Think like a designer

The saying, “A camel is a horse designed by a committee” may not have originated from golf course renovations, but it often sounds applicable.

When retained for a master plan or renovation project, the architect endeavors to understand the problems of the course and the mindset of the green committee. However, committees can be more effective, and the process smoother when committees understand the golf course architect’s role and mindset, too.

Here are some tips on understanding your golf course architect’s mindset.
 

Design is about function, not just aesthetics

Aesthetics are the first thing golfers’ notice, so grasping that they are potentially the last things considered by architects is difficult.

As Steve Jobs said, “Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works.” Golf architecture is “arranging elements to best accomplish the particular purpose of making golfers’ enjoy their rounds.” “Following the land” and “creating strategy” are only tools in facilitating a better golf experience, not the end goal.

Architect Louis Sullivan coined the phrase, “Form follows function.” He later added, “But the building’s identity resides in the ornament.” Good golf courses are both functional and aesthetic. Good and bad design are usually apparent, but great design is transparent. Design is like offensive linemen – it’s rarely mentioned except for big mistakes like the QB being sacked.

Golfers can easily identify bad design – they just don’t like it. But, they can seldom pinpoint why a course “feels good.” It’s great design!
 

Good design is good business

“People ignore design that ignores people.”(Frank Chimero) If you considered avoiding an architect to “save money” then you don’t understand this, and you don’t even understand what you don’t understand!

Everything is designed, but few things are designed well. The only alternative to good design is bad design ... which will either bug you for 20 years, or be expensively rebuilt in 10. If your architect is fighting you, he is fighting for good design, and for your own benefit, even if he drives you bananas.
 

There are no “Master Builders”

Some committees expect the architect to “come down from the mount” with visionary proposals. Even the egotistical Frank Lloyd Wright said, “I never design a building before I’ve seen the site and met the people who will be using it.” Design is an ongoing collaborative effort between owner, users and architect.
 

The design process is similar to the scientific process...

Both analyze first, hypothesize solutions, test them, and then pick the best.

Design always starts with investigation and analysis before any design occurs and a mission statement. It follows with multiple preliminary concepts, each based on different premises regarding competing priorities (typically like adding length, harder holes, saving trees, easier maintenance) Only after comparison, combination and modification of these (and some spirited debate), do you arrive at your best and final plan.
 

...Except when it isn’t

Inspiration strikes architects at any moment, and ideas can come from unlikely places. Einstein said, “I never came upon any of my discoveries through the process of rational thinking.” While I obviously disagree somewhat with the above, I agree with his sentiment that free thinking must always be allowed, never discouraged – by the architect or the end users.

Even if inconvenient and non-sequential, is there ever a good reason not to make the permanent design better? Not to architects, often to the chagrin of committees, and later, contractors.
 

Structure matters

Design freedom actually requires a structure of “design rules” from the history, evolution and theory of golf design. Designers respect this framework, but retain some childlike wonder to remain open to ideas. The architect must know when to break rules. Never is boring, but too often is usually a disaster.
 

Design is a balancing act

The best design finds your best balance between budget/business/practicality/logic and art, as well as concept and engineering/detail. While there are few universal rights and wrongs in golf course design, there is a best solution for your situation – one that solves most of your most important issues, without unduly sacrificing lesser concerns.

Designing for everyone and everything equally is impossible, so someone will be unhappy to a degree. Sometimes in politics and design, everyone being midway between happy and angry might be a sign of a well-balanced solution!
 

The architect has many masters

Architects have multiple constituents not represented on the committee, and the designs we present to the committee for approval actually consider all obligations; contractually to the owner, legally to regulatory bodies, morally to golfers, financially to bookkeepers, practically to superintendents, ethically to neighbors, the community and the environment, and ever mindful of the eventual golf course critics.
 

Constraints are good

It always seems as if the land next door is better, but designers embrace constraints to form a unique design. Don’t lament over your constraints.
 

Simplicity pays

Turning to Einstein again, he once said, “We should make things as simple as they can be, but not simpler.”

All things being equal, the best design is the simplest one. Undue complication, requiring Rube Goldberg engineering to pull off, is usually a sign of poor concept. Golf course design is not as complicated as golfers think (and as some architects portray)

It’s hard to explain good design

Most golfers really don’t understand plans. If your architect has modern 3D graphic capabilities, by all means, pay more to use it for your own understanding. A picture truly is worth a thousand words in communicating design intent.

Modern technology allows your committee to visualize the design. However, it requires architects to go further in the design process earlier than they used to. It cost more, but most find it’s worth it to use technology.

Jeffrey D. Brauer is a veteran golf course architect responsible for more than 50 new courses and more than 100 renovations.  A member and past president of the American Society of Golf Course Architects, he is president of Jeffrey D. Brauer/GolfScapes in Arlington, Texas. Reach him at jeff@jeffreydbrauer.com.