What self-respecting golfer has never, at least imagined being a golf course architect? How many course owners, club green chairmen, board members or golf pros have “played” golf course architect at their respective clubs? It doesn’t always turn out so well and the American Society of Golf Course Architects (ASGCA) has come up with a solution in the form of a new kind of fantasy camp for all of us who have fancied building or modifying our favorite golf course so you can learn how the pros do it.
The inaugural Design Boot Camp will be conducted September 10-13, 2024 at Erin Hills GC in Wisconsin, site of the 2017 US Open. Dr. Mike Hurdzan, Dana Fry and Golf Digest Architecture Editor Ron Whitten (designers of Erin Hills) will lead the program with input from several other esteemed architects, including Tom Marzolf, Steve Forrest, Damian Pascuzzo, Jason Straka, Jan Bel Jan, Bruce Charlton and Jeff Brauer.
Participants will actually design new holes on unused land surrounding Erin Hills and experience the finer points of golf course design, such as routing, strategy, hazard placement, grading & drainage and learn about the technical aspects of golf architecture.
This sounds like FUN! Not cheap, at a cost of $20,000 ($15,000 as a charitable tax deduction to the ASGCA Foundation), there may actually be an economic benefit to clubs and courses sending representatives to this program. Wouldn’t it add value to any renovation project if the club’s representative had some training from the experts? Given the seven and eight figure costs of most renovation projects, it seems like a good investment.
As one who has developed a golf course and consulted on thousands of others, I’ve observed, first hand the (often costly) damage that can be done to a golf course by an untrained, overeager golf enthusiast. A program like this can even benefit those who may be considering retaining the services of a golf course architect for their club, if for no other reason than you’ll learn which questions to ask, and how to choose the right architect as well as making decisions during construction.
Being focused on the economics and value of golf courses and clubs, I would urge those clubs embarking on renovations or certainly anyone considering development of a new course to think about sending a member of the team to this program. Golf courses are not cheap to build right. ASGCA members know when (and when not) to spend money and where. Owners and members don’t always know when to heed their advice. Improving this communication link adds value to any project.
Four teams of students will be guided by two ASGCA instructors, focusing on new holes for undeveloped property adjacent to the championship layout. A full design curriculum will be explored. Each evening, registrants will enjoy top-level cuisine and ample time to chat with the instructors. Students and architects will stay on site in spacious golf cottages. Attendees also will play a round at Erin Hills, tackle the 5-hole “Kettle Loop,” and participate in a friendly competition on the Drumlin putting course.
For further information, visit the event page on the website at Architects Boot Camp 2024 – ASGCA Foundation. To enroll or ask specific questions, email bootcamp@hunter-pr.com.