We have found that a lot of people misunderstand the term “philosophy” when it comes to golf course design. They expect us to adhere to the “minimalist” movement, or come from the “modernist” school of design. Now, don’t get us wrong, we’ve certainly done courses that can be categorized as such. However, our philosophy is described by more than the look and feel of the final product.
KIAWAH ISLAND RESORT– OCEAN COURSE
Our first tenet is that we employ the most comprehensive design process in the industry so that both principals, Paul and Chris, are intimately involved with every aspect of the golf course design from the first sketch on paper to the first shovel in the ground to the first tee-shot on opening day. In fact, if our clients desire, we provide a “travelling” office which means the architect will actually live on-site during the construction of the project to ensure all the details of the design come to fruition.
Paying meticulous attention to the design — on both paper and in the field — is the difference between creating a simply good golf course, and a nationally recognized, award winning golf course. Our multifaceted design approach allows us to craft every golf hole with its own unique fingerprint. And, a golf course with a myriad of experiences is one that golfers will remember.
Today, the golf course designer is faced with many different and, often, challenging situations. Unlike the days of old when most proposed golf course sites were pristine and natural, contemporary golf development takes place on practically every conceivable parcel type. For that reason, the modern golf course architect needs to be especially adaptive. Our design process, whether for a wonderful natural site, or a site in need of reclamation, will foster the creation of the most fitting golf project for the space.
CROOKED STICK GOLF CLUB
We have been fortunate to design golf venues on some beautiful natural vhealthportal.com/product-category/anti-anxiety/ sites. Our experience and knowledge allow us to transform landforms into a world-class course by working with what’s already there. Similar to our heroes from the past, Donald Ross, Alister MacKenzie, A.W. Tillinghast, Charles Blair MacDonald, Willie Park, Jr. and George Thomas, we don’t let the ego of our design ideas overpower the reality that a natural site is a piece of land that has existed untouched and unadulterated for many years.
Our training in landscape architecture, bioengineering and agronomy has given us the tools to understand precisely how to embellish the beauty of a natural site — and not overpower it. We don’t reshape a piece of land just to reshape it. We don’t radically change a site so that it conforms to a “signature” style. Each golf hole needs to be unique and have its own identity, yet fit seamlessly into the overall concept of the course. Using the natural layout to our advantage is the means to that end.
PRE-EXISTING SITE FOR WYANDOTTE SHORES G.C.
In today’s environment, designers are often provided a less than ideal or “unnatural” piece of land. We pride ourselves on being able to turn these type sites into golf landscapes that exhibit exquisite beauty. Again, from our training in the discipline of landscape architecture, we are able to visualize beauty where it does not currently exist.
We have vision. And, we are able to take that vision, and turn even the most humble piece of ground into a landscape that is by all measures remarkable. Unlike working on natural sites, where the challenge is narrowing down the best golf holes, working on an unnatural site actually takes more design talent; because of the need to create opportunity where there seemingly is none. To us, creating a beautiful venue from an unnatural site is a challenge that we relish.
MASTER PLAN FOR WYANDOTTE SHORES G.C
Many golf developments are integrated within a residential component. Many golf architects lament this, and believe housing to be a “necessary evil” in order for golf development to continue. We, however, embrace the idea of integrating golf and housing. In fact, the first golf courses of Scotland are, by and large, community golf courses that are integral components to the area’s physical and social fabric. St. Andrews in Scotland is considered a landscape for all members of the community to enjoy — as evidenced by the non-golfing Scottish dog walkers seen along The Eden hole with the golfing tourists.There is no reason contemporary golf and housing developments cannot embrace similar ideals. A golf course, if designed well, can only add to the character of the community, and we understand how to make this happen.
If there was a golf course design curriculum in universities, undoubtedly there would be an entry-level class called “Golf Design 101” where the professor would tell the students that all courses should be made “fair and challenging for all levels of golfers”. After all, this is a very basic concept that most designers past and present employ. And we’re no different – all our courses are fair and challenging. However, because we’re designers who are also golfers, we’re able to expound on this concept better than most. We approach each project wearing two hats — one as designer and one as golfer.
Hemlock Golf Club Sketch
This means that our solutions are part design pragmatism, part aesthetics, and part golf psychology. Because we’ve played golf our entire lives, we’ve been through the entire spectrum of “emotions” ourselves elation, frustration, emancipation etc. We pride ourselves on knowing how each and every physical form on the course will elicit these emotions in golfers. And the more emotions a golfer feels, the more memorable the golf course will be, and the more the course will be revisited.
Keep in mind that when you are “buying” a golf course designer for a project, you are signing up for people. At Albanese & Lutzke, our references and past projects speak highly to our commitment. We didn’t enter this field to make lots of money for ourselves– we pursued it for the passion of the craft. Simply put, our mission statement is:
We sincerely, honestly, and passionately embrace the golf course design process, and are committed to exceeding the expectations of our clients. We work longer hours than necessary to provide more than our clients ask – this is how both designer and client will succeed.