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

Jacobson builds in Chinese desert
AML
/ Categories: News

Jacobson builds in Chinese desert

Chicago-based architect Rick Jacobson has completed construction on another project in China.

Jacobsen’s new Desert Forest course is located in Yulin, a city of 3.4 million people located an hour by air from Beijing.

Currently in grow-in, Jacobson says the Desert Forest Course is defined by its massive sand dunes and significant elevation changes along with water features on several holes. The course is expected to open next summer and is the first of two the Yulin Golden Dunes residential development. The second course will have a desert links theme.

“Yulin Golden Dunes is in a high desert region with an elevation of 1,140 metres (3,750 feet) – and features topography characterised by 20-50 foot rolling dunes that we have used to frame holes, create strategic options, and bring interest and excitement to the golf experience,” Jacobson said.

Water comes into play on seven holes with several connected lakes serving as a water collection system designed to supply irrigation throughout the course. Jacobson is planting native shrubs, grasses, wildflowers, and pines to accentuate the desert environment.

The golf course landscape is designed to reflect a regional effort to reduce desertification by reducing wind erosion with specific plant varieties, Jacobson said.

“Yulin Golden Dunes is going to be unique in the Chinese market from a visual perspective and from a playability standpoint,” Jacobson said. “The massive dunes will differentiate the golf experience from all other courses in this international market.”

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Sean Dudley

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