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

Hansen and Himmel collaborate on Sylt redesign

Architects Rolf-Stephan Hansen and Thomas Himmel are nearing completion of the redesign of Golf Club Sylt on the German island of Sylt.

In early 2021, Hansen – a Sylt native who designed the Budersand course on the island in the mid-2000s – and Himmel were hired to create a masterplan that would improve safety and add more strategy.

Josef Pötter Golf began construction in August 2021 – the project has been structured in three phases to minimise disruption to play and ensure all 18 holes remain accessible throughout the summer.

Work is being overseen by site manager Steffen Kayser and is expected to be complete by spring 2024. Particular attention has been paid to greens, with work completed to improve their playability and many being expanded to create additional pin positions.

The final phase includes a redesign of four holes, lake expansion, new tees to increase length and shot options, and installing a new Toro irrigation system.

“Expanding lakes and introducing a new drainage concept aims to help address the club’s water management and increase its water preservation,” said Darryl Spelman of Josef Pötter Golf. “Fairway bunkers with a more modern and detailed approach – with regional seeds introduced – have also given the course some extra flair.

“Over 25,000 square metres of fescue has been seeded in a specialised turf nursery and prepared over the past 12 months to be laid during this winter to help facilitate an early opening. Despite facing extreme weather conditions, we are happy that the project has been a success, We look forward to working with all involved as we continue to contribute to the ongoing evolution of the course.”

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    Stefan von Stengel

    Rolf-Stephan Hansen and Thomas Himmel are nearing completion of the redesign of Golf Club Sylt

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