Douglas Carrick, ASGCA

As ASGCA head towards the end of another year, I think it’s the appropriate time to reflect on the various events that took place in 2008. Certainly one of the highlights of for many ASGCA members was the Annual Meeting in Scotland. Having the opportunity to visit and play the great historic links courses throughout Scotland was truly inspiring.

Playing the Old Course in the “hail and gale” followed by a guided tour of the R & A Clubhouse and dinner with the ghost of Old Tom Morris, was a once in a lifetime experience. And what better way to conclude such a memorable trip to Scotland than to play Royal Dornoch in the snow. It was an experience I’d recommend to everyone once in their lives, especially the snow angels in the fairways.

A Snowy Round at Dornoch

At the President’s dinner in Inverness, incoming President Bruce Charlton delivered an inspiring speech which emphasized water related issues and identified this era of golf architecture as another “Golden Age.” Bruce has certainly been true to his word, as ASGCA is working tirelessly to spread these two very important messages across the greater golf industry.

Another highlight of the ASGCA year was the educational seminar at Notre Dame that focused on marketing and business skills. Educational and professional development events like these further solidify ASGCA members as the leading professionals in golf course architecture.

The recent induction of Pete Dye, ASGCA into the World Golf Hall of Fame is certainly a wonderful way in which to enter the final two months of 2008 season. Both Pete and Alice Dye have had outstanding careers as innovators in the profession of golf course architecture. Through their visionary creativity and life long dedication to the game, Pete and Alice have brought international attention and prominence to the profession of golf course architecture.

As the golf industry prepares for 2009, we are seeing more renovation projects being planned. Many golf courses are working their Master Plans, or in some instances having them done for the first time. New developments are taking the shape of shorter, executive courses or blending a great 9-hole course with a new driving range and practice facility.

Pot Bunker at St. Andrews

Whatever the direction, it’s important that key decision makers remain smart about upcoming projects. Making gradual, strategic improvements can carry a course a long way and ensures that neighborhood players and club members are seeing continuous efforts made to maintain and/or upgrade their favorite golf haunts.

As we all take time to gather our breaths after the boom years, the golf industry is wise to re-assess where the game of golf is headed into the future. It’s encouraging to see groups like Golf 20/20 continue to invest time and resources into identifying key industry issues and how to address them. It is always important for us to examine ways to curtail rising costs, monitor pace of play, attract new golfers to the game and be mindful of how much land is used for a project. Through the collaborative efforts of architects, builders, superintendents, manufactures, owners and players, the industry is developing proactive and thoughtful strategies for ensuring sustainable growth for the game of golf. Under the direction of President Bruce Charlton, ASGCA is headed down the right path. Strongly advocating for the responsible use of water has made a difference. I anticipate more work to be done on this and other issues in 2009.

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