Tee boxes and turf color are among the hot topics among golf course architects. At least this was the case when six members of the American Society of Golf Course Architects formed a panel during the Golf Industry Show to discuss trends in contemporary golf course architecture. ASGCA president Steve Forrest of Arthur Hills/Steve Forrest Design in Toledo, Ohio, moderated the panel, which included: Pete and Alice Dye of Dye Designs in Denver; Ty Butler of Robert Trent Jones II Design in Palo Alto, Calif.; Tripp Davis of Tripp Davis & Associates in Norman, Okla.; and John Harbottle of John Harbottle Design in Tacoma, Wash.
The conversation took many turns as several topics were introduced, starting with technological advances in golf equipment. The panel discussed the fact that balls and clubs are being improved constantly to help enhance the golfer’s performance. Harbottle said there should be a system in place to standardize equipment, similar to rules other professional sports have adopted. Donald Ross used to write about it back in the 1920s and 1930s, he added.
“It would affect the proficient player greater than the average player,” he said. “You have to modify the way you play.”
Golf has become a power game, Davis said, explaining drives continue to get longer. Architects should challenge golfers in other ways, he adds. For example, add hazards that make the golfer work the ball to the left or the right or force them to hit the ball a shorter distance than they normally would.
“Playability on the golf course doesn’t mean we have to make a wide-open space,” he said.
Alice Dye, noting a growing diversity of ability among women in the game, advocates a two-tee system for the ladies’ tees.
“We’re getting more athletic women players from Title IX who will want the two-tee system,” she said.
About the subject of golf course maintenance, Pete Dye said factors such as the escalating demand for high green speed, which doesn’t help the average player, is increasing the cost of maintenance, which increases the price of a round of golf.
The golf course industry has the responsibility to try to prevent expectations from rising out of control, Davis said.
“As architects and superintendents, we have to be careful as to how far we take what we can do,” he said.
With increased expectations come many clubs’ memberships pressuring the management to renovate the course, Harbottle said. Forrest added that golf course components all have life expectancies, which are detailed in a document available from the ASGCA.
“We encourage clubs to develop a well-thought-out plan,” Butler said. “They tend to get ahead of themselves and do things out of sequence.”
Alice Dye cautioned that master plans can become outdated as design trends change.
“Who knows if it will still be a good plan in 30 years?” she said.
Still, having a plan for the update of certain items, including bunkers and drainage, can be beneficial, Davis said. That way, if something unexpected happens, quick action can be taken.
The panel also spoke about expectations relating to the color of the turf. As in previous years, expectations are trending toward the desire for wall to wall lush, green turf, which uses more water and costs more money to maintain.
“We need to have more acceptance of golf courses not being emerald green all the time,” Davis said.
