opening of Many more of America’s academic courses and what are the primary
the University of Michigan’s course institutions have chosen to build challenges that golf course architects
in Ann Arbor, a collaboration courses on their campus, helping to face when designing a college course?
between Perry Maxwell and Alister attract students and generate revenue.
Mackenzie—golf was firmly on the The foundations for university A stern test
college agenda. design work can often be very sound. One of the most frequently cited
Later, Robert Trent Jones, ASGCA, “Universities have lots of open land requirements for university golf
helped shape college golf, too. Jones available to them, usually a fair courses is for them to be a stern
will always be closely associated amount of money to invest and see test, to challenge and improve every
with Cornell, where as a student he a golf course as an attractive amenity aspect of a college golfer’s skills.
designed a study program for his for alumni and students,” says ASGCA Some of the most successful NCAA
chosen profession as a golf course Past President Michael Hurdzan. golf teams have notoriously difficult
designer. He returned in the 1940s But the bureaucratic nature of such home courses—the 2018 NCAA golf
and 50s to create Cornell’s golf institutions and often large number champions Oklahoma State play at
course, but also designed courses for of decision-makers can make it Karsten Creek in Stillwater, designed
14 | By Design
Photo: University Club of Kentucky
CASE STUDY
Indiana University
Photo: Steve Smyers Golf Course Architects
The brief for Drew Rogers, ASGCA, at The University Club of
Kentucky was to provide “stronger strategic presence and length” Construction of Indiana University’s new golf course,
designed by ASGCA Past President Steve Smyers, is
by Tom Fazio, ASGCA, and the 2012 champions University complete and growing in ahead of a spring 2020
of Texas, whose team included Jordan Spieth, play on a opening.
7,400-yard hill country course in Austin designed by Roy Smyers’ brief was to design a course that could host
Bechtol and Randy Russell, ASGCA. high-caliber championships, require golfers to execute
“When it comes to building a golf course played by a variety of shots, would preserve and enhance the
today’s college team members, their athletic and mental environment, and would be economically sustainable.
abilities cannot be ignored,” says Scot Sherman, ASGCA, “From a golf architect’s perspective, I was very
project architect for Love Golf Design. “Both men and fortunate,” says Smyers. “I was given almost total
women at college level are more capable than ever in all freedom to create whatever I thought best for the
areas of the game.” property and project.
Sherman is overseeing a comprehensive renovation “The course was routed to take advantage of the
of the Birdwood course at the Boar’s Head Resort near topography and diverse landscape settings. The
Charlottesville, which is home to the University of Virginia’s strategy and shotmaking of the course emanate from
golf teams and is expected to reopen in spring 2020. the movement of the land and the journey around the
“On the new golf course, we have certainly considered all property from landscape room to landscape room
players, but have paid closer attention to how the course provides variety in the settings of the golf holes.
might be set up for high level play when needed. We are “The bunkering throughout the course has varying
trying hard to make golfers think. After all, isn’t that the depths and shapes, while slopes within the bunkers
point of the college experience?” vary. All of this requires different skills and creativity in
ASGCA Past President Steve Smyers is working on a new shotmaking.
course at Indiana University (see box), which has already “There is tremendous variety built into the length of
been given a USGA course rating of 80. “It is, very much the course demanding use of all 14 clubs even for the
so, a strong test of golf,” says Smyers, who studied data of longest of hitters. The course is planned with multiple
how elite golfers plot their way around a course to inform landing areas on each hole so that the golf holes can
his design. “To further test the golfer’s ability to create and be set up with greatly varying length from one day to
identify the ideal shot for the occasion, several different the next. This will require not only high-level execution
situations were created around putting surfaces,” he says. but proper planning before each hole is played.”
Tripp Davis, ASGCA, approached work on the at the
15
UNIVERSITY GOLF DESIGN
Photo: Mike Gogel
Mike Gogel, ASGCA, recently completed The Jayhawk Club (above), where University of Kansas
golf teams are based. The course at Ole Miss Golf Club (right), which is home to the
University of Mississippi golf teams, was renovated by Nathan Crace, ASGCA
Jimmie Austin Golf Club at the course, short course and practice golf course (see box). The course
University of Oklahoma with a areas. “A university the size of UVA will reopen soon with extensive
tournament mindset. “Our approach attracts many people throughout new practice facilities. “For the golf
was like when we are asked to the year who vacation, study, teams and its supporters, we have
produce championship golf, rather explore, collaborate and compete,” created a 12-hole par-three course
than being focused on playability for says Sherman. “Therefore, those that is designed so that it can be
the average to higher handicap player. involved in the golf planning process played in a multiple of ways,” says
Ultimately, the objective became, and recognized it was valuable to provide Chris Cochran, ASGCA, of Nicklaus
still is, to do whatever is necessary golf venues for all.” Design. “Not only is it fun to play,
to make OU the best university golf A year after he renovated their but it has so much variety that it will
facility in the country.” Jimmie Austin Golf Club, Davis be fantastic short game practice for
Drew Rogers, ASGCA, oversaw a returned to the University of everyone, including golf summer
renovation of the Big Blue course Oklahoma to create the four-hole camp for juniors.”
at the University Club of Kentucky,
The everday golfer had to be able
home to both the men’s and women’s
golf teams. And while he says that his
approach was not all that different
from any other renovation endeavors, to maneuver around the course and have an
part of the brief was to “enhance the
design to have a stronger strategic enjoyable time doing so
presence and length to challenge
collegiate players.” ‘Ransom’ course. Davis says that one Mike Gogel, ASGCA, has just
of the objectives for his work was to completed a renovation which has
Best practice create the most well-rounded practice become The Jayhawk Club, used
In addition to a challenging golf facilities for the golf teams. “The golf by the University of Kansas golf
course, universities are increasingly teams have their own indoor building, teams. “A new team building was
recognising that outstanding practice range tee hitting north, short game constructed, which houses both
facilities are a way to give their teams area and four-hole practice course.” teams’ locker rooms, both coach’s
a competitive advantage. Another institution that has made offices, lounge rooms, indoor putting
At the University of Virginia, a considerable effort to improve its and chipping green, indoor trackman
Sherman and the Love Golf Design practice offerings is Florida State simulator, club repair and seven
team have made use of some unused University, where Nicklaus Design bays,” says Gogel. There is also a
land adjacent to the old layout has comprehensively redesigned and short game practice area with three
for the creation of a new putting renovated the Don Veller Seminole greens and fairways, greenside and
16 | By Design
Photo: Nathan Crace
fairway bunkers, and a 10,000 square
CASE STUDY
foot putting green.
The University of Kentucky returned
to Rogers to work with golf coaches Florida State University
and players to redesign practice
Photo: Courtesy of Florida State University
facilities. “That encounter led us to
look for ways to enhance and further
develop the practice area utilized
specifically by the golf teams,”
says Rogers. The plans include the
creation of more recovery options
around the pitching greens, more
diverse grass choices from which the
teams can prepare for, and the visual
enhancement of fairway targets.
Public play Florida State University’s Don Veller Seminole course will reopen in late
Most college golf courses must also 2019 following an $8 million renovation overseen by Nicklaus Design. The
be appealing to the general public. course is essentially brand new, with the former layout rerouted to generate
While his work at Indiana University land for the university, with only the eighteenth left from the original routing.
has focused on testing the high- “Our brief was to create a world-class golf facility that would attract
level collegiate player, Smyers also the best junior players in the world to attend FSU and a course capable
designed the course with playability of hosting any major tournament,” says Nicklaus Design’s senior design
for all golfers in mind. “The major associate Chris Cochran, ASGCA (pictured above right with the Nicklaus
contributors to the project comprised and FSU team). “The course is aimed at being fun to play for the alumni
many of the university’s alumni,” and students, and it has been designed to be easily maintainable while
says Smyers. “It was emphasized that reducing the overall footprint of the golf course by 40 acres in order to
they and their guests—the everyday create space for a future highway expansion and commercial development.
golfer—had to be able to maneuver “The golf course has over 50 feet of elevation change on it – which is a
around the course and have an lot in Florida. The property is lined with 100-year-old live oaks and giant,
enjoyable time doing so.” stately pine trees. We were able to keep over 99 percent of these.
Similarly, at the University of “The course is turning out great. There is over 3,000 yards difference
Oklahoma, Davis has made the between forward and back tees.”
course at Jimmie Austin Golf Club
17
more playable for golfers. “We did who studied at the University of
add a good bit of width to enhance Kentucky. “I’m proud to give back Design graduates
the strategic options and all but and to remain involved at a school
three greens allow for a running which has also given so much to Other ASGCA members to
approach,” says Davis. me. My returns to Lexington always successfully complete design
At Ole Miss Golf Club, the home feel welcoming and familiar and projects for universities include:
course for the University of Mississippi hopefully always will. It is also
teams, Nathan Crace, ASGCA, took especially pleasing to see the golf ASGCA Past President
a similar approach: “The task was teams do well, knowing that we’ve Jeffrey Blume redesigned the
to modernize the course to current had this interaction and that they Campus course at Texas A&M
standards and make the course more utilize facilities that we’ve very University, as well as designed
playable for a wider range of clientele,” purposely developed together.” the Goodman Family Aggie Golf
he says. “The course serves students, “Designing a course that carries the Complex practice facility.
but also an increasingly larger number Jayhawk name was very exciting for
Photo: Jeffrey D. Blume Ltd
of non-students including a growing me personally,” says Gogel. “We grew
number of retirees in the area.” up Jayhawks, even living in Lawrence
as young kids. Most of my immediate
Collaboration challenge and extended family graduated from
While every golf course project KU so to design a course and practice
requires architects to work in tandem facilities that will be used to help
with their clients, university projects build a college program and develop
can involve more stakeholders, potential future professional golfers Thomas E. Clark, ASGCA,
each bringing their own agenda and and top tier amateurs and know returned to his alma mater Penn
opinion to the table. I have a very small part in that... I State University in 1992 for a
“What can be different versus a am not certain I’ll ever have a more project that saw 14 holes added
course with a single owner or a personal attachment to a project.” for their 36-hole golf complex.
member renovation committee is “I have loved working at my alma He later improved practice
meetings where a dozen decision- mater, and I am actually enjoying facilities for the golf teams.
makers are sitting around a conference it more and more,” says Davis,
As part of his work with Fazio
I’m not certain I’ll ever have a more Design, ASGCA Past President
Tom Marzolf has helped to
personal attachment to a project create golf facilities at the
Georgia Institute of Technology,
Oklahoma State University and
table and making sure everyone a graduate of the University of The University of North Carolina.
is on the same page and is being Oklahoma, member of the 1989
heard,” says Crace. “That can be time- National Championship golf team Kevin Ramsey, ASGCA, of
consuming, but it’s worth the effort and NCAA-All American selection. Golfplan designed the John
when you see the finished product.” “I was a little hesitant at first to be as and Diane Watson Short Game
“As it comes to the budget on this strong-willed as I might be normally, Training Center at El Macero
project we have worked closely with when necessary. While we are still Country Club, which is used by
many representatives of the university, doing things to make it better, I am at the golf teams at UC Davis.
the general contractor we technically a point I can enjoy it now.”
Photo: Golfplan
work for, and the golf course And for some architects, the tables
contractor, which is more people than have been turned. “I did take a lot
what we typically work with,” says of ribbing from friends because I
Cochran, of his experiences at FSU. graduated from Mississippi State,”
“But the relationship with everyone says Crace, of his work at in-state
on this project has been great.” rival Ole Miss (he has done work at
MSU’s course too). “My friends from
Alma mater honor Mississippi State would kid me about Andy Staples, ASGCA, has
For some ASGCA members, one of the working for ‘the other school’ and recently finished working with
most gratifying aspects of university my friends who were Ole Miss fans Marquette University and The
golf design has been the opportunity would kid me about ‘finally seeing University Club of Milwaukee on
to return to their alma mater. the light’ and helping them recruit an innovative short game range
“It is an honor to have one’s alma for the golf teams with a new course. and four-hole short course.
mater reach out,” says Rogers, It’s all good-natured fun!” •
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