DESIGN CONSULTING
When searching for a golf course design consultant, make sure you pick people who are passionate about golf, it’s history and are committed to finding solutions which are best for you, not them.
Playing golf courses for a living as a touring pro doesn't mean you automatically become a good golf course designer. Having a strong interest in golf course design from a young age doesn't either. But when you combine the two, now you've found a formula for success.
Design Theory
We’re sure you’ve heard it all before, but why do so many golf course designers drop to their knees in awe of the late Dr Alister MacKenzie? How could this man have created a world-wide reputation back when travel from the USA to Australia was a 3 month boat voyage. Social media didn’t exist and journalism was controlled by educated story tellers not “influences”.
Like many creative people MacKenzie’s reputation has far out-lived his own life. Dr Alister MacKenzie was a sort-after designer in the 1920s and 1930s, he travelled the world transforming land into majestic pieces of golfing art which still stand strong as test of golf nearly 100 years later. Golf course designers are in awe of his ability because he successfully created golf courses which are a pleasure to play a century later. Much has changed in that time; golf club and ball technology has killed off many other respected golf courses but his have remained relatively untouched. Why is this the case?
That question cannot be answered in a few paragraphs, in fact instead of explaining to our clients why he was so successful we simply suggest they read ‘The Spirit of St. Andrews’. A truly ‘lost’ manuscript written by Dr Alister MacKenzie back in 1933. In the book MacKenzie shares his thoughts on great courses, holes, technology, equipment and maintenance.
We design to objectives, not to the club president’s slice. We also believe that however good a course’s surroundings are, it will ultimately be judged by its architecture and conditioning. Providing members and visitors with a greater variety of shots and benefits from strategic positioning, rather than brute strength, is the secret to a long-lasting memory of a quality course.
Turfology combines traditional design values while keeping a keen eye on the future of the game. Golf should be a fun, challenging experience for all levels of skill.-
Technology
Technology has been both good and bad for the game of golf; the same can be said for the technology used to prepare and maintain a golf course. As water systems became the norm so did excessive use of water and golf club committees all over the world became obsessed with having greener fairways like they’d seen on the USPGA coverage. This became a major issue in Australia where 70% of the continent is in constant drought.
Turfology loves technology, but it has to be used sparingly. Technology can be used to save water, technology can be used to save money and of course used the wrong way it can bring a golf course to its knees.
The standard of what is considered, a well-conditioned golf course has risen dramatically in the past 30 years. A well-designed golf course can be ruined by poor conditioning just as a poorly designed golf course will never be considered a great golf course just because the fairways are like carpet.
Finding the right balance between a great architecturally designed course that doesn’t require ridiculous amounts of money to maintain is a constant part of our design thinking. We want to work with the lay of the land, a fantastic, fun golf course can be created on just about any piece of land. Sure, if you have rolling hills to work with you’ve got a little more putty to play with – but hills come with their own problems too. Undulations on a golf course make for an interesting palette, but they can add to the drainage cost, they can also require larger amounts of dirt to be moved to create usable surfaces for green complexes. It is safe to say no parcel of land is without its issues when it comes to golf course building.
Commitment
Hire a golf designer who truly loves what he/she does, hire them because they design to objectives you mutually set together. Don’t hire a golf course designer because they promise you the world. Let’s be realistic, you won’t get a Royal Melbourne Golf Club on a mini golf budget.
What you get from Turfology is a 100% commitment to the cause. We live golf, breathe golf, love golf. Turfology is golf. Turfology’s Anthony Brown has played professional golf all over the world and he’s played some of the best courses in the world. His love of country golf and the people who drive these clubs is a strong influence in the type of work he seeks today. He has been around the world and understands how important members of golf clubs are, they are the foundation, the culture and the energy which drives a club forward. Anthony sees his job as the person who merges design knowledge and club expectations to create realistic objectives and achievable solutions.
Dan Brown has been the course superintendent of courses ranked in the World Top 50, he has worked with some of the best golf course designers in the world, he has built their ideas, sculptured their rolling mounds and maintained their hard and fast greens. They listen to him because he is the best in his field. Dan was construction manager of Hoiana Shores in Vietnam which opened in 2020. It was also named Best New Golf Course in 2020 at the World Golf Awards. Hoiana Shores is a spectacular golf course built on pure sand dunes, where it seems amazing you could even get a blade of grass to grow.
With an outstanding passion and agronomical background he has worked enthusiastically alongside club committees his entire working career. Managing staff, juggling budgets and exceeding expectations to achieve superbly conditioned golf courses are all included in the package that is Dan Brown. He is a people person and a people pleaser, he takes pride in building a strong team environment where everyone’s efforts are recognised and celebrated.
TURFOLOGY FACTS
BY THE NUMBERS
Golf Course Design Experience
During our professional journey we've had the opportunity to work with the following clubs in a design capacity.
