"That's BS!" Says Friendly Local Golfer

Dear Grg Client,

In the voice of TV announcer Jim Nance: Hello friends! Welcome back to Staples Golf Design Quarterly! I hope this email finds you sitting on the couch, enjoying the single best tournament in our country’s history – The Masters! As we enter the spring months, we’re excited to share 2017’s first most recent thoughts, happenings, and lessons learned so far. In this volume we’ll take a look at the rules changes just released by USGA, our opening of Meadowbrook in Detroit, and then lastly, I'll highlight a unique situation we as golf architects find ourselves in multiple times a year!

New Rules AND a New Ball?

As a guy still reeling from the anchoring ban on a putting stroke, it was interesting to see the USGA’s recent release of their revision to the rules of golf. The USGA has been under pressure for quite some time to simplify the game; an attempt to make the rules more “appropriate” for the average guy or gal. This is a longer topic of discussion, but overall I have two thoughts; I think for those of us that have a passion for the game, we generally don’t feel like the rules are overwhelming. With that said, any changes, such as the ability to leave the flag in the cup while putting, that allows for less time to play the game, I fully support!

Second, there was a “mic drop” moment during closing remarks of the recent USGA Symposium last month when Executive Director Mike Davis said he wasn’t ruling out the idea of a ball that traveled a shorter distance. This is in an effort to make the game more adaptable to various, more renowned, shorter courses during some professional and amateur status competitions. I am definitely one for figuring out a way to reign in the distance the ball is traveling, and think it is something that will be done eventually. The interesting thing that came out of Davis’ comments was in direct relation to the design of courses, and the inference of fitting a ball to a particular course. Now that’s interesting! It’s something Jack Nicklaus has been advocating for some time, and something that we should all be ready for, as I think it’s only a few years away.

Meadowbrook Nominated for Golf Inc.’s “Best New Renovation of the Year”

Many of you know, I've been honored to work with Meadowbrook Country Club in Metro Detroit for over the past two years on a major renovation of their golf course, and I’m happy to announce a few exciting things about the project. First, it was just revealed we have been short listed as a finalist for the “Best New” Private Club Renovation of the Year! Great news for all involved, but especially for the members of Meadowbrook!

Second, we’re set to open their course to member play on May 19th. I have to say, nothing is more exciting, more nerve wracking, and more of whirl wind tour than the opening of a new project. A project that was just a series of plans, sketches and ideas not too long ago, has become a reality of which golfers get to play and enjoy.

Lastly, I’m just really looking forward to hearing the feedback, and also getting to play it myself to make sure it turned out how we imagined. I’m looking forward to learning what went right, and what additional lessons learned I can take to my next project. It’s always an incredible honor to add a new project to the hallowed history of golf course architecture, and I'm excited to see the many coming years of enjoyment of the course by their members.

The Joys of the Job!

What does being publicly being challenged on my handicap, sneers about horses on cart paths, and being told we’re full of bullsh*t all have in common? Things you’re likely to hear at any ol’ run-of-the-mill golf course community meeting! Having performed countless public workshops, including most recently at Dairy Creek GC in SLO County, regarding golfer input, exploration of design ideas, and attempting to get feedback, I’ve come to learn that the traditional golfer is incredibly resistance to change, and very unorganized in their approach.

We as golfers have to do better. In a world of sound bites, social media blitzes, and one-off comments, our golf industry must be ready to organize, and come to the table with real solutions for our game, which is searching for ways to become relevant again. Community golf is thriving all across America, and it’s partly in thanks to the acknowledgement that the game is evolving. We need more traditionalists to join the movement of seeing golf facilities more as community assets to be enjoyed by everyone, and less as treasured jewels in need of protection. <Insert mic drop emoji!>

Well, that does it for this volume of the Staples Golf Design Quarterly. Please enjoy the Masters this weekend, and be on the lookout for our next newsletter as some great happenings and new projects will be announced!

Take care,

Andy Staples, ASGCA