The January 2024 issue of Golf course architecture the magazine is out now.
The third hole of Biarritz at Metairie Country Club in Louisiana, photographed by Larry Lambrecht, is on the cover of the new issue. In our report on the project, we hear how architect Brian Silva worked to restore the character of original designer Seth Raynor to the layout. “We remodeled the holes into more recognizable and strategic examples of Raynor’s proven designs,” says Darryl Bartlett, senior project manager at NMP Golf Construction, who oversaw the renovation.
For our main topic of this issue, we ask: how can golf attract more young people, and what role does course design play in this? Golf’s renaissance since the pandemic has given the game a boost, but it remains dominated by middle-aged and older players. Golf course architects Scott Macpherson, Jonathan Davison, Caspar Grauballe and Chad Goetz give their thoughts on the subject, referencing Golf it! in Scotland, Toptracer technology, Portmore Golf Park in England, the TGL indoor golf league and Nicklaus Design’s virtual-only golf course, Hyperscapes.
Brad Klein travels to South Florida to visit Apogee Club, where the first of three planned courses is now open. “The course is unlike most other courses in Florida,” writes Klein. “There are shooting options in terms of angles of play and ground game. Each hole provides an opportunity to exercise not only physical skills but also mental abilities in terms of judgment.
Adam Lawrence reports a trip to Jameson Golf Links near Dublin, Ireland, who was featured on the cover of our last issue and is fast becoming another serious golf player in the country.
We also speak with Jeremy Slessor, who for 30 years led European Golf Design, the European Tour Group’s golf design business and one of the largest operations in the industry. He looks back on his career, notably at EGD, which today has a portfolio of more than 70 projects in 24 countries.
Elsewhere, our Tee Box section includes news of a match play course that King-Collins is creating for the new 21Clubs in the Carolina Sandhills; we have reports on the projects of Rees Jones, Brian Curley And Greg Letsche; And Arthur Petit provides insight into how courses should be designed to allow slow-swinging golfers to enjoy the game.
And, as the golf course industry prepares for GCSAA Conference and Trade Show in Phoenix, GCA highlights some of the companies to check out if you attend.
The January 2024 issue of Golf course architecture also comes with our GCA 2024 Green Pages supplier directory, which includes profiles of potential partners for your next golf design project, as well as project overviews from Atlas Turf International, MJ Abbott, Pure Seed, Rain Bird and ZLine Bunker Systems.
We hope you enjoy reading!
View the digital edition of the January 2024 issue of Golf course architecture
Consult the digital edition of GCA 2024 Green Pages
Subscribe to the print edition of Golf course architecture
