the last word
conference
The last
WORD
A different perspective
on the landscape.
By Tim Lobb
There has been significant change in landscape and use resources in a
golf course architecture in the past 20 sustainable way. While grass requires
TPL’s Carya Golf
years. While much of the golf water, and irrigation systems are
Club, Turkey, was
construction boom of the 1980s and significantly more efficient than they used
ranked in Golf
1990s was driven by demand for private to be, we take great pains to limit the
World magazine’s
golf clubs – similar to the original golf grassed areas of our golf courses to tees,
Top 100 Courses in
boom of the late 19th century – recent fairways and greens, leaving scrub and
Continental
development has been driven by sand as an integral part of the challenge,
Europe and is
tourism, hotels and real estate. where appropriate.
among TPL’s
At Carya Golf Club in Turkey, we have
portfolio of
integrated indigenous heather into our
upmarket projects
T
oday, the golf course design
business is effectively divided into design to create a heathland-style course
in Europe, the
Middle East and
Tim Lobb is a Principal of
two – creating golf courses for that is in keeping with the sandy soil and
Asia. TPL has
Thomson Perrett & Lobb, the
resorts and new communities, surrounding pine forest. To supplement
offices in the UK,
golf course design practice
predominantly overseas in emerging and the naturally occurring heather, more than
China and
founded by five-times Open
developing markets such as the Middle one million heather plants have been
Australia.
Champion Peter Thomson and
East and Asia, while also returning to the propagated on site in glasshouses and
established and classic courses that now planted out, creating a natural and unique
Australian architect Ross Perrett.
Picture is of Carya
require upgrading and modernising. course. This is in contrast to the typical
Golf Club, Turkey.
While the golf course architect was resort courses that neighbour the property,
Photography
once simply given a piece of land on which whose expansive, grassy courses largely
Credits: Thompson
to design a course, our role has changed look the same and are out of context with
Perrett & Lobb
considerably and the importance of a high their surroundings.
quality golf course design is crucial in the At the other end of the spectrum, many
marketing of a development. It also means established and historical courses now
we are now part of the design team for a require upgrading and modernising. We
development, working closely with other are currently working at The Berkshire Golf
agencies including masterplanners and the Club, ranked among the Top 100 Courses
clubhouse architect. in the UK and a natural heathland gem.
In practical terms, more land is now The golf course is a living organism that
required for golf courses, not just as a changes over time and, at The Berkshire,
consequence of modern golf balls we are undertaking an audit of the course
travelling further, but increased safety reviewing what has changed over the past
areas and buffer zones between the golf 80 years and providing a road map for the
course and its housing or resort facilities. next 80 years.
The demand from developers – and the Restoring an old building and restoring
challenge facing architects – has been to an old golf course is similar in that you are
maintain the traditional, enjoyable trying to find the original design detail and
golfing experience in a broader, man- maintain its integrity.
made landscape. Some developments Whether we are creating a new golf
achieve this successfully, however there course or upgrading an old classic, the
are also stories of indiscriminate design challenge is to create something that is
and environmental vandalism that has part of its landscape, is sustainable and is
tainted the industry. enjoyed by golfers – achieve this and the
The greatest golf courses, in our view, business aspect takes care of itself. ■
are those that blend into their natural
34 Architects Choice
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