The Art of Restraint in Golf Course Architecture
It’s a word that has become increasingly familiar to fans of great golf course architecture. The dictionary says “restraint” involves moderate behavior and self-control, and it’s an important trait for a designer to be able to call upon. Tom Doak says it is “deciding not to do something which is just as active a decision […]
Golf Course Architect Bill Bergin – LINKS Golf Podcast Ep. 168
Professional player turned golf course architect Bill Bergin joins the LINKS Golf Podcast to talk about his design of the Highlands Course at McLemore, and the new course he is building for the Georgia resort/community with Rees Jones called The Keep. The hosts also chat with Bergin about finishing 14th in the 1984 Open Championship, […]
The Next A-List Golf Architects
On an undeniably tall, slippery ladder, three acclaimed designers are primed to climb to the top rung. Every generation has its own collection of A-List architects. Naming them isn’t hard. A stiffer challenge is identifying who will comprise the next crop. Being an A-List architect means your name is on the short list every time […]
5 of Golf’s Underrated Course Architects – LINKS Golf Podcast Ep. 166
Co-hosts Joe Passov and Al Lunsford look into multiple eras of golf course architecture and choose a few of the designers who deserve greater acclaim in this episode of the LINKS Golf Podcast. You can subscribe to the LINKS Golf Podcast in iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. _______________ What did you think of the […]
Golf’s Greatest Reveals
A round of golf usually includes some memorable moments—a birdie at your nemesis hole; a sensational sunset; a good laugh with playing partners. Or, perhaps, an incredible and unexpected view that stops you in your tracks. An article about the best reveals in golf could be a dangerous thing, though. Common to the most exceptional […]
6 Great Double Dogleg Holes
During the first few decades of the 20th century, architects A.W. Tillinghast and C.B. Macdonald often engaged in good-natured debates about course design. While Macdonald favored the strategy of implementing template designs, Tillinghast most often let the natural land dictate a hole’s inherent shape and strategy. That said, Tillinghast—who garnered the nickname “Tillie the Terror” […]
Golf Course Architect Andy Staples – LINKS Golf Podcast Ep. 159
Golf course architect Andy Staples joins co-hosts Al Lunsford and Joe Passov to begin Season 15 of the LINKS Golf Podcast. Staples discusses his thoughts on the rollback of the golf ball, his well-known work creating two new courses at PGA National Resort in Florida, his current projects, and much more. You can subscribe to […]
The Designs of Tiger Woods – LINKS Golf Podcast Ep. 158
In the final episode of Season 14, the hosts dive into Tiger Woods’s growing career in golf course architecture, discussing his earliest courses, design philosophy, and projects currently in the works. This episode is presented by Wild Dunes Resort. You can subscribe to the LINKS Golf Podcast in iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. _______________ What […]
Thad Layton Starts New Design Business as Arnold Palmer Design Folds
Until early September 2023, when it was announced that the Arnold Palmer Design Company would be shutting its doors, Thad Layton, a senior architect for the firm, would go into meetings knowing Arnold Palmer had his back. No, the great man might not have actually been present for the last seven years (can it really […]
No Repeat Par: Examining One of Golf’s Unique Routing Quirks
When “The Other Course” at Scottsdale National Golf Club debuted in 2016, much of the focus was that the dramatic routing had been built from an almost pancake-flat piece of property by moving 1.5 million cubic yards of dirt. But the layout, from the design team of Tim Jackson and David Kahn, is among the […]