89 Image: WAC Golf Blackhawk has consistently been recognised among Canada’s leading golf courses. That reputation creates both an exciting opportunity and a considerable responsibility as we add nine new holes.” The new nine will occupy a predominantly sandy site that consists of a series of rolling landforms. The proposed layout, with WAC Golf drawing on characteristics of Whitman’s original course, will play to a par of 36 and measure 3,706 yards, with two par fives, five par fours and two par threes. “Our intention is not to reproduce the existing course hole by hole, but to carry its underlying design philosophy onto a new piece of ground,” says Cutten. “The new nine must feel unmistakably like Blackhawk while possessing its own identity, rhythm and collection of memorable golf holes.” The site has considerable movement, from larger ridges and elevation changes to smaller rolls, folds and irregularities. “Golf architects often speak about finding holes rather than manufacturing them, and that description is particularly appropriate here,” says Cutten. “In many places, the holes seem to be sitting naturally within the landscape, waiting to be uncovered and played. “That quality has had a major influence on the routing. Rather than imposing preconceived golf holes upon the property, we have allowed the terrain to determine the direction of play, the location of the greens and the character of the approaches. The routing uses the site’s natural rises and depressions to create constantly changing views, lies and strategic questions. The inherent movement should also allow the finished course to feel established relatively quickly, because so much of its character is already present in the ground.” The new nine will emphasise width, angles and options, with generous playing corridors, greens that offer a variety of pin locations and slopes that will gather some shots and reject others and lend themselves to a ground-game approach. “Varied green settings and approach conditions will be equally important,” says Cutten. “Some holes will invite running shots and the use of surrounding contours, while others will ask golfers to challenge a feature or find a particular portion of the fairway to improve the angle into the green. The objective is to produce strategic interest for accomplished players without taking away the sense of possibility and enjoyment that less A series of bunkers will dominate the landing area of the par-five second
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