J Drew Rogers

Course Design

Making Some Sense of Course Rankings (?)

I have to blunt here…. to me, all the course ratings and rankings out there today have become rather insipid and an exhaustive re-statement of the impossible.  But perhaps, there is another side of these listings to be considered? It cannot be argued that, in our business, it’s great if your course garners some attention […]

Sage Advice

  I have heard from some of you lately, wondering when they could expect to see the next blog.  Sorry that things have been a little busy….but here’s an entry to hopefully get things back on track. I don’t know about you, but I both enjoy and find it worthwhile to sort through all the […]

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 a US Amateur, among others.  The course was designed by one […]

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.  Why do I remember his name?  Even then, it struck me that his […]

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.  Yes, you say?  You’ve heard of it?  Oh, you’ve been there?  Great!  […]

Golf Courses and Machu Pichu; A Connection?

Several weeks ago, I found myself channel surfing (a common, last ditch effort before going to bed).  I happened to stumble upon a documentary program on PBS on Machu Pichu.  I have always had a strong curiosity and desire to visit this Incan ruin someday, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World…so I […]

Reflections on Long Island Part Four 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. Our final day of golf took us into New Jersey and to […]

Reflections on Long Island Part Three 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. Day three found us at Maidstone Club, again on the east end […]

Reflections on Long Island Part Two 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. This is the second installment of four entries, or otherwise the second […]

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.                           […]

Why is Golf Fun?

  I’m not attempting to be trite here!  The subject of “fun” has become a trendy topic of late and, in all seriousness, FUN is something that has frankly been overlooked in our fine game for some time. Not because of lack of interest, but because the game became perhaps a bit too serious on […]

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 […]

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