Digital Edition: Issue 83, January 2026

The global journal of golf design and development I SSUE 83 JANUARY 2026

1 ADAM LAWRENCE When I began writing this, 2025 was drawing to a close and Christmas songs were everywhere, and even I – an inveterate hater of such music – have listened to Counting Crows’ ‘A Long December’. With that in mind, it’s time to look forward to 2026. In the spirit of the season, then, here are my thoughts for golf, and its design, in the year to come. Which you will read in the cold light of a new year. Life is like that. Let’s start with Major venues. The Open is at Royal Birkdale, a course that ‘fairness’-loving pros tend to rate as one of the best on the rota, but architecture geeks often dismiss as bulldozed through magnificent dunes. As ever, the truth lies somewhere in between. There is no quirk at Birkdale, to be sure, but it remains a glorious place to play golf, and the memory of Padraig Harrington’s career five wood onto Martin Hawtree’s ‘controversial’ seventeenth green to win the Championship in 2008 can’t but stir the soul. The US Open is back at Shinnecock Hills, a course which a number of good judges have told me they view as the best in America. It’s ironic, perhaps even amusing, that when Frank Harrigan took the USGA back to Shinnecock in the eighties, it was regarded as the nearest the USA had to a links. Thirty-odd years of development has made that country much more aware of what links golf truly is, but that hasn’t reduced the glory of Shinnecock Hills. It may not be a links, but it’s still a great, great golf course. For me, 2026’s most interesting venue choice has been made by the USGA in its decision to go to Donald Ross’s Aronimink outside Philadelphia, arguably America’s greatest golf city. I have never seen Aronimink, but it has long been regarded as one of Ross’s finest designs. It has been a PGA Tour venue in the nottoo-distant past, but it hasn’t held a Major since John Fought won the US Amateur there in 1977. I can’t wait! Looking ahead WELCOME

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Follow Golf Course Architecture: 5 PEFC Certi ed This product is from sustainably managed forests and controlled sources www.pefc.org PEFC/16-33-576 Golf Course Architecture is published with the support and guidance of the American Society of Golf Course Architects, the European Institute of Golf Course Architects, and GEO Foundation. Contributing Editor Adam Lawrence News Editor Richard Humphreys Editorial team Alice Chambers, Rebecca Gibson, Laura Hyde, Alex Smith Contributors Bill Kubly, Greg Norman, Justin Olmstead Design Bruce Graham, Libby Sidebotham, Dhanika Vansia Publisher Toby Ingleton Publication & Sales Manager Benedict Pask Production Manager Stuart Fairbrother Website Development Chris Jackson Circulation Sophia Brinkley Subscribe www.golfcoursearchitecture.net/ subscribe Photography Apogee, Kevin Atkinson, Bill Bergin, Jay Blasi, Cotton Bay Golf Club, Brian Curley, Elk River Club, Dave Evenson, Donegal Golf Club, Faldo Design, Founders Group International, GCSAA, Gibbston Valley Resort, Golf de NimesCampagne, Golfkalender, Greg Norman Golf Course Design, David Hoekstra, Landscapes Unlimited, Limassol Greens, Lobb + Partners, Lost Rail Golf Club, Kyle Phillips Golf Course Design, John Luciano, Alex Mackenzie, Matchplay Golf Marketing, Lyne Morrison, Kevin Murray, Olazabal Design, Ostsee Golf Resort, Jessica Payne, Premier Aerials, Profile Golf, Red Sea Global, Rees Jones Inc, Forrest Richardson, Roscendaelsche GC, Ross Golf Design, Saadiyat Beach GC, Art Schaupeter, Somabay Golf, Städler and Reinmuth Golf Design, Stein Golf Design, Steve Szurlej, TPC Dorado Beach, Miz Watanabe, Will Watt Published by Tudor Rose Tudor House, 6 Friar Lane Leicester LE1 5RA Tel: +44 116 222 9900 www.tudor-rose.co.uk ISSN 1745-3585 (print) ISSN 2754-9828 (online) Printed in Great Britain by Micropress Printers. © 2026 Tudor Rose Holdings Ltd. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be stored or transmitted or reproduced in any form or by any means, including whether by photocopying, scanning, downloading onto computer or otherwise without the prior written permission from Tudor Rose Holdings Ltd. Views expressed in Golf Course Architecture are not necessarily those of the publishers. Acceptance of advertisements does not imply official endorsement of the products or services concerned. While every care has been taken to ensure accuracy of content, no responsibility can be taken for any errors and/or omissions. Readers should take appropriate professional advice before acting on any issue raised herein. The publisher reserves the right to accept or reject advertising material and editorial contributions. The publisher assumes no liability for the return of unsolicited art, photography or manuscripts. It is assumed that any images taken from sources which are widely distributed, such as on the Web, are in the public domain. It is recognised though that since such images tend to be passed freely between sources it is not always possible to track the original source. If copyrighted material has ended up being treated as public domain due to the original source not being identified please contact the publisher, Tudor Rose. Golf Course Architecture (ISSN No: 1745-3585) is published quarterly by Tudor Rose, and distributed in the USA by Asendia USA, 701 Ashland Ave, Folcroft PA. Application to Mail at Periodicals Postage Prices is pending at Philadelphia, PA and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: send address changes to Golf Course Architecture, 701 Ashland Ave, Folcroft, PA. 19032.

The Art and Science of Golf Course Architecture Kasugai Country Club, East Course, Japan Photo:Taku Miyamoto USA +1-707-526-7190 • golfplan@golfplan.com • www.golfplan.com Golfplan Host Course 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026

8 INSIGHTS 32 Greg Norman talks about the evolution of Vietnam as a rising golf destination. 36 As the construction business he founded approaches 50 years of operation, Bill Kubly reflects on his life in golf. 40 Justin Olmstead of Profile Products considers how the correct rootzone can protect an architect’s vision and deliver top-class playing surfaces. TEE BOX 10 Our Tee Box section kicks off with news about the reopening of The Farms in Rancho Santa Fe, California, following a renovation by Tim Liddy. Cover photography by Dave Evenson FEATURE 44 Working on a course which you know well, and where you might even have been a member, is a special challenge for a golf architect, as Adam Lawrence found out. CONTENTS

9 INTERVIEW 54 Christoph Städler has played a major part in making Germany a significant golfing nation and led one of Europe’s largest golf design firms. Adam Lawrence spoke to him about his career. REPORTS 78 Shura Links, located on Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast, opens as part of a new island development. 82 Cabell Robinson designs a blend of parkland and links holes for Limassol Greens in Cyprus. 86 Olazabal Design carves two courses out of rugged and vegetated terrain in Vietnam. 90 The renovation of Quintero in Arizona combines updated infrastructure with design refinements. 94 Nicklaus Design helps to reconfigure and fine-tune Saadiyat Beach in Abu Dhabi. 99 Collaborative efforts revitalise Elk River Club, which was hit by Hurricane Helene in 2024. GCSAA SHOW 103 With the GCSAA Conference and Trade Show taking place in Orlando, GCA highlights some of the businesses to check out if you are attending. HOLING OUT 124 We close the issue by seeing how a golf course can help protect endangered native wildlife. ON SITE 58 Richard Humphreys travels to Tbilisi in Georgia for the opening of the third golf course in the country, a ninehole design by Golfplan. 64 Nine holes of a Lobb + Partners layout on Egypt’s Red Sea coast are now open. Richard Humphreys paid a visit. 70 Toby Ingleton returns to Apogee Club in Florida for the opening of its third 18-hole course, a Kyle Phillips design.

10 TEE BOX Architect sought to re-establish original Dye character and introduce new layers of strategy and drama at California course. Tim Liddy completes renovation at The Farms

11 The Farms Golf Club in Rancho Santa Fe, California, has reopened its golf course – a 1988 design by Pete and Perry Dye – following a renovation by Tim Liddy. “Our goal was to restore the golf course to its original Dye heritage which had been altered by several previous remodels,” said Liddy, a longtime associate of Pete Dye. “Because of construction timing and the value of the poa annua greens in this climate, all greens were preserved. All other features – tees, fairways and bunkers – were rebuilt within the existing corridors while developing new strategies and re-establishing the visual character of the original Dye design.” Andy Jones, president of The Farms, said: “Restoring the Dye aesthetic, including the signature railroad-tie lake walls, was important to our membership.” After two years of planning, the course closed in March 2025 and reopened seven months later with Liddy working with Integrity Golf Course Construction and Pinnacle Design Company to deliver the project. The golf course construction phase, including new irrigation, was completed in five months, allowing two months for the grow-in of the new Coachella sod. “The Farms is the first course in the world to use Coachella, a new drought-tolerant bermuda turf developed by University of California, Riverside, for southern California,” said Jones. “We removed all existing acacia and replaced with native to open views throughout the property. The removal of the acacia and native Photo: Dave Evenson

Photo credit: Patrick Koenig Creating Golf Course Environments… …one course at a time Landscape and Water Feature Design 77935 Calle Tampico Suite #202 La Quinta, CA 92253 +1 760-340-4529 kena@pinnacle-design.com 30 year Anniversary

TEE BOX 13 addition was also meant to return to more of a Dye design and links feel.” Liddy said: “The changes were extensive and directed by two primary goals. First, The Farms is a pure golf club. It has that special sense of place and membership that only true golf-only clubs possess. Second, the membership includes many highly skilled players – including tour professionals [such as Phil Mickelson, Xander Schauffele and Annika Sörenstam] – as well as older members. The course needed to be challenging while still playable and enjoyable for the average member.” Clearing acres of invasive acacia shrubs opened sweeping vistas across the property and allowed Liddy to introduce new layers of strategy and drama to individual golf holes. Native grasses were incorporated throughout many of the out-of-play areas, adding texture and framing as well as a more natural aesthetic. “The sixth hole is a good example of the remodel,” Liddy explained. “Significant work was done to enhance playability, strategy and aesthetics. The removal of the acacia shrubs opened new long views across the golf course, the existing cart path was repositioned out of sight, and new bunkering now obscures portions of the landing area – creating a more strategic and visually engaging tee shot.” Liddy, Jones, Integrity Golf and Pinnacle Design were joined on the project team by the club’s general manager Scott Heyn and director of golf course maintenance Troy Mullane. “Everyone involved in this project played integral roles in delivering a remodel that re-establishes the course’s Dye lineage while enhancing both the experience and the challenge for members,” said Liddy. Jones added: “The open views, turf quality, new bunkers, etc, are all fantastic and the final product turned out better than we had ever expected. Membership feedback has been fantastic and we’re very pleased with the result.” The club, home to both the men’s and women’s San Diego State University golf teams, has also completed work on a new short-game practice facility and redesigned its driving range. New bunkering on the sixth hole, the shortest par four on the course, obscures portions of the landing area Photo: Dave Evenson

14 Văn Lang Empire club debuts in early 2026 TEE BOX Văn Lang Empire T&T Golf Club, in northern Vietnam’s Phú Thọ province, will officially open in early 2026. The new club has been developed by T&T Group and features an 18-hole layout designed by Greg Norman Golf Course Design (GNGCD) that has been built by Flagstick Golf Course Construction Management. Sports Turf Solutions has provided Zeon Zoysia turf and TifEagle for greens. The course has been built on undulating terrain and features dramatic elevation changes. It will be the centrepiece of a multi-phase masterplanned development that includes 36 holes of golf, a clubhouse with an integrated hotel, an event venue, housing and more. “The course layout was the result of an intensive on-site routing study to maximise compatibility of each hole with the existing terrain and landscape,” said Norman. “The location and sizing of lakes played a particularly important role in balancing the cut-fill, water management, course strategy and aesthetics.” “Players have several options to approach each hole and placement off the tee is critical,” said Chris Campbell, president at GNGCD. “Hole five is a good example: a downhill par four with a well-guarded green tucked behind a lake that runs the length of the fairway. Players can choose how much of the hazard they want to bite off for a risk-reward trade off on the approach shot.” Holes six and seven both dogleg and have several fairway bunkers. A par-three eighth has a diamondshaped green defended by two large bunkers, then the short par-four ninth has sprawling bunkers up much of the right side of its fairway. The back nine continues through the forested landscape, with lakes coming into play on holes fourteen, sixteen, seventeen and eighteen. “The club’s target audience includes both domestic and international guests. There is convenient access from Hanoi International Airport – the global gateway to Vietnam – and the course design prioritises enjoyability for golfers of all skill levels and ‘re-playability’ value for members and repeat guests,” said Campbell. “The extensive practice facilities will provide a training ground for new golfers with a particular focus on growing the game among Vietnamese youth.” ` Photo: Greg Norman Golf Course Design

15 Sandy hasn’t travelled to mainland Europe that much in his 20 years of visiting the world’s golf courses, but given that last year’s Ryder Cup was played around the time the October issue came out, it is perhaps unsurprising that he was at a previous venue, Marco Simone in Italy. First out of the hat and winner of the coveted shirt is wellknown golf consultant Michael Pask. Back to the links, Sandy’s favourite home, for this issue, and this one is a doozy, one of the greatest holes in the world. As such, we really don’t feel inclined to give any clues – can’t make it too easy. But since you insist, the hole is famously bunkerless. If you don’t know this one, you need to get out more! Answers, as usual, to gopher@golfcoursearchitecture.net GOPHER WATCH A new nine-hole course, designed by pro golfer-turned-architect Greg Turner, will officially open at Gibbston Valley Resort near Queenstown, New Zealand, in March 2026. The course occupies the river terrace above Kawarau Gorge, routed between rock features and the historic mine tailings from the area’s gold rush days. “One of the standout features of the course is the inclusion of two undulating double greens, shared by holes one and eight, as well as holes two and five,” said Jesus Santos, director at Gibbston Valley Golf Course. “Rather than traditional bunkers, the course utilises the natural terrain, remnants of gold mining and prominent rock formations to create challenging and visually striking hazards.” Photo: Gibbston Valley Resort New nine-hole course to open at New Zealand’s Gibbston Valley

17 TPC Dorado Beach in Puerto Rico has reopened its West course following a renovation by Robert Trent Jones II Golf Course Architects (RTJ II). Both the West and East courses were nine-hole layouts when they first opened in 1958, with both becoming 18-hole courses in 1966. All 36 holes were designed by Robert Trent Jones. “About 10 years or so ago, we restored the East to much of Robert Trent Jones Sr’s original design,” said Bruce Charlton, president at RTJ II. “That course is a Jones Sr. outdoor museum.” The West was closed in 2020 with real estate development impacting several holes. The club then brought in RTJ II and contractor Heritage Links to restore and modernise the course. “The West became overgrown due to inactivity, and when we got to work on it, we were very cognisant of where we were placing green complexes,” said Charlton. “We didn’t automatically go where they used to be. We moved half a dozen for better air movement and sunlight.” Pure Dynasty seeded paspalum, supplied by Atlas Turf International and Pure Seed, was used on tees, fairways and greens. Also, all bunkers now feature Capillary Bunkers technology. “The West is more our style: strategic with options off the tee,” said Charlton. “The idea was to keep the West shorter while making it wider and more fun. We were able to do all those things and use a lot of the original corridors and reimagine them.” RTJ II revamps Dorado Beach’s West course TEE BOX Faldo course on Maderia on track to open in 2027 Grassing is under way on a new Faldo Design course at Ponta do Pargo on the island of Madeira, Portugal. The project is 17 years in the making, with Faldo’s original design halted at the preliminary civil engineering stage, due to the global financial crisis of 2008-10. “The site is as dramatic as any site that I’ve seen,” said architect Paul Jansen. “We’ve got eight holes along the cliff edge – that’s a rarity. The holes away from the sea are equally dramatic because you’ll be playing through cavernous valleys and wonderful rock formations.” Find out more about the project by listening to Jansen speak on The Greenprint podcast. Photo: Faldo Design Photo: TPC Dorado Beach

18 TEE BOX THE BIG PICTURE The par-five fifteenth at the new Seven Mile Beach in Hobart, Australia, photographed by Will Watt. Seven Mile Beach, which officially opened in December 2025, is the first newbuild for Clayton, DeVries & Pont, with partners Mike Clayton and Mike DeVries leading the design for a group led by Hobart native and tour pro Mathew Goggin. The direct route down the right side of the 496-yard hole leaves a blind second shot, with the green obscured by dunes. Those that drive far and left will be able to see the target but will need another long and accurate shot to reach it in two. For most, a lay-up will be required into the crumpled landscape below the green. The hole, which plays to a backdrop of Tiger Head Bay, is one of only seven on the course with bunkers.

Photo: Will Watt 19

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21 The fourteenth green is split into two distinct plateaus, divided by a swale which can send balls back off the green to tightly mown turf below the surface Ross and Stein took inspiration from Travis’s twelfth green at Garden City to create a unique transition on the par-three third “The fourth green is somewhat reachable, but it requires absolute precision to land your ball between two enormous dunes,” said architect Brian Ross TEE BOX Great Dunes at Jekyll Island Golf Club COURSE BLUEPRINT Image: Ross Golf Design and Stein Golf Design Great Dunes at Jekyll Island Golf Club in Georgia, USA, has reopened as an 18-hole layout following a restoration and expansion by architects Brian Ross and Jeff Stein. The original Great Dunes course opened in 1928 and comprised 18 holes designed by Walter Travis. However, the back nine was abandoned in the early 1940s due to coastal storm damage, beach erosion and wartime pressures. For the decades after, the club operated the Travis nine, along with its other courses: Oleander, Pine Lakes and Indian Mound. In 2023, Ross and Stein were hired by the Jekyll Island Authority (JIA) to lead a restoration of the Great Dunes nine and reinstate nine new Travis-inspired holes on a portion of the Oleander course and land that was occupied by the front nine of the original Great Dunes. “Knowing that we had to start on the first hole of the former Oleander course allowed Brian and I to narrow down our options for the routing,” said Stein. The pair initially worked independently, each producing separate routing plans. Both arrived at the same solution, which became the basis for the final layout. The former Great Dunes nine encompasses holes four to twelve, while the front nine of Oleander was redeveloped to become holes one to three and thirteen to eighteen in the new routing. “This turned out to be serendipitous, creating a traditional out-and-in flow,” said Stein. “You walk out through the maritime forest, wander through the dunes for nine holes, then play the final six along the coastal lakes while still in sight of the dunes.” The routing loops and crosses itself in several locations, including a stretch from the twelfth hole back onto the former Oleander footprint for the final six holes. This sequence required careful attention to maintain strategic balance and to integrate the style of Walter Travis throughout. “The golf course twists on itself in multiple locations,” said Ross. “That was probably the greatest challenge of the project – having six consecutive holes that needed to be remodelled in the style and strategic thinking of Walter Travis.” The course begins with holes one to three of the former Oleander course The former tenth and eighteenth holes on the Oleander course were renovated to become a new driving range and practice facilities Ross and Stein restored a historic walking bridge that links the tenth green to the back tee on eleven

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23 Bella Ridge, a new 18-hole golf course in Colorado, has opened for preview play, ahead of its official opening in spring 2026. The course is between Denver and Fort Collins on land that was once a dairy farm operated by the Podtburg family. It has been designed by Art Schaupeter, vice president at Troon’s TCS Agronomic & Renovation Services. Why is this project so important from a public golf standpoint? Bella Ridge is a real community asset. With that will come a sense of community pride as well as a great access point into golf for those who don’t currently play. New private courses and high-end resort layouts cater mostly to existing golfers. Bella Ridge creates an opportunity to introduce new players to the joys of golf. Short tee areas have been incorporated into each hole with no forced carries from those tees. This will encourage family play and will create a more comfortable experience for beginner golfers of any age. To further encourage nongolfers to give the sport a try, there Photo: Art Schaupeter TEE BOX The short par-four fourteenth, with a green perched on a hill, is one of Schaupeter’s ‘anchor’ holes “Bella Ridge is a real community asset” Art Schaupeter speaks about the vision, routing and playing experience of his new public course in Colorado. Q&A with Art Schaupeter

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25 is also a very comprehensive, 20-acre practice facility that will give players the facilities required to work on all aspects of their game. Can you provide some insight into the routing process? The family allowed me to use the property as needed to create great golf, with development then positioned around the layout. This is a somewhat rare opportunity to create a public golfing experience that is uninterrupted by the adjoining development. Golfers don’t traverse any neighbourhoods from start to finish, making it a core golf course that prioritises the golfer’s experience. The divergent characteristics of the site also made the routing somewhat straightforward. The most interesting ground for golf wasn’t necessarily going to be good ground for development, and conversely, the ground that I left for development had very little natural interest for golf holes. It was then just a question of getting the holes organised on the interesting ground. There was definitely a handful of what I call ‘anchor’ holes. Regardless of how my various concepts were laid out, these holes were always going to be a part of the final routing. This group comprises holes eight, nine, eleven, twelve, fourteen and fifteen. Another focus of the routing process was the opportunity to create multiple smaller golf course options. The layout has players returning to the clubhouse after the sixth and ninth. This will allow Bella Ridge to offer three- and six-hole rounds besides the traditional nine- and eighteen-hole rounds. What will the playing experience be like at Bella Ridge? I hope players will use words like ‘fun’, ‘adventurous’ and ‘engaging’ once they have played at Bella Ridge. As I’ve said since I started my own design firm over 20 years ago, ‘fun is the foundation’. The way this is accomplished at Bella Ridge is by giving players as many options of play as possible. One of the main defences of the course that players will need to be aware of throughout the round are the ground slopes in the fairways and around the greens. Once the course gets firm and fast, the slopes will be big factors either helping players or potentially hurting them depending upon where the slope takes the ball. There will be a lot of room in the fairways and a substantial amount of short, bentgrass surrounds that will create options and variety around the greens. Read the full interview with Schaupeter on the GCA website. Image: Art Schaupeter TEE BOX

26 King’s North reopens at Myrtle Beach National TEE BOX The King’s North course at Myrtle Beach National Golf Club in South Carolina has reopened following a renovation by Brandon Johnson. Work on the front nine was completed by contractor Henderson Construction and reopened in October 2024, with renovation of the back nine beginning in summer 2025. Key alterations focused on playability, strategy and improved maintenance. Highlights of the renovation include the par-five tenth, where expanded fairway lines and a reworked green approach introduce multiple second-shot options, rewarding aggressive lines with feeding slopes while retaining safe avenues for conservative play. The green complex was reimagined, replacing a single dominant bunker with varied contours, a counterbalancing landform and expanded surrounds that support both aerial and ground approaches. Existing sandy waste areas were expanded and blended across holes nine, ten and eighteen to eliminate intrusive cart paths, while tree removal has improved agronomic conditions and opened views across the property. A huge transformation occurred on the finishing where 45 bunkers were removed and replaced with a broad landform that feeds shots toward the green, screens the parking area and creates funnelling lines into newly restored pin positions. First released in 2018 and now reprinted, The Evolution of Golf Course Design by golf course architect Keith Cutten offers a detailed look at golf architecture from the 1830s to the 2010s and explores how historical, cultural and environmental factors have shaped design approaches over time. The book profiles the work of influential architects and examines the evolution of layout strategies, bunkering, green complexes and overall course aesthetics. It integrates historical research with analysis of key movements and trends, providing context for the development of both classic and modern courses. Cutten’s book is the perfect reference for understanding how strategy, artistry and site considerations intersect in golf course design. The go-to guide on the history of golf course design GOOD READ Photo: Founders Group International Currently available on Amazon for $149 (£110).

27 Paul McGinley Golf Course Design is returning to Donegal Golf Club, on the Murvagh Peninsula on Ireland’s Atlantic coast, to begin a third phase of renovation work. The first two phases covered seven holes and focused on the design of greens and bunkers, realignment of fairways and tees, and work on native areas, irrigation and pathways. The next phase will include a new sixth green and revamping the eighth, tenth and thirteenth holes. “There’s so much to learn from how Eddie Hackett and Pat Ruddy originally shaped these courses, both strategically and stylistically,” said McGinley. “Everything we do is about respecting the past, improving it where we can, and making sure that the course is considered among the very best of links courses that our country has to offer.” Donegal approves next phase of McGinley’s renovation plan Photo: Forrest Richardson Scottsdale club set to open new putting course Starfire Golf Club in Scottsdale, Arizona, is preparing to open The Bandana, a 22,000-square-foot putting course designed by Forrest Richardson, and to return to its original name, Scottsdale Country Club. The putting course centres on a rock garden planted with native desert vegetation and regionally sourced stone, and has the flexibility to be set up with varying hole locations and directions. It shares space with a new short course, The Six Shooter, to encourage interaction between players. This 10-hole par-29 layout will include a par-two putting hole. Richardson is also developing plans to give the club’s 18-hole layout a total and sustainable refresh. Photo: Donegal Golf Club/Facebook

29 TEE BOX Photo: Golf de Nimes-Campagne Golf de Campagne ‘reborn’ with elevated conditions The course at Golf de Campagne – a design by Léonard Morandi and Don Harradine near Nîmes in southern France – has been transformed following a renovation by Harradine Golf, agronomist Alejandro Reyes and materials specialist Alcimex. Over the years, soil on the course had become compacted, overworked and water hungry, making maintenance a “daily battle”, according to Vincent Pigeyre, greenkeeper at Campagne. “The soil simply wasn’t doing its job anymore,” he said. In 2022, the club appointed Peter Harradine, Don’s son, to oversee a reconstruction which “respected the spirit” of the course while preparing it for today’s and future requirements. “The club wanted to restore the playability and aesthetics of my father’s design,” said Harradine. “That objective was achieved by designing and specifying a sustainable approach which will withstand the ever-increasing hotter and drier summers. Returning to a course designed by my father wasn’t an act of nostalgia. It was about renovating it for the next 50 years.” Beyond agronomic performance, the project also reflects Campagne’s broader environmental commitment, with ongoing initiatives aimed at better protecting the site’s fauna and flora. Following the renovation, players have found the course’s surfaces to be more uniform and stable, and the roll of the ball to be more consistent. For the maintenance team, the course is more tolerant of climatic variations and less prone to disease, while water use has fallen by around 25 per cent. The club attributes much of this improvement to using Alcimex’s Alciturf Premium, a mineral material with high cation-exchange capacity and porosity. “In the first weeks after sowing, the soundness of that choice became evident: samples taken at five and nine weeks revealed unusually vigorous root growth,” said Pigeyre. “Six months later, roots had colonised the entire profile, and the greens retained their suppleness even under the August sun. Everything seems to function with less effort, as if the course itself had begun to breathe again.”

Combining design, construction, renovation, irrigation, maintenance, and agronomic expertise to enhance your course. For more information or to discuss how True Club Solutions can support your needs, contact Art Schaupeter at (314) 443.9029 or art.schaupeter@troon.com. TRUE CLUB SOLUTIONS WHERE AGRONOMY MEETS INNOVATION Agronomic & Renovation Services 15044 N. Scottsdale Rd., Suite 300 | Scottsdale, AZ 85254

31 RTJ II inspired by sandbelt for Cotton Bay layout Construction is progressing on the new course by Robert Trent Jones II Golf Course Architects (RTJ II) at Cotton Bay Golf Club on the island of Eleuthera in The Bahamas. Mike Gorman, senior project architect for RTJ II, said: “One of our goals is to craft a fun and flexible golf course reminiscent of iconic sandbelt layouts, using the on-site sand as our canvas. This is the first-of-its-kind design in the Caribbean – a matchplay golf course that promises both excitement and fun.” The new course will occupy the same location as the original Cotton Bay layout – designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr. – that closed in 2005 following a hurricane. CJW Golf International is handling construction, while Turfgrass is developing agronomy specifications, collaborating on the course’s construction, selecting grass species and will support the grow-in process. The course is expected to open in 2027 at the same time as a new Ritz-Carlton Reserve hotel at the resort. Pinnacle begins Curley renovation at Pelican Hill Renovation work is under way at Pelican Hill Golf Club in Newport Beach, California. Both of the club’s 18-hole layouts were designed by Tom Fazio in the 1990s and look out to the Pacific Ocean, with Pinnacle Design Company (PDC) having served as the property’s golf course landscape architect since the mid‑1990s. In October 2025, the club appointed Curley-Wagner Golf Design and PDC for a renovation. Brian Curley’s plan includes renovating bunkers, expanding fairways, refining tees and updating key landscape features. PDC will lead the landscape component, concentrating on revegetating disturbed areas and installing new landscape beds with native or drought‑tolerant species suited to Orange County’s coastal climate. The project will be executed in phases of nine holes at a time over an 18‑month period. TEE BOX Photo: Cotton Bay Golf Club Photo: John Luciano

32 INSIGHT When I first set foot in Vietnam more than 20 years ago, I had no idea that one stretch of untouched coastline would help ignite one of the most exciting golf destinations in the world. I remember that first site vividly – miles of raw, towering sand dunes about 100 kilometres southeast of Ho Chi Minh City. That landscape would eventually become The Bluffs Grand Ho Tram, now ranked among Golf Digest’s ‘World’s 100 Greatest Golf Courses’. Even then, I knew Vietnam had something special. The land, the people, the culture – everything about it felt authentic, natural and ready to be shared with the world. As a designer, you dream of sites like those dunes at Ho Tram. What makes Vietnam extraordinary for golf design is its diversity. The south offers dramatic coastal dunes and ocean winds. The central region provides pure links terrain and golden beaches. The north delivers rolling hills, limestone mountains and river valleys. Each site feels entirely different, yet unmistakably Vietnamese. At Greg Norman Golf Course Design (GNGCD), we have completed nine courses across seven sites, stretching from the southern coast to the northern hills. Projects like the Dunes course at Da Nang Golf Club and The Bluffs demonstrate that you can preserve the natural character of a site while creating world-class golf experiences. Both helped redefine what golf in Vietnam could be – authentic, challenging and beautifully integrated with the landscape. Over the past two decades, I’ve had the privilege of watching Vietnam’s golf landscape transform. When we completed The Bluffs in 2014, golf tourism was still in its infancy. Today, Vietnam stands among the top golf destinations in Asia, recognised twice by the World Golf Awards in its ‘World’s Best Golf Destination’ category. One defining milestone came in 2015, when The Bluffs hosted the Ho Tram Open, an Asian Tour event that many consider the moment Vietnam stepped confidently onto the global golf stage. That week showcased not only the dramatic dunes of Ho Tram but also Vietnam’s capacity to host world-class competition. It helped cement Vietnam’s reputation as a serious golf nation at a time when the industry was just beginning to take shape. Years later, the Asian Tour returned to Vietnam for one of its biggest The evolution of Vietnam as a rising golf destination is something to behold, with the sport now a key pillar of the country’s tourism strategy. Golf’s next great frontier GREG NORMAN

33 Photo: credit The first site Norman visited in Vietnam would become The Bluffs Grand Ho Tram, in the south of the country on the coast of the South China Sea events, the International Series Vietnam in 2023 at KN Golf Links Cam Ranh – another GNGCD design. With the events at The Bluffs and KN Links, the two largest professional tournaments in Vietnam’s history were played on our courses. That is something I am incredibly proud of. It speaks to the quality of the land we have been given, and the trust placed in our team to deliver championshipcalibre venues. As designers, our philosophy has always been to create courses that test the best players in the world while remaining enjoyable for amateurs, members, resort guests, juniors, seniors and beginners. A championship course should be inclusive, not exclusive. We achieve this through a range of design tools: multiple teeing options, strategic feature placement that rewards thoughtful play over brute strength, diverse green complexes that allow for flexible pin positions and practice facilities that support every level of development. That philosophy was essential in Vietnam, where the future of the game depends not only on international tourists but also on the rapid rise of domestic golfers. One of the most encouraging trends in recent years has been the growth of Vietnamese players, developers and golf entrepreneurs. Golf is no longer seen only as a premium resort activity. It has become a national movement embraced by families, young professionals and a new generation of athletes. This shift is a sign of a healthy, sustainable golf economy. When local participation increases alongside international demand, the market becomes more resilient. Developers continue investing, new courses emerge in diverse regions, and the industry expands in a way that supports long-term stability rather than short-term spikes. In 2026, two new GNGCD projects will open their doors: Van Lang Empire T&T Golf Club in Phú Thọ Province, set amid hills north of “ Our philosophy has always been to create courses that test the best players in the world while remaining enjoyable for amateurs” Photo: Greg Norman Golf Course Design

the origins of the par 2 have finally been traced to a 1974 high school student www.forrestrichardsongolf.com | +1 602 906 1818 In high school Forrest Richardson managed to convince his teachers to let him design golf courses as part of his geometry class. His fantasy “Mill Creek” design featured railroad track obstacles, an island bunker, a par-6 and an innovative par-2 putting hole — the 17th. The dreaming came true. His first putting hole debuted at Mountain Shadows in Arizona. It’s become a favorite betting hole. His second par-2 comes on line in 2026 at Scottsdale Country Club’s Six Shooter Course. In his own words: “Formula golf design may have been the thing – but not any longer.” FORREST RICHARDSON GOLF COURSE ARCHITECTS baylands golf links | dave sansom photo wigwam golf resort | keith alstrin photo c 2025 frgca

INSIGHT Hanoi, and Truong Thinh Bao Ninh, a pure links course carved through coastal dunes and casuarina forests. These two projects highlight Vietnam’s incredibly varied natural settings and show how golf can be environmentally sensitive when done correctly. Since my first term as a ‘Vietnam Tourism Ambassador’ from 2018 to 2021, I’ve witnessed remarkable growth – stronger infrastructure, more developers and a government that truly understands golf’s ability to drive tourism and investment. Golf tourism revenue has risen roughly 20 per cent each year since the pandemic and is projected to reach US$1 billion by 2025, accounting for about 10 per cent of all tourism revenue. Even more significant is that golf is now officially recognised as a pillar of the national tourism strategy for 2026–2030. But none of this progress happens without deep, hands-on engagement. I’ve always believed you cannot design great golf courses from a distance. You need to walk the land, feel the wind, study the soil and understand the community. Vietnam is one of the places where I have been most involved personally through regular site visits and long stretches spent on the ground. And one of our greatest competitive advantages is our fulltime GNGCD team based in Vietnam. That local presence allows us to work closely with developers, government stakeholders, contractors and communities to ensure every project is built with cultural sensitivity, environmental responsibility and long-term vision. Beyond the golf, what keeps me coming back to Vietnam are the people. Vietnamese hospitality is unmatched – warm, humble and deeply genuine. The culture, the food and the spirit of the country all contribute to an experience that goes far beyond the fairways. As I begin my second term as Vietnam’s Tourism Ambassador (2025–2030), I’m incredibly proud of what has been achieved and even more excited for what’s ahead. Vietnam has created a blueprint for how golf can fuel tourism, investment and community development. What began as one golf course on a stretch of sand has evolved into a national movement, reshaping global perceptions and inspiring millions to see Vietnam in new ways. For me, that’s the real legacy: not simply designing great courses, but helping a nation tell its story, one fairway at a time. Van Lang Empire T&T Golf Club, in the hills north of Hanoi, will open in 2026 “ Vietnamese hospitality is unmatched – warm, humble and deeply genuine” 35

36 BILL KUBLY INSIGHT Straight out of college, I joined a small golf course design and construction company. Other than the secretary, I was the only permanent employee. That was my start in the golf industry, in 1971. In that era, there were probably 80 to 100 golf courses being built in the United States at any one time. I had graduated in landscape architecture from University of Wisconsin and studied golf course design in two semesters – so on my first day at the office I sat at the drawing board, ready for work as an architect. Then, a truckload of 40-foot pipe came in for a golf course that was being built. My decision to chip in to help unload it would prove crucial in shaping my career. Golf course construction in those days was more a mom-and-pop business – small companies doing one or two golf courses. There were only a few bigger builders around. By 1976 I had started my own company, Landscapes Unlimited, and began with a small irrigation project. In short order I got my first nine-hole golf course – Lakeview in South Dakota. The architect was Dick Watson, the owner of the company that hired me from college. He taught me how to build a golf course – and Lakeview made for a great early job for my own firm. I was lucky to have learned how to run a business from Dick. My recommendation to anybody that wants to get into the industry is to get a good base working for a builder or architect firm. Learn, and grow slow. My early projects were mainly for regional designers. However, things started to change once I got my first job with one of the big-name architects: Tom Fazio. For someone from Wisconsin to go out to Oyster Bay on Long Island was a real experience. I have since constructed about 30-35 courses for Fazio, a good reflection of the success of our collaboration. In my early days, I would move to wherever we were building a golf course. Those projects can be the most rewarding – living on a remote site in a location such as South Dakota for a year, where you can experience life a little differently, is a bit of a selling point for me. For the first five or six years I was in the business I would travel to jobs and rent an apartment where we were building a course. For my first Rees Jones project, the people in our building nicknamed us the vagabonds! As the construction business he founded approaches 50 years of operation, Bill Kubly reflects on his life in golf. Five decades in the dirt

37 Photo: Landscapes Unlimited Those days were some of the most interesting in my career. It’s a much more professional industry now, because of the proliferation of golf in the late twentieth century. Of course, competition increased, but the cream rises to the top. A lot of our success is down to collaborating well with architects and we’re proud of those relationships. Our collaboration efforts extend to the development side of our business – Landscapes Unlimited has owned over 30 golf courses in its history, and still owns 12. We are always developing one or two courses alongside a partner, and sometimes that partner is an architect. One example is Sutton Bay in South Dakota. Architect Graham Marsh designed the course, and he became a close friend during this project. It opened in 2003 but within 10 years, the site was experiencing landslips where some areas were settling. The course was built on land overlooking Lake Oahe, a large manmade reservoir that was formed when the Missouri River was dammed in the 1960s. In response to the site’s instability, Graham, myself and founding partner Mark Amundson raised funds for a second course to be built on a more stable site. Landscapes still operates the club today. Things slowed down after 2008. The United States went from building 300-400 courses a year down to 25 – that’s quite a change! The industry, therefore, has had to change. There is a lot more renovation work now, whether that be new greens, bunkers or irrigation, and we’re rebuilding those courses that were built 30 to 35 years ago. I have built courses around the world, in places like Scotland, Portugal, Mexico and China. We constructed five golf courses in China, the first being Shanqin Bay on Hainan Island. Landscapes Unlimited actually helped designers Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw get the job! Bill Bill Kubly established Landscapes Unlimited in 1976 and the business has since been involved in more than 3,000 projects “ A lot of our success is down to collaborating well with architects and we’re proud of those relationships”

Timothy Liddy + Associates GOLF COURSE DESIGN / GOLF COURSE ARCHITECTURE timliddy.com

spent well over 100 days in China designing that course, working with our shapers and locals. The highlight for me was not just building the course but meeting the local people and living and working out there in a completely different location than the typical American site. The situation we find ourselves in now, after the pandemic and resulting boom in participation and projects, is one I don’t think will change too much. My prediction is that we’ll continue to see steady business for a long time and, even though there are a lot of builders today, there are enough projects to go round. I am very proud of the evolution of my career and am looking forward to seeing how the company presses forward. The firm started with one project at a time, then two, three and just kept on growing. To date, Landscapes Unlimited has worked on more than 3,000 golf projects, bringing the same expertise and relationship focus to projects and clients of all shapes and sizes. Our team of project managers are really good and will make sure we are in good stead for whatever challenges the golf industry meets next. Bill Kubly is the founder and chairman of Landscapes Unlimited. 39 Highlights from Kubly’s construction portfolio include Lost Rail in Nebraska, Sutton Bay in South Dakota (left) and Shanqin Bay in China (top) INSIGHT Photo: Landscapes Unlimited “ Even though there are a lot of builders today, there are enough projects to go round” Photo: Landscapes Unlimited Photo: Lost Rail Golf Club

40 JUSTIN OLMSTEAD INSIGHT Over the past few years, I’ve had the opportunity to spend time on a number of golf course renovation and construction sites. Each project, no matter how different in scale or style, has reinforced the same simple lesson: soil determines how well a golf course performs long after the final grow-in. It influences how surfaces drain, how turf roots, how playable features behave and how consistently the course plays from day to day. This perspective began to take shape during a visit to Crooked Stick Golf Club in Indiana in 2024. Walking the rebuilt greens with the superintendent and discussing the rootzone specifications, it became clear that soil decisions made during construction play a direct role in how design intent holds up over time. That experience has since informed how I view renovation and newbuild projects, shaping how I think about the role soil plays in preserving architectural intent long after construction. Many architects, builders and superintendents already understand that drainage plans, shaping work and turf selection are critical elements of success. But the soil itself – what it is made of, how it behaves and how it supports turf – should be a focus early on in the planning stage. Soil is the foundation of nearly everything that happens above it. When performing well, it strengthens the design. When it struggles, problems surface gradually and can affect playability, maintenance and long-term integrity of the soil. Even the best projects face familiar challenges related to the rootzone. Whether working with native soils, imported mixes or a combination of both, the following issues appear again and again: drainage limitations, compaction, low nutrient availability and moisture inconsistency. These challenges extend beyond agronomy and directly affect how design features perform. Greens constructed with organic amendments may infiltrate well soon after construction but will slow considerably as the organics break down. Fairways designed to encourage the ground game can lose their intended bounce and roll if moisture levels fluctuate. Even subtle contouring can lose its intended impact if the underlying soil conditions change. These limitations highlight why greater attention to rootzone performance is becoming an increasingly important consideration in modern course construction and renovation. The correct rootzone can protect an architect’s vision and deliver top-class playing surfaces. Built to last

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