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

Himalayas Golf creates indoor short-game area for Bayview club in Toronto

Himalayas Golf has created a new indoor short-game facility for Bayview Golf & Country Club in Toronto, Canada.

The 5,000-square-foot area has been built in the club’s old curling barn and has a three-tiered artificial turf green and a bunker with a lip height of three feet. Four simulator bays have also been installed.

“Design it with interest, and they won’t just come, they’ll stay,” said Rob Gavarkovs, vice president of Himalayas Golf, formerly known as Jansen Golf Design. “We strived to build something that would keep Bayview’s members interested in their practice routines all winter long.

“Flat is boring. I see greens go unused or underused all the time. If it’s flat, players will hit five putts, make one, and they’re done. We give them a tough pin on a tricky shelf, and it takes them 30 putts to make. They feel so much more accomplished when they do, and they’ve also built a new skill in their game they didn’t have before.”

Construction of the new practice area began in November 2023 and it opened to members in December.

“More than anything, the key to designing indoor golf is the focus on safety,” said Gavarkovs. “In the case of Bayview, the green was designed to have a ‘putting only’ section that extends behind the bunker, and a chipping section on either side. The focus was allowing players to putt, while players chipping and playing from the bunker are naturally directed to hit balls to the back right wall.”

Bayview offered 250 winter membership add-ons for their approximately 700 members, which sold out in 10 hours.

Previous Article Welling focuses on playability for renovation of Byrd design at Atlanta CC
Next Article Castiglion del Bosco reduces water consumption by 20 per cent
Print
2391 Rate this article:
No rating
Slideshow HTML
  • Bayview Himalayas Golf
    Himalayas Golf

    Himalayas Golf has created a new indoor short-game facility for Bayview in Toronto, Canada

  • Bayview Himalayas Golf
    Himalayas Golf

    The 5,000-square-foot area has a three-tiered artificial turf green and a bunker

ADd Image Credit here for home page
Himalayas Golf
Richard Humphreys

Richard HumphreysRichard Humphreys

Other posts by Richard Humphreys
Contact author

Contact author

x

Subscribe to the Golf Course Architecture newsletter


  • ©2025 Tudor Rose. All Rights Reserved. Golf Course Architecture is published by Tudor Rose.