Celtic Manor, Wales, starring Colin Montgomerie an...

Designer Golf Courses: Celtic Manor, Wales, starring Colin Montgomerie an...: "Celtic Manor has 3 courses and its Twenty Ten Course to be the venue for the Ryder Cup in 2010. Can you see what they've done there? But the..."

Thought I would repost this one, having seen Colin Montgomery on the news today discussing the fact that he has not spoken to the groundsmen at Celtic Manor to ensure the lie of the land favours the European Team....Well why not. The US Captain appeared shortly after looking very bemused even incredulous that the host team captain had not taken up his right to tip the balance of the course in his favour. We will see. I am not sure what could be done and am going off for further research, but I feel sure every advantage should be taken, especially against the US, and especially at the Ryder Cup!!!!!

Re-designing Golf- The 9 Hole Golf Course

World Golf.com is reporting that there is a new design feature for Golf courses; They assert that Golf courses with fewer holes could be the game's next wave.Is that a 9 hole course then? New Wave? Theres been a few 9 hole courses around for a number of years so its hardly an epiphany is it?

There has been some thought gone into this surprising innovation though- 18 holes can take so much time out of the day that you are less likely to go for a game at all. Surely the answer to this is agreeing to play half the course.

Building a nine hole course might save you a lot of money though. That's half of the design bill, without necessarily losing the amazing skills of the professional golf designer. Ground staff wage bill, water, sand, turf and just 9 flags!!

It is a fact that many golf course around the world are being sold off for residential property developments because they are simply no longer viable as businesses. If you were to sell of half the land for redevelopment, redesign the remainder into a really good 9 hole golf course, and your residential property can now be described as "much sought after"+"adjoining golf course" with the resultant property price hike.

If golfers want to play 18 holes they can go round again, or pop into the "10th" hole for well deserved round of drinks.

The Masters at Augusta Georgia April 9-12 2009

The Masters course is known as the most beautiful golf course in the world, and its beauty is best seen in April, just as the Masters kicks off. They think of everything; the color of the drink napkins for patrons perfectly matches the grass - so if you drop your napkin it will not show on TV. The green theme continues with the Green Jacket worn by members and masters winners, a nice touch, as conceived by the original owner, Clifford Roberts. Who needs celebrity pro designers?

The winner of the Masters is presented the green sport coat which is the official attire worn by members of Augusta National while on the club grounds; each Masters winner becomes an honorary member of the club and winners keep their jacket for the first year after their first victory, then return it to the club to wear whenever they visit. The tradition began in 1949, when Sam Snead won his first of three Masters titles. Members cannot remove their jackets from the Augusta National grounds and Masters champions can do so only for one year. Then the jacket must be returned to the club, where it is stored in a cedar closet.

The only exception to this rule is Gary Player, who refused to return his jacket after his 1961 victory, using the rule wording to his advantage stating that he has never worn the jacket. He is not on the list of members.

The green Jacket was made by the Brooks uniform company and the design has never been a real fashion triumph, in any era. However last years winner Immelman has been surprised by the response it has received this year - he had a group of Japanese crying at being in its very presence. Theres nothing like creating an object with mystique and awe to join the history of the tournament. The Royal family could do some good PR by getting out their ceremonial gear a bit more often!Or perhaps that would only work in Japan?

Augusta is the most exclusive and revered golf courses in the world and therefore does not need the design skills of pro golfer to promote it. Membership is by invitation only and the only pro golfers in the list of 300 members are Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and John Harris. This fact is mentioned in the history of the club, along with other illustrious members such as Bill Gates, Warren Buffet and Dwight D Eisenhower, though there are plenty you need never have heard of. The credit crunch will not really affect membership; with joining fees and annual fees set realatively low, it is the TV rights to the clubs own tournament which allows such exclusivity; there are no plans to invite female members, though they do allow female caddies. Thats OK then.

The course was designed by one of the owners (Bobby Jones) and the Scottish architect Alistair Mackenzie, along the lines of St Andrews; there were few nasty obstacles and wide fairways originally, but over time, rough, bunkers and trees have been added.It was opened in 1931 and is the home to the Masters, every year. Its always good for business to have your own major championship.

Masters news from the official site;
Gary Player, three times Masters winner announces that this will be his last tournament.
Harrington is the only player at the Masters with a chance of winning a third consecutive major championship

The Blue Monster at Doral Golf Resort by Dick Wilson

The Doral Golf resort and Spa, (the venue of the Henrik Stensen Strip) won the Golf week Best Resort Courses Award 2009- but its only March? How do they know? You may wonder where the name comes from;as with many house names accross the country such as Davsheila, Lauruss or Sunick, the Dor and Al of this Miami Resort comes from Doris and Alfred Kaskel who, in 1959 converted 2,400 acres of swampland in West Miami into 6 Florida golf courses.

It is good to see that golf course architect Dick Wilson had a hand in the original design of the Blue Monster Course, which has hosted the PGA tour for over 40 years. It is 7266 yards long ad its 18th hole is in the World Top 100.

Alongside the designer pro are old golf pro favourites Greg Norman, Raymond Floyd and with Jim Maclean doing some design, but more importantly running the number 1 Golf School in the US at Doral.If you ant some more name dropping, Arthur Ashe stuck to what he knew best and was the director of tennis at the club in the 70's.

The Doral was a family run business until 1993, and is now part of the Marriot group which has turned the club into a monster resort.I suppose it is this sort of business which enables web packages including a Kids Play for Free offer (after 3pm which is fair enough) and also a free kids lesson when a parent books a lesson (which is excellent)

Henrik Stenson Wears Bjorn Borgs Pants

Henrik Stenson stripped off down to his startling white Bjorn Borg pants today in order to take a shot in the mud at the 3rd hole during the first round of the World Golf Championships-CA Championship at the Doral Golf Resort & Spa in Miami. It was suggested on the radio show that alerted me to this disturbing news, that Henrik had been working out and wanted to show off his muscles or Henrik was a bit obsessive compulsive in not wanting to get his clean clothes dirty.

Of course it is far simpler than that- Henrik is Swedish, just like his pants designer Bjorn. I wondered what part of being world tennis number 1 qualified Bjorn for his role as mens underwear designer, but all was soon made clear. The official website says the new range, called Grand Slam, is inspired by Bjorn Borgs early career in that its design is clean and simple.There is a special offer on at the moment-a Bjorn Borg head band will thrown in with the first order.Someone got paid for that idea.

In defence of Heinriks strip he said to Sky News "I felt that I would definitely save a shot by actually playing the ball. If you are saving a shot, that has to be worth taking your shirt and trousers off"

Gokarna Forest Golf Resort Nepal, by David Kidd

The Golf course was designed by David Kidd of Gleneagles Golf Developments who as a real designer won Golf digests Designer of the year in 1999.

I have never read such poetic description of a golf course before so I am cutting and pasting a section;
Gokarna Golf Course
"The myth, magic and mystery of the once Forbidden Valley
inspired the creation of a masterful challenge within this sanctuary.
The par 72 course meanders for 6,715 yards through most 500 acres
of untouched forest. Eighteen holes of sheer perfection"
"Undulating Bent Grass Greens built to USPGA specifications. Soft cushions of local Bermuda fairways. Lush unyielding forests-hundreds of years old. Winding streams. Wandering hills and valleys opening to a holy river's plain. Cynical monkey's watching your progress. Shy spotted deer peering from the trees. The lofty Himalayas keeping score. Truly enchanting."

If you look at the photo album its not far off, though its difficult to prove the lofty Himalayas are keeping score, and if the monkeys are cynical they have every reason to be with a golf course being plonked right in the middle of their 100's year old forest. It looks very much like the Scottish Highlands which is sort of what Nepal is like, but on a bigger scale, with Everest, its own royal family and palaces but no tartan.

Katmandhu is close by and has always been a fantastic holiday destination. The legacy of the hippy trail and continuing overland trips ending in Nepals capital mean that some part of the city has turned all European- you can get bacon and egg and theres even a pub with bar towels and beer mats. But dont forget the main Durbar Square with the Royal Palaces.Rent a motor bike (or just get a taxi)to Nargakot where you can get the best views of Everest without a sherper and an oxygen mask- then straight back to the golf resort for the full Spa treatment and some Jazz? I can not believe we have missed the JAZZMANDHU festival at the Gokarna Forest Golf Resort in Nepal! How could we? Its only the biggest Jazz Party in the Himalayas.

Play Golf in the Shadow of the Taj Mahal

My recent early morning games at Fajara Golf Club in the Gambia brought back memories of my very first golf lesson at Agra Golf Course in India in 1989. It is only in such environs that I have been able to afford the luxury of a first class instructor and a couple of ball boys.

I know he was a first class instructor because he had me hitting unbelievable shots which much annoyed my companion, a bloke. I had that first feeling of contorting my hips and a strange grip and the follow through, and felt like I was Tony Jacklin.(I say Tony Jacklin because he was the main Englishman for golf when I was growing up; Kevin Keegan for football; Ray Rearden for snooker etc )
The ball boys were of course necessary because it didnt always work,balls were expensive and the rough was rough, and then some. My top tip if visiting Golf clubs in commonwealth countries is dont forget to take a tie-if you want a slimline tonic in the clubhouse after (if you're a bloke)

As non members we were able to play in the morning, but in that heat when else would you consider a game? The fairways were yellow, and sacred cows were eating the rough, but the design classic I want to really get over in this post is that The Agra Golf Course stands in the shadow of the Taj Mahal.

Looking at its website the club has come up in the world following a lull around 1989,with irrigation bringing the greens up to USPGA standard and lots of other amenities for the family; swimming pool (I'm David Wilkie), snooker (Ray Rearden again) and air conditioned restaurant and bar!I suppose it was 20 years ago. That is why I do not have any digital photos to upload of me, a golf ball and the Taj Mahal. You get the side view of the main dome from some of the greens.Ive included the full frontal Taj fro about the right distance just in case you dont know what you are missing.