How We Work
The only effective way to get a feel for the land is to walk it. We are hands-on designers. Plans, topographical maps, and aerial photographs are important, but they cannot replace the knowledge gained by walking the site. Routing plans are always confirmed on the ground. Design decisions are made in response to the land: flat, open areas call for bunkers, wooded areas are natural for doglegs, hills are natural tee sites and valleys are natural fairways. Seemingly uninteresting sites can be made distinctive by creating elevation changes, differing greens sizes, and the creative use of water and vegetation.
We visit our jobs frequently. When we are on site, we go around with the construction crew to insure a collaborative effort. Our design staff has years of experience in the design and building process. We are comfortable making adjustments in the field quickly and creatively. There are always obstacles to be faced while a course is under construction; sometimes these problems are blessings in disguise, as we are forced to think outside the box and develop solutions that often yield a more innovative layout.
There are several important considerations at work when we put theory into practice:
- Drainage, drainage, drainage – a major factor when routing the course and a meticulous part of the construction process
- Maintenance – what we build must be reasonable in order to be maintained long after we have completed construction
- Scheduling – we work with the client to maximize regional growing seasons
- Budget – we provide the client with drawings and well-defined specifications to control costs
Golf course design is ultimately a collaborative effort. Our design is tailored to the client’s needs and our job is to help fulfill the client’s goals, from attracting members for a private club to providing scenic vistas for adjacent housing, to preparations for a major tournament. A knowledgeable and informed client stretches the designer; their questions and ideas add a valuable dimension to our work. Their dream becomes our dream and we work together to achieve it.
Golf is the greatest game in the world. Creating a setting for the playing of this game is a source of enormous pride and satisfaction for our design team.
