Drew's Blog
Is There a Silver Bullet in Golf Course Architecture?
As you might imagine, architects get pressed quite often to profess our opinions about what makes one golf course better than another. And while I think that is more an individual preference (or left to magazines), there are some courses that stand out among the rest.
From Sunningdale to Sylvania
Golf has been kind to the greater Toledo, Ohio area - a rich history of playing personalities, storied tournaments and grand courses. One thinks immediately of the Inverness Club, regularly regarded among America's top 50 courses and host to US Opens, PGA Championships, and even a US Amateur.
Jens Jensen & the Evolution of Today's Landscape
Now I can recall sitting in a college lecture hall, over 20 years ago, listening to my Landscape Architecture History professor babble on about English gardens, pocket parks, Sir Humphrey Repton, Capability Brown.and a fellow by the name of Jens Jensen.
Back Again to Bandon
Surely by now the word is out.there is a world class golf resort on the coast of southern Oregon. It's called Bandon Dunes. There are four 18-hole courses on the property and they're all ranked among the Top 100 in the US.
Reflections on Long Island Part Four of Four
Our final day of golf took us into New Jersey and to Baltusrol Golf Club, named for "Baltus Roll", who was murdered in his house on the premises in 1831.
Reflections on Long Island Part Three of Four
Day three found us at Maidstone Club, again on the east end of Long Island. Maidstone opened in 1891 as a tennis and swimming club and then added a three-hole golf course in 1894.
Reflections on Long Island Part One of Four
Several weeks ago, I joined up with nearly 100 of my golf course architect friends from Europe, Australia and the US for five days of golf, architectural study and camaraderie on some of our country's finest venues. Our destination: Long Island, NY.
Is Newport National the New Model?
The past few years have been exhausting. Golf industry trends have been as depressing as the Nightly News. So when you hear a success story, it really stands out and makes you take pause. One such incidence involves a links style golf course in Rhode Island that I co-designed with Arthur Hills called Newport National Golf Club.
The Value of an Architect
After reading a well-penned piece recently from Adam Lawrence, called "Growing Together", I felt compelled to jot down a few key thoughts that bear highlighting. "“ Adam, please accept my apologies for any plagiarisms "“ but your message is very well put and worthy of repeat!
Brown by Design
It sure has been a heck of a summer, hasn't it? The upper Midwest has seen some brutally hot periods very dry, and windy. Not a great recipe for keeping a golf course looking good "“ not to mention our own yards.