GREENS DESIGN ASGCA members explain the processes involved in selecting green sites and crafting putting surfaces MARK MUNGEAM, ASGCA The new ASGCA President speaks about his start in golf design, public golf and plans for his year at the helm BY DESIGN ISSUE 72 // WINTER 2025 Excellence in Golf Design from the American Society of Golf Course Architects ALSO: // Pandion Club // ASGCA Annual Meeting // Quail Lodge
By Design is sponsored by: FOREWORD For the public good Almost three-quarters of the nearly 16,000 golf courses in the United States are publicly accessible, according to USGA figures, being either walk-on, municipal or daily-fee facilities. These courses are the lifeblood of participation in our sport. Yet public golf faces increasing pressures, with commercial and political challenges continuing to lead to closures or redevelopment. I’ve worked on many great courses that live up to the ideal of what public golf is all about – welcoming everyone. William Devine, George Wright and Olde Barnstable, all in my home state of Massachusetts, are just three examples. As I played Olde Barnstable with ASGCA colleagues at this year’s Annual Meeting, it drove home how public golf continues to inspire and connect communities, underscoring why preserving these courses is so important. As golf course architects we aim to provide thoughtful design that helps to deliver positive experiences on these courses and allows them to withstand the pressures they face. And one aspect of design that is always at the forefront, for architects and golfers, is greens. For the cover story of this issue of By Design, we explore the art and strategy of green design, learning how architects approach the creation of playable and memorable putting surfaces. Every decision – from placement and contour to size and shape – is carefully thought-out to produce a positive experience. Greens that challenge players, reward skill and feel integrated with their surroundings, whether on a storied layout or small neighborhood course, keep golfers coming back for more. And it is in these relatively small but paramount spaces on a course that architects find some of the greatest opportunities for creativity, variety and enjoyment. I hope you enjoy the read. Mark Mungeam President, ASGCA 3
4 18 Public service through golf By Design speaks with Mark Mungeam, the new ASGCA President, about his unconventional route to golf course design and his passion for public golf. CONTENTS 6 Digest This issue’s Digest section features news of a new club in Florida that will have a golf course by Kyle Phillips, ASGCA. We also report on projects in California and South Carolina. 12 What makes great greens? Richard Humphreys finds out about the processes involved in selecting green sites and crafting putting surfaces.
5 ISSUE 72 // WINTER 2025 Editor and Publisher Toby Ingleton Editorial contributor Richard Humphreys Design Bruce Graham, Libby Sidebotham, Dhanika Vansia ASGCA Staff Jeff Brauer, Mike Shefky, Marc Whitney, Ann Woelfel, Hunki Yun Subscribe to By Design at www.tudor-rose.co.uk/bydesign © 2025 American Society of Golf Course Architects. All rights reserved. www.asgca.org On the cover The twin greens of the twelfth hole on the Gary Player course at DLF G&CC in India, where Jeff Lawrence, ASGCA, was lead associate. Turn to page 12 to hear Jeff’s thoughts on green design. Photography by Gary Player Design. 24 Mass meeting A selection of images from the 2025 ASGCA Annual Meeting, held on Cape Cod. 26 Sketchbook Todd Eckenrode, ASGCA, shares sketches of the par-three seventeenth at Quail Lodge in Carmel, California.
6 Image: Kyle Phillips Golf Course Design Kyle Phillips, ASGCA, has taken inspiration from the work of Golden Age architects Harry Colt and Tom Simpson for his new design for Pandion Club in Estero, Florida. The new course will be laid out on the site of the former Old Corkscrew layout, which was acquired by private equity firm Hoffmann Family of Companies in 2022. “We’re thrilled to introduce a golf-only private club to southwest Florida, designed by one of the world’s premier architects, Kyle Phillips,” said Geoff Hoffman. “Golf is a true passion for our family, and Pandion Club reflects that. Members can expect an unforgettable experience centred entirely around the game.” David Hoffmann, the company’s chairman, said: “We’re confident that Kyle Phillips is creating something truly special – an inspiring sanctuary that reflects the unique terrain of our region and elevates every aspect of the game. Our goal is to ignite passion in our members, who live and breathe golf, with every round played at the Pandion Club.” “Working with the Hoffmanns on the design of Pandion is a unique honor and opportunity for me,” said Phillips. “Their respect and passion for the game are reflected at Old Collier. Our aspiration is to highlight the architectural mastery of Colt and Simpson while utilising the sand-based natural features DIGEST Kyle Phillips inspired by Colt and Simpson for new Pandion course
7 At the recent Annual Meeting on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, the ASGCA added seven new members to its ranks. Pictured from left, Tim Gerrish, Steve Timm, Dale Beddo, Jason Sloan, Matt Bergin, Kyle Franz and Joey Graziani. Gerrish has been in the business for over 30 years, and his designs include Sassamon Trace and Red Tail, both in Massachusetts; Timm has designed Tierra Rejada and The Cascades, both in California; Beddo of G3 Golf Group created Copper Rock in Utah; Sloan has helped design and build courses across the US for builder Frontier Golf; Bergin, who works with his father Bill at Bergin Designs was part of the design team at The Keep at McLemore in Georgia; Franz has an extensive portfolio, with original designs including the Karoo and Roost courses at Cabot Citrus Farms in Florida; and Graziani, who worked on numerous projects for Bobby Weed, ASGCA, now has a solo design business. Find the full list of ASGCA members at asgca.org/architects ASGCA welcomes seven new members Photos: ASGCA of the land so that pure golf is on display. Our heathland-style design provides a chance to create something new and desirable for our discerning membership.” Pandion Club is in the initial stages of development, and the Hoffmanns expected to open the course in late 2027. The club expects to have just 280 members, with the golf course supported by a large practice range, teaching and short-game areas and putting greens. Kyle Phillips is using the sand-based natural features at Pandion Club ‘so that pure golf is on display’ Harbour Town reopens following restoration Photo: The Sea Pines Resort/Bill Hornstein Harbour Town Golf Links on Hilton Head Island in South Carolina has reopened following a six-month restoration by Love Golf Design architect Scot Sherman, ASGCA, player-consultant Davis Love III and MacCurrach Golf Construction. Work has included rebuilding greens, bunkers and bulkheads; returning some greens to their original shapes; completing stacked-sod bunker face work on several holes; and regrassing playing surfaces. “From the beginning of the project we were committed to protecting the strategy and integrity of Pete Dye’s design,” said Love III. “We were able to refer to lots of photographs and videos of the early days, and we were able to add back some of what we see in those old pictures.”
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9 In the latest podcast from Golf Course Industry’s “Tartan Talks” series, Michael Beebe, ASGCA, talks about golf becoming more enjoyable for the masses. “Back in my father and grandfather’s day, golf was stuffy and you had to dress properly, you couldn’t wear your hat backwards, your shirt needed to be tucked in, there was no music, and so on,” says Beebe. “Now, often I play with guys, and the first thing they do is fire up their Bluetooth speaker and play music. I don’t know what triggered this new emphasis on making golf more fun, but I’m glad that it has happened. It’s made golf younger and more welcoming.” Beebe believes such change is helping to drive participation. “Golf has been on this incredible growth spurt since Covid and I think a lot of it is tied to how golf has changed and how users consume it,” says Beebe. “There’s Topgolf, alternative golf courses, par-three layouts, expansive practice facilities – all these are fun and have brought new people into the game. People can zip around those places in no time, listen to their music and grab food from a mobile truck. Making golf more fun is paramount; it helps to attract people who would not be core golfers.” Listen to the full “Tartan Talks” at golfcourseindustry.com. “ Making golf more fun is paramount” Michael Beebe, ASGCA • Joe Jemsek, ASGCA, describes the decisions an architect must make when improving layouts • Drew Rogers, ASGCA, and Chris Jordan discuss the newly open Olde Eight Golf Club Here are links to other recent “Tartan Talks”, now featuring over 110 episodes: DIGEST George Clifton, ASGCA Fellow, 1953 – 2025 George Clifton, ASGCA Fellow, passed away in his hometown of Deland, Florida, in November 2025. Clifton studied horticulture and architectural drawing at the University of Florida, just as his father, Lloyd Clifton, ASGCA, had done. George spent time representing several leading suppliers of fertilizers, chemicals and seeds to the Florida golf market before turning to golf course architecture, joining his father and ASGCA Fellow Ken Ezell at Clifton Ezell Clifton (CEC) Golf Design Group. He worked on more than 90 CEC design projects, including The Villages in Clermont, Florida, which is one of the largest golf communities in the world. Since 1989, CEC has created 801 holes of golf, and Clifton’s design portfolio also features Stoneybrook Golf Club, Prestwick Golf Club and Grey Oaks Palms Course, all in Florida, and Teravista in Texas. Clifton is survived by his wife Terri, two children and four grandchildren.
10 DIGEST Mountain Lake hires Tyler Rae to 'polish the gem' created by Seth Raynor Tyler Rae, ASGCA, has been hired to lead a restoration of the 1915 Seth Raynor golf course at Mountain Lake in central Florida, with construction set to begin in April 2026. Rae is referencing a range of historic materials, such as Raynor’s 1915 sketch of the first nine holes, revision drawings from Charles Banks from 1929, an engineering drawing from 1935, and 1941 aerials. The project will include recreating the original punchbowl green at the third, reshaping the water features on holes eight and nine, and relandscaping numerous areas on the course with native live oak trees and grasses. Fairway bunkering on the fourth will be reconfigured to match Raynor’s 1915 routing, where a large bunker will replace the multiple existing bunkers. Rae said: “Mountain Lake is a magical place that has captivated us since first setting our eyes on the property over 25 years ago and we are humbled and honored to be able to ‘polish the gem’ and really highlight the special nature of the property in the years to come.” Work begins on new short course near Sacramento A new 12-hole par-three course by ASGCA Past President Forrest Richardson is being built in Placerville, east of Sacramento, California. With a working title of 50 Oaks, the layout will be set on 42 acres of trust land south of the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians’ Red Hawk Resort & Casino. The facility will also include a driving range with launch monitors and gaming technology, a miniature golf course and an events venue. “We’re no longer designing only for the game we grew up playing, but for a whole new generation of golfers, many simply wanting to have fun versus keeping score,” said Richardson. “Today it’s often smaller, technologically connected and more interactive than any of us previously envisioned.” Jack Morgan, senior vice president at Landscapes Unlimited, said: “The complex will be special." Photo: Landscapes Unlimited
11 Text @text text Search ASGCA on the below channels for more posts: gcamagazine @gcamagazine “The Garden nine renovation demonstrates that less can be more for both visual appeal and course strategy,” writes GCA’s Toby Ingleton on the project led by ASGCA Past President Bruce Charlton of Robert Trent Jones II. SOCIAL UPDATE Moss Creek Hilton Head has officially reopened its North course, following a renovation by John Fought, ASGCA. Fought oversaw the rebuild of every tee and green to USGA specifications, introducing TifEagle turf on greens, Zoysia on tees, and Celebration bermuda grass on fairways. A new irrigation system and drainage network were also installed. Eight bunkers were removed and three added, with the aim of enhancing strategic interest and visual balance. And, the course’s length has been extended by 214 yards, with the North now totaling 6,722 yards from the back tees. “The renovation of the North honors the Fazio design legacy while ensuring this outstanding property is used to its full potential,” said Fought. “The course offers members a new playing experience. The widened fairways may appear forgiving, but strategy remains key to scoring well.” Duininck Construction and GTI Irrigation partnered with the Moss Creek team to complete the project. “We can take pride in knowing this project was completed the right way,” said Scott Julien, general manager and chief operating officer at Moss Creek. “By investing in every element – from greens and fairways to drainage and irrigation – we avoided shortcuts that could cause long-term issues. Moss Creek members will benefit from these improvements for decades to come.” Photo: Moss Creek Hilton Head Moss Creek Hilton Head reopens North course ASGCA @ASGCA ASGCA Foundation heads to Pinehurst, North Carolina, for the second Boot Camp in March 2026. Tag along to see Pinehurst No. 2, The Cradle, Holly Inn and the World Golf Hall of Fame while spending time with seasoned golf course architects. Atlas Turf @atlasturf Another successful ASGCA Annual Meeting! Golf, education, collaboration, and inspiration — all in beautiful Cape Cod.
GREENS DESIGN Richard Humphreys asks ASGCA members how they go about selecting green sites and crafting putting surfaces. What greens? great makes 12 The eighteenth green at Saadiyat Beach G&CC in Abu Dhabi, designed by Gary Player’s firm; Jeff Lawrence was the lead architect on the project
13 Greens often command more attention than any other feature on a golf course – from players and architects alike. As the ultimate target on every hole, their placement, size and contour influences strategy, aesthetics and the rhythm of the round. Before a green can take shape, however, architects must first determine where it belongs – a decision guided primarily by the land itself. Location, location, location Most architects agree on one point: the land itself dictates where greens should go. “Finding potential green locations for a new course consists of finding flat spots on steep sites and undulating spots on flat sites,” says Thad Layton, ASGCA. “Once these points of interest are located then it’s a matter of connecting them across the landscape in an unforced manner via the routing.” Stephen Kay, ASGCA, says: “With a property of 150-to-180 acres, green locations are contingent upon the routing plan, however if the property is big like I had at the Links of North Dakota, and has wonderful topography, then the green locations become important. The first and most important factor is that the green is not located in a low area or where there will be a significant flow of water during a rain event.” Jeff Lawrence, ASGCA, believes the most compelling green sites are those with memorable natural features – topography, water, vegetation, rock outcroppings, or scenic backdrops. “The strongest opportunities lie in enhancing what Mother Nature has already established, allowing the design to feel both natural and inspired,” he says. “In contrast, sites with minimal natural character present a greater challenge, requiring a more intentional approach to create something that is equally captivating and memorable.” ASGCA Past President Erik Larsen agrees. “Mother Nature best brings out beautiful, unique and memorable attributes, so I look for great natural places to locate greens,” he says. “I try to cluster greens as best as possible – they are easier to build when close together and it creates fun socializing, watching another player or competitor.” He also considers how each green works with the rest of the hole. “I generally align the green toward the inside of a dogleg, with players that successfully negotiate the Photo: Saadiyat Beach GC “ The strongest opportunities lie in enhancing what Mother Nature has already established”
14 fairway hazard rewarded with an opening to the green, yet those that play safe away from the hazards are left with a tougher shot to the green either through a carry or disadvantaged angle.” For renovation projects, unsurprisingly, the approach is different. Layton explains: “When renovating a course, green sites are likely immovable. From there, our approach is to leverage adjacent contours to anchor the green in its natural landscape.” All shapes and sizes Once green sites have been chosen, the next challenge is determining the size each green should be and what form it should take. “I try to keep it simple and honor risk and reward,” says Larsen. "You don’t just build the green; it’s not separate from the surrounds. You have to tie it in; it has to feel like it’s part of the whole area, not just the putting surface. That blending is key – strategically and aesthetically.” Larsen typically works within quite broad parameters, designing greens between 2,000-to-15,000 square feet, with at least 25 feet of pinnable area. “I greatly vary the size and shape of greens as played in sequence,” he says. “It is as much about creating interest through this variety as it is influenced by the difficulty of approach shots. I always vary hole lengths and create hole strategy at the beginning when routing. That parlays into green size and shape. “ The goal is always to create a balanced collection of greens that offer variety, intrigue and memorability” GREENS DESIGN Erik Larsen likes to reward shots that challenge primary hazards with softer slopes on those areas of the green. On the third hole at Atlantic Beach CC, contour is gentler near the bunkering and more severe in the front-right area of the green
15 “Of the greens I have designed, my favorite set is at Atlantic Beach CC in Florida – greens ten to fifteen are 3,100, 7,800, 4,000, 7,000, 2,900 and 10,100 square feet. Variety creates interest, and interest creates fun. That’s really all we are trying to do, create fun, beautiful playgrounds.” Green size inevitably has a significant effect on playability and maintenance. Which means the pattern of play is always an important factor. “It depends on whether it is a private course with not too many rounds or a daily-fee course that has or will have a lot of rounds,” says Kay. “Most golfers think that a very short par three or par five should have small greens, but, in those cases, large greens can be better to handle the amount of ball marks. Shape and contour will then flow from the design.” “Roundish greens reduce the amount of pinnable area, and they don’t require as much skilled shotmaking as straighter shapes and particularly greens with corners,” says Larsen. “Squaring off a corner may allow a pin ten feet deeper into an area of a green, making it much more challenging to get close.” Lawrence emphasizes knowing who the course is for. “I place a strong emphasis on understanding the end user – whether it’s a resort guest, private member, tournament player or municipal golfer,” he says. “This helps to guide the appropriate design style for each project. “On renovations, I prefer to keep my design intent within the course’s overall character. While green sizing should remain relatively consistent throughout the course, the shapes and internal contouring offer opportunities for creativity. Each green should feel distinct, with contouring and orientation that varies in interest and challenge yet has a cohesive theme.” Experience is a key factor, too. Over his career, Lawrence has encountered a wide range of sites. “This diversity has allowed me to adapt to different site conditions, design goals and player expectations, ensuring each green contributes uniquely to the overall golf experience,” he says. “The goal is always to create a balanced collection of greens that offer variety, intrigue and memorability. Above all, the design must feel like a natural extension of the site and thoughtfully align with the needs and expectations of its users.” Layton says his approach has evolved over time. “I used to think it was crucial to build greens in direct response to the likely shot being hit into the green,” he says. “You can see how this formula over time could nudge a course toward a predictable procession of bland holes. While I still think shot values should be considered, I think it’s more important to build greens in relationship to their surroundings; creating something of beauty Before breaking ground on a project, Thad Layton reviews the full set of greens designs and then makes any final modifications Photo: Thad Layton Photo: Erik Larsen
GREENS DESIGN At Fazenda Boa Vista in Brazil, Thad Layton designed an eclectic set of greens, including the undulating eleventh Photo: Stephen Kay and interest first, before working backwards to set up strategy.” Balancing variety with consistency “I try to design so all 18 greens are different and memorable by shape, but more so by internal contours and creating quadrants,” says Kay. “Recently, I redesigned a course – Weequahic in New Jersey – and to add interest and challenge to the greens, which average just under 5,000 square feet, we put a lot of movement in, with each green having its own distinctive movement.” Layton points to the Palmer course at Fazenda Boa Vista in São Paulo, Brazil, as an example of varied yet cohesive green design. “We created an eclectic set of greens from flat to wildly undulating, ranging in size from 2,200 to 12,000 square feet,” he says. “Within that broad spectrum, the green complexes coalesced into a coherent theme of letting the land lead.” He believes some courses err too much in the direction of consistency. “I think it’s more common to see too much consistency in a set of modern greens versus too much variety. If you take your cues from the landscape, then you stand a decent chance of creating a collection of interesting greens that have a common thread that ties them together.” 16 Stephen Kay has introduced more subtle movement on greens at Weequahic GC in New Jersey, which average just under 5,000 square feet Lawrence points out: “It’s easier to maintain consistency than it is to create meaningful variety. Once a design concept is established, my role as a golf course architect is to introduce variety within that framework. I start with the green’s orientation and let that guide the development of more defined features such as contouring, bunkering and the surrounding shaping – all tailored to the specific green site and designed for strategic impact. Often, it’s the subtle nuances and slight variances that offer the greatest value, adding intrigue without overwhelming the player. “I prefer to design greens with subtle to moderate movement – forms that are visually inviting yet create just enough uncertainty to challenge the golfer’s perception and decision-making.” Larsen’s approach begins at the tee. “Drives that successfully
17 challenge the primary hazard are rewarded with the easiest opening to the green,” he says. “I use that philosophy in green grades and slopes. I generally keep the putting surface relatively flat at a constant slope of less than 1.5 per cent immediately adjacent to a greenside hazard and put more extreme slopes and undulation on the other side of the green. Successfully challenging the greenside hazard results in a more makeable putt. Conversely, on the bailout side of the green, I often put slopes over five per cent, which may even cause the ball to roll off away from the centerline. “Too often golf course architects create too much slope, rendering much of the putting surface useless for pin positions. Your pinnable areas have to be consistently two per cent or less. Past that, though, you can do what you want to do with grade. But remember, if your green is 10 on the Stimpmeter, for every foot that the ball goes down that slope, it’s going to run out 10 feet. Consistency is only in the green speed and construction method. “Creating perplexing subtleties – not flagrant steps, pedestals and ramps – is the sign of a good designer.” • Double-triangle theory ASGCA Past President Erik Larsen explains one approach to fairway and green design. The double-triangle theory helps determine where to create landing areas at both the fairway and the green. The ‘fat’ area of the triangle represents where the average player typically lands their drive, and the fairway narrows toward the centerline, increasing difficulty for better players. Ultimately what we’re trying to do is make the golf course fun for the shorter hitters and challenging for longer hitters. I then reverse the triangle so that you have the long, flat side on the inside of the dogleg and then it narrows as you go down the centerline. This concept lets me place hazards that skinny up the fairway. I usually place hazards up the inside, with players rewarded if they successfully negotiate that hazard line. Even on a straight hole, the double-triangle theory basically helps create a dogleg – by flipping the fat side over at the green and hazarding up the other side. And as you get deeper into the green, where an average player has less ability to fly the ball to, it gives me the dimensions by which to hazard up the depth of the green as well. But it leaves short of the green open for the average player. I’m effectively building two golf courses in one with these triangles. It’s all based on risk and reward – I’m giving the lesser player fatter areas to play and allowing running shots onto greens, and for the better players, the further you hit it, the better you have to hit it – so it compounds the game’s skill. Photo: Thad Layton
18 INTERVIEW Mark Mungeam found the game of golf not through family or friends, but with the help of an unconventional Little League Baseball coach. The new ASGCA President is still not quite sure whether the coach was more interested in working on young Mark’s fielding, or his own golf game, but recalls racing around the outfield catching wedge shots in his mitt. Before long – and this is where the fielding practice argument falters – the coach had Mark caddying for him on the course. Regardless of the coach’s motivation, Mark was captivated. He began hitting plastic golf balls around his backyard with a cut down five-iron, then crafted some rudimentary holes to practice on. “That was my first interest in golf course design, and I didn’t even realize it!” Here, the new ASGCA President answers our questions about how his career began, the importance of public golf, and what he hopes to achieve in his year of leading the Society. After those first forays into backyard golf design, how did you get your start in the business? While at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, studying civil and environmental engineering, I spent summers as a greenkeeper at the nine-hole Berlin County Club in Massachusetts. The owner’s son and I were a two-man maintenance staff. I mowed tees, greens and collars, changed cups and moved tee markers. The owner wanted to lengthen the course, so I bought a USGS topo map, enlarged it for the course, and started to sketch out possible new tee and green positions. To learn more, I borrowed a copy of The Golf Course, written by ASGCA Past President Geoffrey Cornish and Ron Whitten, from the local library. The book hooked me, and I decided then that designing wastewater treatment plants was no longer my future, and golf course design was. Mr Cornish was instrumental in my entry into the golf course design profession. I wrote to him, and he advised me to contact golf course builders about a job when I graduated from college. This led to work with Moore Golf of Culpeper, Virginia, an early member of the Golf Course Builders Association of America. Two years after joining Moore Golf, I was assigned to oversee construction of Ocean Edge Golf Course on Cape Cod, a Cornish & Silva design. I worked By Design speaks with Mark Mungeam, the new ASGCA President, about his unconventional route to golf course design and his passion for public golf. Public service through golf
19 “Low-cost public access golf is critically important to developing new players” Photo: ASGCA
20 closely with Brian Silva on this project and reminded him that I hoped one day to be a course architect. Brian remembered our conversation and offered me a position a few years later. What did you learn from Geoffrey Cornish and Brian Silva and how did that shape your own design philosophy? When I joined Cornish & Silva in 1987, I worked almost entirely with Brian. Geoff and Brian did not share an office; they lived 60 miles apart. When hired, my first office was in the front room of Brian’s old house, so consequently we worked together very closely. We had many discussions about course routing, strategic design, Pete Dye’s designs, random bunkering and other course design techniques. I feel that our discussions and relationship made us both better designers. From Mr Cornish I learned to design courses that were fun to play and inexpensive to build and maintain. Most of his designs were functional courses suitable for all players. Brian and I were more adventurous. We were against ‘dumbing down’ course features on public courses. We felt that a course needed features that made Mungeam’s first masterplan, drawn up in 1981 for Berlin CC, where he learned the game and worked as a greenkeeper during summer breaks from college. Right, Mark’s father Lee tees off on the opening hole Images: Mungeam Golf Design INTERVIEW
it challenging and memorable to attract and hold players’ interest and therefore make it successful for our clients. I believe that all players should have different options and should have to think about each shot, with a series of difficulties that must be overcome. Can you tell us more about the work you have done on some high-profile public courses? I am fortunate to have had the opportunity to consult on many public course projects, both new construction and renovations, and for private developers and public agencies. Soon after joining Cornish & Silva I designed the award-winning Shaker Hills Golf Club, and the municipal course Olde Barnstable Fairgrounds on Cape Cod. I’ve had a 35-year working relationship with the Monmouth County Park System in New Jersey for whom I’ve designed two new 18-hole courses (Charleston Springs North and South) and provided consultation on renovations at their other five courses. I’m proud of this longterm consultation, as I am working with the city of Boston on the restoration/renovation of their two Donald Ross-designed courses over the past 15 years. William Devine Golf Course at Franklin Park is the second oldest municipal in the country and George Wright Golf Club is considered one of the best municipals in the US. I’m honored to be responsible for improvements to both these courses, but I’m also happy to work with low-cost, less distinguished community layouts that are just as important to those who play them but get little attention from the media. With about 70 per cent of the courses in the U.S. being public access; public courses are the lifeblood of our industry. Across your whole portfolio, are there projects that you are most proud of? And what new work of yours can we look forward to seeing in the months ahead? It’s difficult to identify what projects I am most proud of because I approach all with a similar desire for my work to add sustainable value, be environmentally sensitive and be a benefit to my client. I am equally proud of my work to allow the city of Troy’s Frear Park Golf Course, in New York, to increase the number of days they can rent golf carts, because of improved drainage, as I am of my consultation at the North course at Olympia Fields Country Club in Chicago, preparing the course for several major tournaments, including the 2003 U.S. Open. I’m really excited about the recently completed renovation work at Farm Neck Golf Club on Martha’s Vineyard, which has ocean views throughout. I’m currently working on about 20 projects at various stages of development – two under construction are a bunker renovation at private Wallingford Country Club in Wallingford, Connecticut, and a masterplan 21 “ I believe that players should have different options and should have to think about each shot” Photo: Mungeam Golf Design Mungeam is immensely proud of the renovation and restoration work he has conducted over the past 17 years at the public George Wright course in Boston
22 implementation at Brookline Municipal Golf Course, with this phase prioritizing drainage improvements. What do you expect to focus on during your term as ASGCA President? There are many issues impacting golf and the ASGCA. I care about all things impacting the golf business, but in my term as President, there are some that I feel more strongly about. I want to continue to encourage and welcome new, qualified men and women into golf course architecture and the ASGCA. The membership committee has done a great job in establishing the Tartan Program for aspiring architects. New members with new ideas are critical to sustaining our organization and we must promote the future success of the next generation of architects. In the past 35 years since I became an ASGCA member, a lot has changed for me personally (marrying my wife Leslie Breault and having five children) and in the design business. In design, we must assist new voices in fostering the longevity of this game we all love. Also, we need to better identify the environmental and societal benefits of more sustainable golf course design and maintenance. I’m concerned that courses are perceived by many as over-watered dumping grounds for chemicals that waste too much land and are primarily used by wealthy people. Our industry must continue to work with our allied partners to highlight all the positive aspects of golf and golf courses that can be enjoyed by everyone. Low-cost public access golf is critically important to developing new players. Many ‘mom and pop’ or similar courses have been closed in the last 20 years. In my home state of Massachusetts, at least 20 courses have been permanently closed, and there are plans to eliminate at least three more public courses in the next year for the development of solar farms. And finally, there is considerable pressure to redevelop golf space into housing and other uses. There are few proposals to build new lowcost public courses to replace those closed. The shrinkage of public golf results in fewer available tee times, slower rounds, higher prices and increased dissatisfaction with the game. We need to assist in creating new entry-level public golf courses and retaining the ones that exist. • INTERVIEW Farm Neck Golf Club on Martha’s Vineyard, where Mungeam has recently completed a rejuvenation project Photo: Patrick Koenig
“It’s always been part art, part science — and pure joy. I’m a voice of the ASGCA.” — DR. MIKE HURDZAN
24 ASGCA ANNUAL MEETING The ASGCA’s 79th Annual Meeting was held in Massachusetts, the home state of new ASGCA President Mark Mungeam, in October. Attendees had the chance to play at Kittansett Club, Eastward Ho! and Olde Barnstable, and attend a variety of education and speaking sessions. • A selection of images from the 2025 ASGCA Annual Meeting, held on Cape Cod. Mass meeting Mungeam gifts a plaque to Olde Barnstable, one of the clubs that hosted golf during the Annual Meeting ASGCA members and partners had the chance to play golf at Eastward Ho! Immediate Past President Brian Costello passes on the ceremonial gavel to new ASGCA President Mark Mungeam
25 The agenda included a visit to a Titleist ball factory and performance center The week included various education sessions and speeches, covering topics such as public golf, data-driven design and marketing strategies
26 SKETCHBOOK When Todd Eckenrode, ASGCA, oversaw the renovation of Quail Lodge Golf Club in Carmel, California, ten years ago, work was guided by his hand-drawn sketches, including these elevation and plan views of the par-three seventeenth hole. “This was an extensive renovation and involved, in this case, filling in an artificial pond that was very outdated in style and function,” said Eckenrode. “In its place, we introduced a very deep grass swale as the new hazard, offering recoverability as well as a more subtle challenge, paired with other renovations in the bunkering, green surrounds and perimeter. “The strategy is such that if you avoid the front and right bunkering and bailout to the left, you can easily end up in this new deep grass hazard. From here, depending on the hole location, all sorts of short-game options are possible.” Eckenrode’s original sketch and plan for the hole were executed as envisioned. “We loved the concept right away, and this is my favorite hole on the course now,” he said. “It’s so much more natural and fun. It’s a beautiful and short par three with a kidney-shaped green. This scenic hole on the finishing stretch offers a birdie opportunity if played boldly.” • Quail Lodge Golf Club Todd Eckenrode, ASGCA Images: Todd Eckenrode
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ASGCA Leadership Partners Supporting Education in the Golf Course Industry ASGCA thanks the following companies for their continued support of golf course development and renovation – helping ASGCA members do their jobs better, for the good of the game. // MAJOR LEVEL PARTNERS // MERIT LEVEL PARTNERS // SPONSORS
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