The Winter 2025 issue of By Design magazine from the American Society of Golf Course Architects is now available in digital format.
The main feature article focuses on designing great greens. By Design speaks with architects Erik Larsen, Stephen Kay, Jeff Lawrence and Thad Layton about how they go about selecting green sites and crafting putting surfaces.
Lawrence has designed eclectic sets of greens while at Gary Player Design for Saadiyat Beach in Abu Dhabi, DLF G&CC in India and Thracian Cliffs in Bulgaria. 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.”
Larsen added: “Mother Nature best brings out beautiful, unique and memorable attributes, so I look for great natural places to locate greens.”
Also in this issue, By Design speaks with Mark Mungeam, the new president of the Society, about his unconventional route to golf course design and passion for public golf.
“I’m honoured to be responsible for improvements to both these courses,” said Mungeam. “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 US being public access; public courses are the lifeblood of our industry.”
The issue also includes a photo collage from the ASGCA’s 2025 annual meeting on Cape Cod, sketches from Todd Eckenrode’s renovation at California’s Quail Lodge, and news of Kyle Phillips’ new design for Pandion Club in Florida, the Harbour Town restoration, an interview with Michael Beebe, and more.