Index
1.0 Introduction
1.1 Golf Architecture
1.2 Understanding the land
2.0 Elements of golf design
2.1 Bunkers
2.2 Slopes and mounds
2.3 Water hazards
2.4 Trees and vegetation
3.0 Golf Projects in harmony with Nature
3.1 Cypress Point, Monterrey California
3.1.1 Hole no. 13, green complex
3.1.2 Hole no. 15, 16, 17
3.2 Merion Golf Club, Ardmore, Pennsylvania
3.2.1 Hole no.11
3.2.2 Hole no.12
3.3 Pine Valley Golf Course, Pine Valley, New Jersey
3.3.1 Hole no. 3, Green Complex
3.3.2 Hole no.7 The Hell’ Half Acre
4.0 Architectural Projects
4.1 Tournament Player Club, Ponte Vedra, Florida
4.1.1 Hole No. 17
4.1.1 Hole No. 18
5.0 Conclusion
Golf Architecture and Nature
1.0 Introduction
In this report I am going to speak about the importance of nature in the design and in the construction of a golf course. I will analyze the main design elements, such as bunkers, vegetation, water features and the way they can be integrated with the surroundings. I will explain how the great architects of the past used the existing features of the sites to create projects in harmony with nature, and I will give some examples of architectural golf courses.
Nature can give many advantages to designers, not only because some pieces of land are particularly gifted by the modeling of it that Nature has done during thousands of years, but also because its shapes can be of inspiration for the architect’s work. Nature, in fact, can be usefully considered as the model and the context of design. Designing with nature as a model can serve as a strategy for reducing harmful impacts.
A design that allows man-controlled and natural processes to work together has better chances to be sustainable.Using nature as a model the architect would need to take into consideration the present natural elements and in choosing them he would not ignore their natural history and how they adapted to the site during the years.
1.1 Golf Architecture
Golf Architects, in creating courses around the world, have to work with Nature, a co-designer who has had previous experience on the land where the course is planned to then stay for a long time, Nature does not affect just the design, but also the construction and the maintenance of a golf course.
Every site has its own characteristics that the architect should understand and get familiar with before starting the project. With each piece of land comes a multitude of attributes that the architects need to consider. Some of them are positive and some negative for the golf course design: the shape of the land, the presence of water, rock and vegetation. Those are the natural conditions of the site and it is what makes every piece of land unique. Soil also needs careful attention as it allows different kind of grass and plant to grow and live.
Even climate conditions can influence golf course projects, the weather of an area can determine which kind of golf course fits a specific land. [1]
1.2 Understanding the character of the land
Understanding what nature has shaped and left in the site is very important to design and integrate the course in the property land where the golf course is going to be.
The first and one of the most important steps of the design process is the site visit. Visit gives the architect the first contact with what he is going to shape to then create a golf course.
He has the skills to “sensing a site” and looking for the nature’s messages, interpret them and develop golf features in harmony with those messages. The task of the Golf Architect is to underline the natural beauty and try to hide when possible the natural defects of every part of the land, but sometimes Nature is not so generous as we would wish.
One of the most important features of the land is its topography: flat, rolling, or mountainous land gives to the architect different opportunity and constrains and give the first sense of the alignment of holes on the site. The more convoluted the surface of the site is, the more interesting golf features may be provided naturally, but more time and intellect will be required to internalize its character.[2]
The understanding of the messages of the Nature is very important, because if the ground offers combination of ridges, swales or hazards and the architect follows the terrain in routing the course, then the course will take on its own character.[3]
The understanding of the land does not only apply the to the entire golf routing but also to each individual feature of golf holes, like tee, green, hazards.
The naturalness of Golf Courses seems to be something special to achieve in the modern golf architecture, where the massive use of bulldozers in changing dramatically the shape of the site is common use.
The courses that evoke certain emotions and those that maintain what was there before the construction are those where the architect was inspired by the terrain, where, in designing some kind of holes he accentuated what existed beforehand. We have some examples of how this concept has been followed in Cypress Point Golf Club in California designed by Alister MacKenzie, the Merion Golf Club in Pennsylvania, designed by Hugh Wilson and William Flynn and the Pine Valley Golf Course, New Jersey, designed by George Crump.
Sometimes, as already mentioned before sites, are not so naturally gifted like some others and it is necessary to create features to add an artistic touch to the Golf Course. Those new contours should try to be integrated with the land as if they had always been there. This kind of challenge is becoming every day more important in Golf Architecture, as on one hand the amount of great land for golf purposes is decreasing and on the other the necessity to make profits is pushing golf architects in designing courses in pieces of land that some years ago would have never been taken in consideration.
2.0 Elements of Golf Design
All golf courses have some elements in common that are designed to make the game interesting.
The main elements that golf architects use to add variety and spice to the game are: bunkers, water feature, trees and slopes. The strategic elements of the game should be blended within their natural surroundings providing for an experience far greater than the challenge of the course itself.
2.1 Bunkers
Bunkers are used to add penalty of a misplaced shot in almost all the golf holes around the world. Their ancestors were the eroded patches of sand, formed by animals and enlarged by the wind. Those have evolved in the modern bunkers. They can be of two main design categories: the grass faced bunkers(figure 2.1) and the sand faced bunker(figure2.2).[4]
Grass faced or sod-wall bunkers work well on open sites, such as the links, where their shadows give definition to the landscape, those kind of bunkers work well when the drainage of the soil is good.
Sand faced bunkers work also very well when there are dark backgrounds within the course adding a beautiful contrast that gives a natural look to the landscape. This kind of bunkers needs a lot of care during the design and the construction phases as the contours need to follow the lines that Nature has left on the surface.
When bunkers are near the green their shape should be integrated with the contours of the green itself, so that the whole complex becomes an integrated composition with the surrounding.
mercoledì 11 luglio 2007
2.2 Slopes and Mounds
Slopes and mounds are hazards that affect the roll of the ball and the stances of the player when the ball lies on them. Mounds and slopes occurred naturally on the first golf courses in Scotland and, as golf moved inland, mounds started to be made artificially. The size, the shape and the number of mounds if properly designed can add texture to the landscape.
Those elements need to be integrated with the surroundings to give a natural impression to the golfer that walks through the holes and the final result could be good or bad depending on how well the design reflects nature in its composition.
Slopes and mounds are hazards that affect the roll of the ball and the stances of the player when the ball lies on them. Mounds and slopes occurred naturally on the first golf courses in Scotland and, as golf moved inland, mounds started to be made artificially. The size, the shape and the number of mounds if properly designed can add texture to the landscape.
Those elements need to be integrated with the surroundings to give a natural impression to the golfer that walks through the holes and the final result could be good or bad depending on how well the design reflects nature in its composition.
2.3 Water Hazards
Water is not a natural feature in Golf Course Design as it could seem, in the Scotland’s links land water was never in play but for few holes where creeks crossed the course to flow to the sea
From the first decade of the 20th century with “The Golden Age of Golf Design” water started to be dramatically in play even though the architects of that time used it mainly in the way they found it. During this time holes were framed using streams and shorelines and Golf courses started to be built next to the sea. Cypress Point and Pebble Beach in California are good examples of this kind of design.
After World War II water started to be a common feature, due to mainly two reasons: the improvement of the building machinery and golf architect Robert Trent Jones’ influence on golf design. In the following years the use of water became increasingly popular and often touched the edge of exaggeration.
Water features, in my opinion, should be used only where the topography of the site allows it, low points were built by the Nature to allow drainage, the existing shape of the land is dictated by the force of gravity that rules the environment. The duty of a golf architect should be the one to discover those features on the site, when possible, and to empathize them by enlarging and excavating areas that have been already shaped in thousand of years before.
Water is not a natural feature in Golf Course Design as it could seem, in the Scotland’s links land water was never in play but for few holes where creeks crossed the course to flow to the sea
From the first decade of the 20th century with “The Golden Age of Golf Design” water started to be dramatically in play even though the architects of that time used it mainly in the way they found it. During this time holes were framed using streams and shorelines and Golf courses started to be built next to the sea. Cypress Point and Pebble Beach in California are good examples of this kind of design.
After World War II water started to be a common feature, due to mainly two reasons: the improvement of the building machinery and golf architect Robert Trent Jones’ influence on golf design. In the following years the use of water became increasingly popular and often touched the edge of exaggeration.
Water features, in my opinion, should be used only where the topography of the site allows it, low points were built by the Nature to allow drainage, the existing shape of the land is dictated by the force of gravity that rules the environment. The duty of a golf architect should be the one to discover those features on the site, when possible, and to empathize them by enlarging and excavating areas that have been already shaped in thousand of years before.
2.4 Trees and Vegetation
Trees were not a common feature in the first days of golf, they started to be common only when golf started to move inland or away from the original British links.
Trees have become common in the modern golf architecture, many courses are built in woodlands where massive clearings can be necessary to fit holes in the site, to do that and to make the new course look natural it should be blended into the natural environment and not be distinct from the surrounding area.
Trees were not a common feature in the first days of golf, they started to be common only when golf started to move inland or away from the original British links.
Trees have become common in the modern golf architecture, many courses are built in woodlands where massive clearings can be necessary to fit holes in the site, to do that and to make the new course look natural it should be blended into the natural environment and not be distinct from the surrounding area.
Open parks with specimen trees are also excellent places to build a golf course, the hole has to be designed to maintain the character of the area, integrating them with the existing landscape.
Trees are often planted to add different colours and textures to the site.[2] Architects in planning massive enrichment to the vegetation need to be careful, especially in choosing which kind of species are to be planted.Many non native evergreens have been planted in the past, to maintain the ‘green’ appearance of the course all year round, this affect not only the Natural look of the area, but also dramatically affects the biodiversity of the site itself.
To blend the course in the countryside and to increase all aspect of natural life, the planting should be studied deeply to add a considerable local character to the golf development.
All those natural elements could be added to poor looking landscapes, but every change should be done “on field”, to achieve the goal of integration new feature with the old ones.
Trees are often planted to add different colours and textures to the site.[2] Architects in planning massive enrichment to the vegetation need to be careful, especially in choosing which kind of species are to be planted.Many non native evergreens have been planted in the past, to maintain the ‘green’ appearance of the course all year round, this affect not only the Natural look of the area, but also dramatically affects the biodiversity of the site itself.
To blend the course in the countryside and to increase all aspect of natural life, the planting should be studied deeply to add a considerable local character to the golf development.
All those natural elements could be added to poor looking landscapes, but every change should be done “on field”, to achieve the goal of integration new feature with the old ones.
3.0 Golf Projects in harmony with Nature
The following projects by some of the most famous golf architect, Alister MacKenzie, George Crump, Hugh Wilson and William Flynn are going to be described and analyzed in this report: Cypress Point, Pine Valley Golf Club, Merion Golf Club. I chose those projects as, in my opinion, they explain how it is possible to blend all features of golf architecture with the existing site.
3.1 Cypress Point, Monterrey California
The Cypress point Golf Club was built in 1927 on a site facing the Pacific Ocean in California.
This golf course design style along with the early preservation of the Monterey Peninsula allows us today to go back in time and see how the natural beauty of this astonishing tract of land has remained almost untouched.
The ocean views are spectacular, with the golf course set in amongst the ancient Cypress Tree Forest. It is still possible to stand on the holes taking in all this natural backdrop that is the Cypress Point Golf Club, and imagine how it all might have looked a hundred or more years ago.
MacKenzie is known for taking spectacular landscapes and leaving the natural beauty alone as much as possible. As examples of where he has been capable to do this I chose to analyze the holes no. 13, 15, 16, 17.
3.1.1 Hole no. 13, green complex
The hole no. 13 of the Cypress Point has one of the most recognizable green complex in the whole history of golf. Every element of this hole blend perfectly in the landscape, the green, the dunes, the trees and the bunkers form together a singular element framed in the landscape. MacKenzie made functional to play what already existed before his arrival, in fact, pictures of the area taken years before the construction of the golf courses show the dune behind the green existing with this shape.[3]
The following projects by some of the most famous golf architect, Alister MacKenzie, George Crump, Hugh Wilson and William Flynn are going to be described and analyzed in this report: Cypress Point, Pine Valley Golf Club, Merion Golf Club. I chose those projects as, in my opinion, they explain how it is possible to blend all features of golf architecture with the existing site.
3.1 Cypress Point, Monterrey California
The Cypress point Golf Club was built in 1927 on a site facing the Pacific Ocean in California.
This golf course design style along with the early preservation of the Monterey Peninsula allows us today to go back in time and see how the natural beauty of this astonishing tract of land has remained almost untouched.
The ocean views are spectacular, with the golf course set in amongst the ancient Cypress Tree Forest. It is still possible to stand on the holes taking in all this natural backdrop that is the Cypress Point Golf Club, and imagine how it all might have looked a hundred or more years ago.
MacKenzie is known for taking spectacular landscapes and leaving the natural beauty alone as much as possible. As examples of where he has been capable to do this I chose to analyze the holes no. 13, 15, 16, 17.
3.1.1 Hole no. 13, green complex
The hole no. 13 of the Cypress Point has one of the most recognizable green complex in the whole history of golf. Every element of this hole blend perfectly in the landscape, the green, the dunes, the trees and the bunkers form together a singular element framed in the landscape. MacKenzie made functional to play what already existed before his arrival, in fact, pictures of the area taken years before the construction of the golf courses show the dune behind the green existing with this shape.[3]
3.1.2 Hole no. 15, 16, 17
That is the one of the most famous sequence of holes in the whole history if golf architecture, Mackenzie left the seaside to the last part of the round, the ocean shaped this area of the site in the better way it could, he went against the common rules of routing designing two par three in a row, but the result achieved is the best possible: tees, greens, bunkers are as were supposed to be if Nature could have a paper and a pencil.
That is the one of the most famous sequence of holes in the whole history if golf architecture, Mackenzie left the seaside to the last part of the round, the ocean shaped this area of the site in the better way it could, he went against the common rules of routing designing two par three in a row, but the result achieved is the best possible: tees, greens, bunkers are as were supposed to be if Nature could have a paper and a pencil.
3.2 Merion Golf Club, Ardmore, Pennsylvania
The Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Pennsylvania features a gently rolling terrain.
The main characteristic of this course is due to the construction of bunkers. They were created by the architect Hugh Wilson with help from construction supervisor William Flynn They are all visible to the golfer and each of them has its unique character. They were designed “on field” accentuating the integration with the other features. [6]
I am going to describe the hole no. 11 and 12, because the elements involved can be taken as example of how to blend the existing natural features in the design of an hole.
3.2.1 Hole no.11
As we can see from the pictures below the Hole no. 11 at the Merion Golf Club includes almost all the natural source of beauty available for architects in designing a green complex: water, trees, sand and mounds.
In addition an ancient-looking stone wall that support the green is combined with the irregular shape of the creek to make this green complex unique in putting together so many elements in a natural look.
The Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Pennsylvania features a gently rolling terrain.
The main characteristic of this course is due to the construction of bunkers. They were created by the architect Hugh Wilson with help from construction supervisor William Flynn They are all visible to the golfer and each of them has its unique character. They were designed “on field” accentuating the integration with the other features. [6]
I am going to describe the hole no. 11 and 12, because the elements involved can be taken as example of how to blend the existing natural features in the design of an hole.
3.2.1 Hole no.11
As we can see from the pictures below the Hole no. 11 at the Merion Golf Club includes almost all the natural source of beauty available for architects in designing a green complex: water, trees, sand and mounds.
In addition an ancient-looking stone wall that support the green is combined with the irregular shape of the creek to make this green complex unique in putting together so many elements in a natural look.
3.2.2 Hole no.12
The bunkers of this golf course are known as “the white faces of Merion”. The green complex of the 12th hole shows how bunkers can blend with the green contours and the topography of the land. The sand traps seem to be laid on the grass such as their presence does not interfere with the visual flow of elements.
The bunkers of this golf course are known as “the white faces of Merion”. The green complex of the 12th hole shows how bunkers can blend with the green contours and the topography of the land. The sand traps seem to be laid on the grass such as their presence does not interfere with the visual flow of elements.
3.3 Pine Valley Golf Course, Pine Valley, New Jersey
Pine Valley Golf Club in Pine Valley, New Jersey Camden County, southern New Jersey, is one of the most esteemed golf courses in the world. Architect George Crump was assisted during its design by two of the most famous architects of his time, H.S. Colt and A.W. Tillinghast.
The main characteristics of the course can be seen on the green complex where Crump spent days in applying slight changes day after day, adding the needed touch here and there with the patience of an artist.[6]
I am going to describe the green complex of the 3rd hole and the 7th hole, because this is an example of how what Nature left before can be enhanced.
3.3.1 Hole no. 3, Green Complex
This is a perfect example of how the green’s shape can follow, integrate and even replicate the shape of the landscape in which is designed.
The green is modelled with the hills and the woodland on the background, the shallow U-form replicates what Nature put there before.
Pine Valley Golf Club in Pine Valley, New Jersey Camden County, southern New Jersey, is one of the most esteemed golf courses in the world. Architect George Crump was assisted during its design by two of the most famous architects of his time, H.S. Colt and A.W. Tillinghast.
The main characteristics of the course can be seen on the green complex where Crump spent days in applying slight changes day after day, adding the needed touch here and there with the patience of an artist.[6]
I am going to describe the green complex of the 3rd hole and the 7th hole, because this is an example of how what Nature left before can be enhanced.
3.3.1 Hole no. 3, Green Complex
This is a perfect example of how the green’s shape can follow, integrate and even replicate the shape of the landscape in which is designed.
The green is modelled with the hills and the woodland on the background, the shallow U-form replicates what Nature put there before.
3.3.2 Hole no.7 The Hell’ Half Acre
The Hell’s Half Acre is the most famous hazard of the course and one of the most punishing for golf play in the history of architecture.
The 7th hole is situated in the flattest part of the property, with the purpose of adding also the vertical dimension to the land Crump with the consulting of A.W. Tillinghast created this 100 yards sand dunes area covered randomly by bushes to add texture to the landscape.
The Hell’s Half Acre is the most famous hazard of the course and one of the most punishing for golf play in the history of architecture.
The 7th hole is situated in the flattest part of the property, with the purpose of adding also the vertical dimension to the land Crump with the consulting of A.W. Tillinghast created this 100 yards sand dunes area covered randomly by bushes to add texture to the landscape.
4.0 Architectural Projects
In the last decades the increasing of the equipment for the construction of golf course gave to architects the possibility to change the Landscape with earthworks, that were unthinkable some years before. The power of the designer on shaping the land brought to projects that fight with the natural appearance. I am going to analyze the last the TPC of Sawgrass, Florida, because in my opinion this is an example of a golf course that is not integrated with the natural features of the site.
4.1 Tournament Player Club, Ponte Vedra, Florida
The TPC of Sawgrass is one of the most famous creation of golf architect Pete Dye, it was built in a forested lowland. Drainage was a major hurdle there and the problem was resolved by a network of constructed lakes and canals which meander prominently through the property, providing both drainage and ample irrigation water.
Opened in 1982, the Stadium Course became a sensation and a topic of considerable controversy for its departure from traditional design. It was the first course of its kind, featuring mounds, high banks and earthen amphitheatres specifically designed to accommodate larger crowds.
The first purpose of the architect and the client was, indeed, to create a course that could host a big tournament, with big attendances, television transmission and the integration with nature was not really kept in consideration. In this instance, in my opinion, we can see how golf architecture can go too far in disrespecting the natural features of the land in order to respect the rules of business.
I chose to analyze the last two holes of the TPC as in my opinion they show how golf can explain in a better way what “Architectural golf Courses” can mean.
4.1.1 Hole No. 17
The hole no. 17 at the TPC of Sawgrass is one of the most famous hole all over the world, its fame was gained mainly from TV shots and from the drama that creates during the professional tournaments.
All elements of this hole would not exist if created by Nature, the island green with its wooden walls emerges from the water without a transitional phase, the colors of the water, the wood and the grass make a heavy contrast, not natural at all.
But the biggest surprise of this hole is the other island, with a tree on top of it. The reason why Pete Dye put this feature between the tee and the green still remains a mystery to me. This element does not add character to the hole, and, moreover it is not influent to the strategy of the hole in wind calm condition.
In the last decades the increasing of the equipment for the construction of golf course gave to architects the possibility to change the Landscape with earthworks, that were unthinkable some years before. The power of the designer on shaping the land brought to projects that fight with the natural appearance. I am going to analyze the last the TPC of Sawgrass, Florida, because in my opinion this is an example of a golf course that is not integrated with the natural features of the site.
4.1 Tournament Player Club, Ponte Vedra, Florida
The TPC of Sawgrass is one of the most famous creation of golf architect Pete Dye, it was built in a forested lowland. Drainage was a major hurdle there and the problem was resolved by a network of constructed lakes and canals which meander prominently through the property, providing both drainage and ample irrigation water.
Opened in 1982, the Stadium Course became a sensation and a topic of considerable controversy for its departure from traditional design. It was the first course of its kind, featuring mounds, high banks and earthen amphitheatres specifically designed to accommodate larger crowds.
The first purpose of the architect and the client was, indeed, to create a course that could host a big tournament, with big attendances, television transmission and the integration with nature was not really kept in consideration. In this instance, in my opinion, we can see how golf architecture can go too far in disrespecting the natural features of the land in order to respect the rules of business.
I chose to analyze the last two holes of the TPC as in my opinion they show how golf can explain in a better way what “Architectural golf Courses” can mean.
4.1.1 Hole No. 17
The hole no. 17 at the TPC of Sawgrass is one of the most famous hole all over the world, its fame was gained mainly from TV shots and from the drama that creates during the professional tournaments.
All elements of this hole would not exist if created by Nature, the island green with its wooden walls emerges from the water without a transitional phase, the colors of the water, the wood and the grass make a heavy contrast, not natural at all.
But the biggest surprise of this hole is the other island, with a tree on top of it. The reason why Pete Dye put this feature between the tee and the green still remains a mystery to me. This element does not add character to the hole, and, moreover it is not influent to the strategy of the hole in wind calm condition.
4.1.2 Hole no 18
The last hole of the course was created to add drama to a finishing round with its “heroic” tee shot over the water. The result was to achieve a good show theatre, a stage on which the professional players would walk to reach the attendance’s applause, but the hole in all its feature shows how too-much-constructed courses could appear unpleasant if compared with natural shapes.
The last hole of the course was created to add drama to a finishing round with its “heroic” tee shot over the water. The result was to achieve a good show theatre, a stage on which the professional players would walk to reach the attendance’s applause, but the hole in all its feature shows how too-much-constructed courses could appear unpleasant if compared with natural shapes.
The contour of the fairway, in fact, is almost overlaid with the high step between land and water, and the mounds over the fairway are followed by the wooden wall that contains the water. The shape of the edge between the fairway and the water is too sharp, natural actions create undulated shapes, irregular and casual.
5.0 Conclusion
Golf architecture depends in on the manner and style in which the existing character of the ground is interpreted and modified[6]. With the improvement of building machinery, the power of the architect on shaping the land has increased and on the other hand good land for golf purpose decreased at the same time.
All those factors, plus the desire of clients to obtain unachievable layouts on poor peace of land, brought too often the designers to go too far, with the intent to recreate amazing landscape that Nature shaped in thousands of years in few months.
Bibliography
[1] Forrest L. Richardson, Routing the Golf Course
[2] Michael J. Hurzdan, Golf Course Architecture, Design, Construction and Restoration
[3]Geoff Shackelford, The Art of Golf Design
[4]Tom Doak, The Anatomy of a Golf Course
[5] Alan C Gange, Della E Lindsay and J Mike Schofield, The Ecology of the Golf Courses
[6]Geoff Schackelford, The Golden Age of Golf Design
[7] Max Behr, The Architect’s Canvas and Colours
5.0 Conclusion
Golf architecture depends in on the manner and style in which the existing character of the ground is interpreted and modified[6]. With the improvement of building machinery, the power of the architect on shaping the land has increased and on the other hand good land for golf purpose decreased at the same time.
All those factors, plus the desire of clients to obtain unachievable layouts on poor peace of land, brought too often the designers to go too far, with the intent to recreate amazing landscape that Nature shaped in thousands of years in few months.
Bibliography
[1] Forrest L. Richardson, Routing the Golf Course
[2] Michael J. Hurzdan, Golf Course Architecture, Design, Construction and Restoration
[3]Geoff Shackelford, The Art of Golf Design
[4]Tom Doak, The Anatomy of a Golf Course
[5] Alan C Gange, Della E Lindsay and J Mike Schofield, The Ecology of the Golf Courses
[6]Geoff Schackelford, The Golden Age of Golf Design
[7] Max Behr, The Architect’s Canvas and Colours
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