Interviews

Oakmont: An interview with Gil Hanse

With the 2025 US Open arriving at Oakmont, Richard Humphreys spoke with the architect, who renovated the course in 2023, about what to expect

Martin Ebert: Design journey

With a portfolio that includes eight of the ten Open venues, Mackenzie & Ebert occupies an enviable position in the golf design industry. Adam Lawrence spoke with principal Martin Ebert to learn how they got there

Designs for the big screen

Chad Goetz and Agustin Piza discuss their design decisions for the virtual holes that featured in the first season of TGL

Bob Harrison: Wizard of Oz

The Australian designer has had a long career and, like many of his countrymen, has spent much of it away from home. Adam Lawrence listened to his tales from the road

Ben Cowan-Dewar: Shock and awe

Golf development firm Cabot now has properties in six countries. Richard Humphreys speaks with co-founder and CEO Ben Cowan-Dewar about what makes a great site, selection of golf course architects, and more

Team building

Turfgrass has launched its US arm with the appointment of John Lawrence, Adam Moeller and Brad Owen. Richard Humphreys speaks with them, Turfgrass founder John Clarkin and director of agronomy Julian Mooney to find out more

Brian Curley: Life of Brian

The designer has surely clocked up more air miles than anyone else in the business. Adam Lawrence caught up with him in between flights to discuss his career and his new venture with Jim Wagner

Oakmont: An interview with Gil Hanse

With the 2025 US Open arriving at Oakmont, Richard Humphreys spoke with the architect, who renovated the course in 2023, about what to expect

Martin Ebert: Design journey

With a portfolio that includes eight of the ten Open venues, Mackenzie & Ebert occupies an enviable position in the golf design industry. Adam Lawrence spoke with principal Martin Ebert to learn how they got there

Designs for the big screen

Chad Goetz and Agustin Piza discuss their design decisions for the virtual holes that featured in the first season of TGL

Bob Harrison: Wizard of Oz

The Australian designer has had a long career and, like many of his countrymen, has spent much of it away from home. Adam Lawrence listened to his tales from the road

Ben Cowan-Dewar: Shock and awe

Golf development firm Cabot now has properties in six countries. Richard Humphreys speaks with co-founder and CEO Ben Cowan-Dewar about what makes a great site, selection of golf course architects, and more

Team building

Turfgrass has launched its US arm with the appointment of John Lawrence, Adam Moeller and Brad Owen. Richard Humphreys speaks with them, Turfgrass founder John Clarkin and director of agronomy Julian Mooney to find out more

Brian Curley: Life of Brian

The designer has surely clocked up more air miles than anyone else in the business. Adam Lawrence caught up with him in between flights to discuss his career and his new venture with Jim Wagner

Richard Humphreys
/ Categories: News

Brookside in Pasadena selects Forrest Richardson to develop renovation plan

Brookside Golf Courses, a 36-hole public facility originally designed by William Park ‘Billy’ Bell in Pasadena, California, has selected Forrest Richardson to develop a renovation plan.

The courses are owned by the City of Pasadena and operated by the Rose Bowl Stadium, which is located next to the Brookside facility. Portions of both 18-hole layouts are also used for concerts and festivals throughout the year.

Richardson’s work will involve shifting a few holes to allow for new community amenities, including an expanded entertainment-based driving range and 36 holes of miniature golf. Both new features are aimed at attracting new people to the facility, also known as the Rose Bowl Arroyo Seco recreation area.

“These new concepts will bring a new dimension to Brookside,” said Richardson. “But at every turn we are taking great measures to uphold the legacy of Bell’s work, and to make certain the courses remain true to the design hallmarks of his work here.”

Bell designed the course in 1928 and later worked with his son, William F. Bell, who consulted on changes during the 1960s and 70s.

“The courses represent the best of public access golf, and they have always been familiar to me and my family and friends who play golf in the area,” said Richardson, who grew up in nearby Burbank. “The courses deserve to be preserved and improved, which is fundamental to our work adjusting holes for these new uses and players.

“One of the greatest benefits of public golf courses are their ability to also accommodate non-golfers. Much like the Old course at St Andrews, where we see families strolling across the course every Sunday, Brookside has taken the concept of a golf course serving as a park to the next level in its programming and community uses.”

According to Brookside, it estimates that more than a half million people use the facility every year, with less than 25 per cent playing golf.

“We’re looking to the future, while regarding the past,” said Richardson. “We envision a Brookside that will delight golfers for the next 100 years yet will also continue to expand its reach to include people who may not currently play the game, but will be given an opportunity to see what golf has to offer.”

Richardson is finalising historical and environmental reports, with a possible construction start date of 2024.

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  • Brookside Pasadena
    Brookside Golf Courses

    Brookside Golf Courses, a 36-hole facility in Pasadena, California, is located next to the Rose Bowl Stadium

  • Brookside Pasadena
    Brookside Golf courses

    A 1940 photo of the facility, originally designed by William Park ‘Billy’ Bell in 1928

  • Brookside Pasadena
    Brookside Golf courses

    A photo from the 1970s. At the time, Bell was working with his son, William F. Bell, who was consulting on changes

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Brookside Golf Courses
Richard Humphreys

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