The April 2022 issue of Golf Course Architecture magazine is out now.
The cover of this latest issue features the twin greens of the par-three third at the Shizuoka Country Shimada course in Japan. We report on how Rees Jones and Bryce Swanson addressed the challenge of rebunkering holes that can play to greens thirty yards apart from one day to another. The architects also explain how their renovation employs more short grass areas to emphasise the importance of the ground game.
Our main feature article asks what should be the role of a par five? Kyle Phillips, Tom Doak, Jonathan Davison, Robin Hiseman and Jim Nagle consider whether par-five greens should always be reachable in two and provide insight into what designers can do to challenge big-hitting players, while also making holes interesting and playable for regular golfers.
We also take in-depth looks at two other courses: one old, one new. Adam Lawrence visits Real Las Palmas in Spain, which is in progress with a renovation planned by British architect David Williams. And at Wicker Point in Alabama, a new Coore & Crenshaw course is being built on the shores of Lake Martin.
Icelandic golf course architect Edwin Roald considers whether golf courses can earn money from carbon. Citing examples from his home country, he explores whether there is opportunity for clubs to attract new revenue streams from carbon positive courses.
We start, as always, with our Tee Box section, which includes news of the new Faldo course that has opened in Pakistan; the Tom Doak-designed Cape Kidnappers course in New Zealand; an interview with Jonathan Gaunt about his return to Breinholtgård Golf Club in Denmark; and Park Mammoth in Kentucky, where Brian Ross and Colton Craig have overseen a complete rebuild.
We hope you enjoy the read!