GUEST COLUMN: Fun as Foundation

“The first purpose of any course is to give pleasure.” – Bobby Jones

With all the recent improvements to golf equipment, mere golfing mortals still suffer from shanks, hooks, slices, chili-dips, 3 – whacks, and the dreaded ‘whiff’.  Average golfers and average golf has not changed much in the past 4 decades. But, good golfers are getting better.  For the superior and longer player, bunkers that were once in play are no longer; water that once generated fear, does not; length, that once encouraged a long iron, now offers a wedge; greens with slick, terrifying contours create little or no anxiety.

Because golfing abilities are so divergent, a worthy objective for golf course architecture is not necessarily “risk and reward”, but “challenge and playability”. If golfers have fun, they will return to play again and again. Golf doesn’t need to be tougher, more challenging, or more difficult: golf needs to be more engaging, more strategic and more enjoyable.

Great golf courses are ‘great’ because of variety, setting, playability and challenge for everyone.   If golf is to thrive, or even survive, then the industry must make sure that golfers enjoy the experience. Golfers are finding bargains at courses that provide value…and fun.

Golf is about golfers
It is not unusual for golf course architects to hear clients insist on difficulty; “make it hard”…“no pushover holes”…”the tougher the better”. This is mystifying, because golf is a tough game anyway.  Tougher, more demanding courses are seemingly more attractive and easier to market. The signature-hole photograph illustrating steep grades, heavy shadows and water everywhere is compelling to the nomadic, average golfer.   The impulse is to try to ensure marketing success with tougher more demanding facilities.

However, these same facilities need more daily play by average golfers and satisfied members for ultimate survival.  Specifically, the nomadic golfer, who is always looking to try a new course, will find these tougher courses overbearing and too much to handle on a regular basis.  Golf courses survive on the daily play of average golfers and satisfied members.  Repeat business from these golfers is key to success.  A profitable golf course provides for satisfied golfers, and the vast majority of golfers are average.

Golf courses based purely on challenge are rarely great.  On the other hand, great golf courses always offer a compelling combination of difficulty and challenge with distinction, fun and uniqueness. Therefore, difficulty shouldn’t be confused with greatness.  Nor should it be confused with economic stability. Simply, it is very easy to make golf courses tough.

The goal of golf course design is to offer risks, rewards, and challenges so that golfers enjoy some level of success regardless of skill and nerve.   To effectively provide a great golf experience, design must provide for a fun and enjoyable golf experience for all golfers.

Fun
With a combined 40 years of golf course design experience, this game and our industry has revealed to us some common truths about this game.  First and foremost: golf is about golfers.  Golfers want to have fun. We are not afraid to use the term “fun”, and in fact we embrace fun as the foundation of our design principles.  We have resisted using length and difficulty as design essentials as they restrict and limit the enjoyment of the sport for the majority of the golfing population.  There are many ways in which to integrate “fun” into golf course architecture:

1. Width
“Narrow fairways bordered by long grass make bad golfers.  They do so by destroying the harmony and continuity of the game and in causing a stilted and cramped style, destroying all freedom of play” – Alister Mackenzie

Width is key to establishing a fun and strategic golfing experience.  While length is the dimension most talked about, width offers alternatives and play options that provide for any ability of golfer.  Without adequate width golf becomes a penal, over-bearing experience devoid of any options or flexibility for the various types of players.  Providing width, golf holes can be made interesting for all players as various options or routes of play can be introduced.  Players can navigate a golf hole based on their specific skill set.  Planning and execution become the responsibility of the player, which makes the golf experience more liberating and enjoyable.

2. Variety
“The course which demands the greatest number of placements from the tee, and the most diversity of shots, both from the tee and to the green, is the best test.” – George C. Thomas, Jr.

Variety is the spice of life…and of the golfing experience.  Golf holes should have a unique expression, and provide a unique challenge.  Some holes should play long; most holes should offer options, and many holes should be filled with risks and rewards.   Certainly, the golf course should expose the landscape in a way that is specific to that site.  When designing or renovating a golf course there should be an emphasis on creating distinct experiences and challenges for each golf hole.

3. Approaches and Greens
“The character of the putting greens and their approaches mark the quality of a course to a far greater extent than anything else” – A.W. Tillinghast
 
The greens and their approaches and surrounds must be considered in tandem. In creating a suitable challenge for all players, this is an area where the design approach is critical: the scratch player should be challenged to hit a more precise shot while the average golfer will likely miss most greens. The green surfaces should reward the well-played shot while still giving the lesser shot a chance at redemption.  A prime example is Augusta National Golf Course, where the large, contoured greens present problems for the better player, but the average golfer can still find, play and navigate the course. The style and size of the greens must work in harmony with the challenges and setting of the surrounds so that players who miss the green have options.

Smaller greens are more difficult targets.  A well-designed large green will allow for bolder, more interesting contours, providing necessary variety within the green setting. Larger greens are also easier to hit, which will increase the thrill for the bogey golfer as well as speeding up play, each increasing enjoyment for all players.  
 
4. Hazards
“Hazards – how well chosen the name!  They are risks; and penalties much come to those who take risks and fail.” –Robert Hunter

“The true hazard should draw the player towards it, should invite the golfer to come as near as he dare to the fire without burning his fingers.  The man who can afford to take risks is the man who should gain the advantage.” –John Low

Hazards, in the form of bunkers, water, trees, long grasses, etc, are the elements that add the challenge to the sport of golf.  Hazards should not be used to dictate play … rather present risks, rewards, challenges and options so that a golfer visualizes, plots and then executes a strategy. 

The above quote by John Low reveals the simplest formula for employing hazards to create a fun and strategic golf course.  By promoting play to a hazard, the bold player, who executes a proper shot is rewarded; the less capable, or more timid golfer, playing away from the hazard is presented with a more challenging subsequent shot.  Certainly, there are times to offer more penal positioning of hazards, but only in relation to variety, width and beauty.

5. Beauty - “The Face of Nature”
“Strive to retain as much of the natural ground formation as possible.  The most beautiful courses are the ones that hew the most closely to nature.” - Stanley Thompson

The “face of nature” is always the inspiration for the accomplished golf course architect. Our designs should be seen as blending seamlessly into the surroundings, without beginning or end.  Inspired golf course design, then should be felt as part of the landscape, not separate from it.  The distinction of a particular course will be found in its setting, its landscape and variety of golf holes derived from it.

Length: a factor worth reconsidering
Adding the cost of land, additional tees, earthwork & shaping, irrigation, drainage, and maintenance, it is estimated that a golf course that a golf course at 7,500 yds. will cost at least 50% more to build and operate than a course that is 6,500 yds.   Significant? Yes, when you consider that the target customer for a 7,500 yd. golf course is limited to golfers with handicaps lower than 10.  While these are golfers that have a higher rate of play, they make up less than 10% of the golfing population.

The tendency is to lengthen the course to accommodate the longer ball – the better equipment, and the better golfer.  In fact, length is not the answer; nor is high slope and course ratings.  These are short-term marketing tools.  Great golf is the result of principles outlined above.

For instance, a recent redesign at Phillips Park in Aurora, Illinois produced a mere 6,200 yards from the back tees.  However, this seemingly ‘easy’ golf course is an economic and recreational success.  Phillips Park targets the average golfer while providing enough challenge for the better golfer. Phillips Park provides ample room off the tee, but with large and accessible greens that are demanding for more accomplished golfers and their approach shots.  Average golfers can navigate around the course with relative ease while better golfers are required to hit superior shots to score well. 

The real beauty of Phillips Park, other than the park-like setting, is the pace of play.  An average round is 4 hours.  Rarely is 18 holes played in more than 4 ½ hours, and golfers often finish in less than 4 hours. With satisfactory practice facilities and a 3-hole First Tee Golf Course, Phillips Park can be considered a cradle to grave golf course offering fun and a prototype for golf anywhere.

Golf courses must provide for golfers to enjoy the game and be allowed to “play away”. Golf is a naturally challenging sport, and golfers by their nature embrace that challenge. But golf is also recreation.  It is important that enjoyment and fun are the foundation of any golfing experience.  Golf courses that provide these elements will be popular with the golfers and successful for owners and developers. 

Castle Ridge Golf Course, located just south of St. Louis, Missouri, was originally built in 1989 as a new 18 hole daily fee/destination golf course.  It was built on a nice piece of ground out in a rural setting.  It was a core golf course with no housing impacting the golfing experience. A peaceful country setting provided a nice backdrop for the golf course and the golf course was initially well-received. 

However, within twelve years, the golf course went from being the acclaimed, well-received new course in town to being closed to the public due to a lack of play.  The landowner took the course over from the management company that had built and operated it and operated the golf course as a limited-access private facility.  A subsequent renovation by Art Schaupeter focused on providing a more playable, fun and enjoyable golf experience for golfers of any ability.  By introducing more variety, more accessible and puttable green surfaces, more thoughtful yardage options, better landing areas and less penal hazards, this Castle Ridge is now enjoying success.

Glen Erin, in Janesville, Wisconsin is a great example of this “golfer-first” philosophy.  Opening in 2003, this new design by Greg Martin is a great value, distinct and fun, offering plenty of challenge, but playable for any ability. 

Using a Irish links theme, with no water holes, this diverse course has plenty of room to play with wide fairways and ample greens that traverse the softly rolling, sandy hills of the Rock River watershed.  At 6,700 yards, with sturdy 3-shot par 5’s and shorter holes with greens perched on crests, and pins that can be tucked to tempt the best of golfers.  Bunkers are deep, but plenty of room is afforded to access the greens with bail-away areas common. Better golfers are tempted to challenge hazards and play to distinct pin positions.  Less able golfers are allowed to navigate the course based upon ability or courage.

Public or Private
Great golf is neither public nor private.  Great golf is comprised of the above basic – and classic - principles of design.  Make no mistake, challenge is part of the game, but without a substantial “fun-factor” the golf course may suffer.  It is not hard to understand the reason for golf market contraction. Design has not provided for growth and there is now a widening gap between golf enthusiasts and the willing, but average golfer. Whether resort, private or public, golf must be more engaging for a wider segment of the golfing public.  Municipalities, Park Districts and some thoughtful golf course owners understand this ‘market gap’ and have produced or are reassessing their golf courses to meet this need.   

Homewood and Flossmoor in northeast Illinois have an abundance of private clubs in the area.  The Homewood-Flossmoor Park District wanted to provide a quality facility for the average and novice golfer with conditions and golf experiences that rival the surrounding clubs. Coyote Run Golf Course was to provide a great golf experience for any ability and a full redesign of an existing daily fee golf course was initiated. The result was a great mid-market facility that was wider, more accommodating to shorter players and not as demanding as the surrounding private venues, but is certainly challenging enough, and provides a golfing experience that encourages thoughtful play. It has been described as “just plain fun”.

At 6,700 yds and par 71, Coyote Run provides ample challenge, while offering significant stormwater storage for the surrounding neighborhoods. Holes were designed to look harder than they play by locating water features close to tees and only occasionally near greens to allow golfers the ability to ‘play away’.  Wide fairways and bail-out and greenside chipping areas provide ample room to play.  Greens are designed to provide challenge, but with crafty contours providing tricky shots only better players can negotiate to score low.

Likewise, The Highlands of Elgin is another prime example of a municipal golf course that offers challenge, beauty and playability.  This golf course is popular due to its strong emphasis on fun with unique golf holes in a dynamic environment.  Characterized by existing wetland and quarry features, wide and generous fairways provide plenty of options for all players.  Tees have been arranged to create a range of carries over or laterally along the hazards. 

Current projects for Mt. Prospect, Elk Grove Village and Wheaton Park Districts recognize the importance of renovations that accommodate for the average and novice golfer while providing satisfactory challenge for the better player.  With improvements to tees, fairway widths, hazard locations and practice areas, these facilities are making improvements that will promote and introduce this game to the next generation of golfer while offering a suitable challenge for better or average golfers.

It is no secret that Private club membership is down, and yet renovations at these facilities have often geared toward the low handicap golfer, attempting to keep course ratings high. Many of these clubs need renovation because of outdated infrastructure and declining play.  Renovations geared to improve play need to keep challenge and recreation primary. Like Castle Ridge, these clubs need to make decisions based upon future play for both the better golfer and the recreational player.  This means renovations that produce the high quality challenge, but allow for fun.

At Aurora Country Club, a renovation completed in late 2007 in anticipation for the Junior Solheim Cup in 2009, bunkers were relocated, fairways expanded and tees added to strengthen the golf course, but also provide better playability for the higher handicap golfer.  Aurora CC did not experience any change in rating, and was hailed as a great venue for the Solheim Cup – a match play contest.   A similar renovation at Prestwick Country Club has improved senior, junior and women play while generating more challenge for better golfers. Improvement strategies for a wider market appeal at each of these clubs strengthened the golf course character, while expanding golfer enjoyment.

Conversely, challenge does not have to suffer.  Invoking these same philosophies, Rich Harvest Links, a top 100 Golf Digest Golf Course [45], length and challenge is fundamental.  But its greatness is due to variety, distinction and fidelity to its environment.  This recent host to the Solheim Cup is great because it provides a unique challenge that is beautiful, exciting, demanding and fun.

Fun as a Foundation
Golf is a naturally challenging sport, and golfers by their nature embrace that challenge. As Bobby Jones stated, golf courses should give pleasure.  More should be done to make sure the golfer is playing more, enjoying the game and that the golfing population is growing. It is vital that enjoyment and fun are the foundation of any golfing experience. Golf courses that keep these philosophies foremost will thrive and remain successful.

There are hundreds, if not thousands of small, large and meaningful decisions during the design process, each contributing to the whole of the golf experience. Golfers should be tempted, even goaded to play a particular shot, but golfers should retain complete control over their fate. Play is not dictated: it is encouraged and the game is discovered while options are revealed.

“Fun” is the cornerstone of our golfer-first design philosophy. By ensuring that golf has adequate width, ample variety, carefully crafted greens and surrounds and a variety of risks, hazards and hazard-free shots, a playable and more strategic golf course emerges. By carefully arranging features with these simple philosophies the game becomes more engaging, more memorable and more fun.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Art Schaupeter, ASGCA, and Greg Martin, ASGCA, are golf course architects with Schaupeter/Martin Golf International in Batavia, Ill.