SHORT AND ALTERNATIVE COURSES : THE KEY TO MAKING GOLF FUN?

As fitting in an 18-hole round mostly requires a day’s donation to golf, modern day hackers are often left trying to source their fix elsewhere.  The traditional singular club membership model is no longer the only route to the game and is frequently being benched by golfers in favour of the growing nomadic golf offerings more suitable to their 2020 lifestyles.  Golf is changing, and perhaps it is time the game evolved with alternative forms embraced.

I am a firm believer that challenging the traditional models with innovation and alternative golf options, that prioritise enjoyability, should be moved up the golfing agenda.  It’s something Sir Nick Faldo and the wider Faldo Design team frequently champion but often face conflict when developers’ focus remains largely on playing safe with tried-and-tested 18-hole layouts.  However, the value of new and innovative approaches is moving into the mainstream philosophy of those building within the game and recent projects show they have been met with open arms.

Take the 13-hole Preserve at Brandon Dunes, the 17-hole Sandbox at Sand Valley or The Cradle at the Pinehurst Resort – all opened within the last ten years – as examples of how shorter, par-3 or chip and putt courses can still foster a first-class golfing challenge.  Likewise, resurgence of the reversible course concept that Tom Simpson wrote about in 1929 has seen several 9-hole examples designed and built in Europe and the US in recent years and is a concept we are hoping to develop for a project in the UK.

It’s clear that with their original designs there is no compromise on the ability to produce scenic, fun and strategic golf within compact course layouts.  And from a developer or operator’s point of view, the sustainable benefits of reduced land take and maintenance, both environmentally and commercially, should be enormously attractive.

Most importantly new approaches provide benefits to the game itself by putting the emphasis back on its fun, enjoyable and attractive moments.  Proposed shortened golf experiences can create opportunities for players of all ages and abilities to play­ in a more inclusive, social competition for new starters and open up fewer intimidating versions of the game.

In our previous blog post we explored the opportunities for golf as it finds itself at the centre stage of the sporting world.  A rather unique position for the game.  Recent reports and figures coming back have only highlighted its promise, with tee sheets full, membership enquires at an all-time high, media traffic through the roof and social media showing golfers reconnect with the game.  There is no doubt about it, for the short and medium term, golf is winning in sport.  But…the game must build from this momentum and offer inviting golfing experiences to sustain its attention when the inevitable restart of mainstream sport ensues, and wider societal activities, interrupt consumers’ time.

Looking forward, it’s up to courses and design firms like us at Faldo Design, to continue to develop and push different and stimulating formats that challenge players and provide new, interesting ways the game can be enjoyed by all.  It is key that golf finds ways to react to changing golfers demands and with a little creativity and slight change in culture, clubs and operators have the opportunity to establish a more diverse and sustainable long-term future for the game.

As Sir Nick himself says: “You can expect to see myself and the team more involved in projects like these in the future.”

Gareth Williams