The birthplace of golf: St Andrews in Scotland - Photo: DR

The Old Course remains unequivocally the benchmark in the eyes of this brotherhood. The local champions who invented themselves as architects were largely inspired by it. Thus Allan Robertson, the first golf professional in history, paved the way in 1842, with the few modifications which subsequently took place on the “Venerable Lady”, and in particular he created the famous “Road Hole” of 17. Au Over time, this activity has become a full-fledged profession as evidenced by the 400 plots made by the Scottish Donald Ross (1872-1942) who made it a profitable business in the United States. At the time, the profiles of architects were very heterogeneous. Thus the English creator of Augusta National in the state of Georgia, Alister MacKenzie (1870-1934), was first a doctor, especially during the First World War, which subsequently gave him the idea of ​​integrating camouflage techniques masterfully. One of the founding books on the subject "Golf Architecture" was also written by him in 1920, followed by the English cabinet composed of Charles Alison (1883-1952) and Harry Colt (1869-1951) who published the same year “Some Essays on Architecture. "*1 The 20s were therefore marked by brilliant achievements throughout the world and stamped “Golden Age of Architecture. "

Sketch of Crystal Downs (Michigan, USA) by the brilliant Alister MacKenzie

Until recently, there was no real diploma dedicated to this practice. Most contemporary American "magicians" such as Robert Trent Jones Senior (the Father of modern architecture, who died nearly twenty years ago), Gil Hanse (the creator, among others, of the golf course for the 2016 Olympics in Rio) or Tom Doak (four courses in the World Top 100), all graduated from Cornell University in the United States with a specialization in "landscape architecture"*2. After their studies, a few were fortunate enough to benefit from a mentor; the best known being the American Pete Dye. He himself began his career in life insurance to become one of the most influential practitioners since the 30s and the only current architect elected to the "World Golf Hall of Fame", among the seven crowned. He trained among others the Americans Bill Coore, Jack Nicklaus, Tom Doak and even the double winner of the British Open, the Australian Greg Norman.

Driven by the same devouring passion, the first "golf explorers" did not hesitate to build land on four continents like Dr. MacKenzie, even if it means venturing to the Land of the Rising Sun for the Englishman Charles Alison who there. triggered a real enthusiasm since Japan still enjoys the largest number of routes (2.290) after the United States.

Like their elders, the best of contemporary people travel the planet in search of the “promised land”. Citizens of the world, they carry their travel diaries over their shoulder and have a vast knowledge of cultures. Jack Nicklaus or his eponymous company are the most prolific with 415 routes in 45 countries since 1969.

Most of their clients come from a variety of backgrounds and are famous and influential; constituting a unique network across the globe. Listening to them, the “design masters” must ensure that they meet the purpose of the project, while remaining in tune with their convictions. They must therefore develop a substantial ability to adapt, knowing that most of their employers do not master the reading of a map or a plan ...

Adaptability also tested during economic crises or particular environmental pressures. The rational use of water is no longer a constraint, thank God! but a necessity. As for a small snail 2 millimeters long called "vertigo angustior", it alone can thwart the ambitions of the President of the United States (and previously those of the "White Shark") in Doonbeg in Ireland ...

Doonbeg Golf Course in the West of Ireland - Photo: DR

The dramatic sites are all opportunities to tap into the creativity of these builders, as was the case with the unlikely Stone Eagle, nestled in the foothills of the Palm Desert Mountains in California. Their galloping imagination can thus manifest itself in different forms. A bunker flanked in the middle of the green of 6 in Riviera, California, corresponds to the brilliant idea of ​​the late American George C. Thomas (1873-1932), or even the devilish "church pews" present in the immense The bunker that separates the three and the four at Oakmont in Pennsylvania were imagined by the steel magnate, Henry Fownes in 1903. In Japan, the ingenious idea of ​​the native Seïchi Inoue at the beginning of the 1999th century, to offer alternative greens in according to the seasons responded to weather variations. By giving free rein to their imagination, some, including the provocative English town planner Desmond Muirhead, have gone far by inventing holes in the shape of an elongated mermaid (Aberdeen Golf Club in Florida) or island greens in the “Pac-Man” style ( Stone Harbor in New Jersey). As for the French Robert Berthet, he sought in XNUMX to reproduce the fort of Vallières built by Vauban during the creation of nine holes of geometric shapes at the golf course of Dunkirk in the north of France.

But the inventiveness of these creators is most often backed by a sincere philosophy, likely to evolve with experience. The defenders of a strategic and non-penal architecture favor reflection, the whole range of moves to be played as evidenced by the "switchbacks" which oblige to perform two distinct effects (draw*3 and bland*4) on the same hole.

The “church pews” of the Oakmont Pennsylvania route - Photo: DR

As for the “routing” or itinerary of the courses, it “gives a sense of connection and rhythm to the layout” according to the English architect Tom Simpson (1825-1908) and reveals a brilliant vision of the final result and the art of chain the holes. Many discover the location of the greens even before they visualize the hole as a whole. William Flynn, the American designer of Shinnecock Hills in New York, site of the men's US Open next June, excelled in this art of understanding the terrain.

Versatile, some are talented cartographers, others produce fascinating drawings and diagrams such as the Englishman Tom Simpson and the American Mike Strantz (1955-2005). The fact remains that the real difficulty lies in successfully thinking in three dimensions ...

Taming a bulldozer or excavator yourself is also useful for "hand" shaping the terrain. A solid knowledge of agronomy and irrigation systems facilitates the appropriate choice of grass; depending on the nature of the soil and the climate. In short, a plethora of talents are all determining elements for a major achievement.

Watercolor of the “Shore” course in Monterey Peninsula (California) by its creator, Mike Strantz

As for the possible collaborations, “The Philadelphia School of Design” at the beginning of the XXth century, testifies to a period at the very least bygone during which the experts of this discipline conversed freely. An unprecedented cooperation between master architects that culminates in the intractable Pine Valley in New Jersey. Collaborations of this nature are less frequent these days, even if the firm of Bill Coore and two-time Masters winner Ben Crenshaw is an exception with five golf courses in the World Top 100.

As for the man-woman association, she has done wonders with the couple of Alice and Pete Dye. Legend has it that she was the originator of the island green of Sawgrass 17 in Florida and that no route is validated without her final agreement. The American entrepreneur and champion, Marion Hollins (1892-1944), had her architectural moment of glory when she proved to Alister MacKenzie that the splendid 16 at Cypress Point in California had to be played in par 3 over the Pacific. . A few years later, she persuaded Bobby Jones to recruit the same MacKenzie to design the course of the… Masters. Few women embark on the adventure alone, former champions sometimes co-sign certain routes more for marketing and financial reasons than for pure vocation. The same goes for men, especially if they are still active on the various professional circuits. Only a few know how to surround themselves and generally produce courses which correspond to their game. As Nicklaus quite rightly says: "you must first of all be able to listen in this profession", and he goes further: "Tiger Woods will have to achieve seven or eight routes before knowing the job and being able to talk about it intelligently ”(Golf Digest, March 8, 2009).

The spectacular hole number 16 at Cabot Cliffs (Canada) designed by the duo "Coore & Crenshaw" - Photo: DR

Between the dream of creating the most beautiful course in the world and that of building one that will cross all eras, the architects, these brilliant designers, are at the forefront of this sport. Faced with all kinds of constraints and “advances”, they owe it to themselves to offer playful, strategic, coherent, sober and sustainable routes, and why not convince a few neophytes to venture into the arcades of this captivating profession!

* 1 Some essays on architecture
* 2 Landscape architecture
* 3 Effect from right to left
* 4 Effect from left to right

Kristel Mourgue d'Algue is a former European Circuit player, co-editor of the Rolex Guide to the “1000 Best Golf Courses in the World” and co-owner of the Grand Saint Emilionnais Golf Club