SPECIAL FOCUS REPORT

WHY CHINA MAY SAVE GOLF COURSE ARCHITECTURE!

GOLF COURSE ARCHITECTURE

COVER STORY

“Golf, most particularly golf course design, is at a significant point. Flat or declining participation is becoming evident in the western world and, while much of the blame has been placed upon the world economic downturn, I believe golf’s problem transcends basic economic issues”.

BY BRIAN CURLEY (ASGCA)PrincipalSchmidt-Curley Design Inc.

Lee Schmidt (left) with Brian Curley.

" ... the boom in Chinese golf

construction coupled with a decline

in other markets has sent a number of

top caliber architects to the region for

the first time looking for work. These

talented architects and their portfolio

of past work (that is both critically

acclaimed and a contrast to most of the

country’s courses) will help push the

envelope of design."

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– Brian Curley.

All photos of Lee Schmidt with Brian Curley courtesy of Allen Henry.

COVER STORY

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GOLF COURSE ARCHITECTURE

screen T.V.’s and 250 high definition channels.

OPEN SPACE Chinese do not take their open space for granted and the ability to live in an environment with green open land is seen as a feather in their cap. Having endured city living for much of their lives, green space is strongly desired but they still wish to live close to the city and all it has to offer. This is why I believe you will see more density in golf developments as opposed to the western model of villas and lower density. A balance of garden amenity and the social needs of commercial services will help define a new model of living spaces and golf will play a pivotal role.

NUMBERS Quite simply, China is huge and things are done big there. In most western applications, golf is typically an 18 hole event. I have often used the analogy of a ski resort where one lodge anchors a number of different runs from beginners to expert. Golf tries to solve this problem by building multiple tees; this is the equivalent of starting a beginner halfway down the advanced slope – your either dumb it down too much for the good skier or make it too tough for the beginner. In China, the 18 hole facility is an anomaly. Multiple courses are often planned and the

ability to create different experiences is real, not just talk.

MONEY China is becoming wealthier and wealthier. The South China Morning Post recently reported China has some 875,000 millionaires, up 6.1% from the previous year. Most importantly the average age is 39, 15 years younger than their average counterparts overseas. This will produce more players purchasing equipment and sponsorship money directed towards tournament purses.

NIGHT GOLFPerhaps not for the purist but the creation of night golf in the friendly climates brings another market of players unable or unwilling to play during daylight hours. Women who feverishly avoid the harmful sun flock to night golf and busy executives can find evenings both more free in their schedule or even an expansion of the business/golf connection. Evenings also open the possibilities of family golf. The stigma of night golf in the western world is not the slightest concern for many players.

For a long time, many people have been calling for alternative designs on

While Americans fight battles over the best use of free-time and the desires to multi-task, golf often is seen as an impediment and a significant time consumer, eating into one’s limited free time. Many private clubs now offer deals of no initiation fees, seeking dues payers to add a body count to the membership, yet membership roles still decline. This, I believe indicates that the greatest issues facing declining play are not predominately economy based.

I firmly believe that what makes golf great, its traditions, is what could ultimately cause it’s slow decline. I have written before about how golf has been resistant to change and that we are now in a technology- based world where change occurs at a swift pace and is often quite contradictory to golf ’s institutions.

China however is different for the following reasons:New to the game. Unlike the western world where traditions drive decision making, China never witnessed these traditions firsthand. China has taken the game and folded it into their culture, incorporating their own take on certain behaviors. They have long been accepting of the immersion of business and are not the least bit embarrassed to incorporate behavior seen as unacceptable to the western world. Cell phone? – No problem! In fact they are welcomed at the first tee on some courses where signs brag of the quality of network coverage. Try getting that passed at your local club…

HOME AWAY FROM HOME Many clubs are made up of a membership of foreigners who are living away from home. When the weekend comes, players migrate to the club and do not have to worry about getting home to meet the family as they may be halfway around the world. The club is their home and, coupled with business, is a place to continue the 24/7 business mentality that pervades the country.

WOMEN PLAYERS With exception of retirees, western countries witness a declining participation of women as other duties and priorities trump playing golf. Taking Jimmy to soccer games or Julie to ballet practice occupies a day – not playing golf with her friends; to do so, would label her a “bad parent”. Asian women, however, can afford inexpensive maids and domestic help and have more free time during the day. The result is a stronger participation by women.

SOCIAL SOCIETY Chinese are, inherently, a more social group of people. Westerners, especially Americans, are content to “cocoon” at home in their single family residences, some of which are quite opulent. Chinese come from much smaller living environments and, consequently, hit the streets daily, especially to dine. Playing golf and the camaraderie that it brings places a greater emphasis on the social benefits than the game itself. Individual achievement is certainly revered but clubhouses, sometimes massive, buzz with the sound of groups of golfers in no hurry to get back to their homes or apartments. Americans have to resist the pull of big

"With exception of retirees, western countries witness a declining participation of women as other duties and priorities trump playing golf. ... Asian women, however, can afford inexpensive maids and domestic help and have more free time during the day. The result is a stronger participation by women."

COVER STORYGOLF COURSE ARCHITECTURE

"Chinese are, inherently, a more social group of people. ... Chinese come from much smaller living environments and, consequently, hit the streets daily, especially to dine. Playing golf and the camaraderie that it brings places a greater emphasis on the social benefits than the game itself. Individual achievement is certainly revered but clubhouses, sometimes massive, buzz with the sound of groups of golfers in no hurry to get back to their homes or apartments."

"China is becoming wealthier and wealthier. The South China Morning Post recently reported China has some 875,000 millionaires, up 6.1% from the previous year. Most importantly the average age is 39, 15 years younger than their average counterparts overseas. This will produce more players purchasing equipment and sponsorship money directed towards tournament purses." Recently launched Mission Hills Hainan in China.

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"In China, the 18 hole facility is an anomaly. Multiple courses are often planned and the ability to create different experiences is real, not just talk."

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COVER STORYGOLF COURSE ARCHITECTURE

BRIAN CURLEY (ASGCA)PrincipalSchmidt-Curley Design Inc.

Email: bcurley@schmidt-curley.com Website: www.schmidt-curley.com 14|15

Asia has long been resistant to reductions in par and yardage and China has been no exception. I do see, however, that this is now changing quickly and there will soon be more and more emphasis on the quality of the golf experience not the scorecard. All it will take is one or two courses to be well received and others will take notice… and I can say that some are, indeed, underway.

With a significant freeze in most golf development world-wide, China will see not only an active production or new facilities (some on fantastic properties) but some of the only courses that will buck the system and reintroduce a traditional approach to design where the game and its social graces supersede the scorecard.

In addition, the boom in Chinese golf construction coupled with a decline in other markets has sent a number of top caliber architects to the region for the first time looking for work. These talented architects and their portfolio of past work (that is both critically acclaimed and a contrast to most of the country’s courses) will help push the envelope of design. I firmly believe that, just as Sand Hills burst onto the scene and heavily influenced golf architecture since, China will have its own Sand Hills moment and the impact will be far-reaching, opening the door to break through designs that will have influence beyond its own borders

Ultimately (and strangely), the place that somewhat resisted the traditions of golf will bring the game back to its roots and the rest of the world will be watching.

STAY TUNED – THE BEST IS YET TO COME!

courses including shorter, faster, less holes, par three’s. etc. Yet few have been bold enough to go there.

Golf has also witnessed a recent trend in more natural designs with a few courses and architects making big impacts on the development world. Much of this movement, however, has hit the wall as development has stopped- just when momentum was on the move, the ability to continue with the trend has abruptly stalled.

THIS IS WHERE CHINA HAS THE GREATEST POTENTIAL TO PUSH GOLF, ESPECIALLY GOLF COURSE ARCHITECTURE.

I believe many struggling facilities would have better chance if they were designed differently. Smaller, core courses with reduced length and par will use less land and encourage a faster round thus encouraging more play. Building multiple courses allows for a big tournament course as well as a family-friendly course or par three course. These optional facilities can still sell real estate but also introduce the game to new generations. Rather than a single course trying to be everything to everybody, these multiple course facilities truly create a “courses for horses” mentality where a player gravitates to his or her comfort zone and even the best of players have options.

Helping this is the government rule in some areas where a golf course yields a certain set amount of development. A “golf course” could be defined as a 350 acre extravaganza or a par 3 course; many developers see the economic advantages of the reduced acreage and reduced construction and maintenance cost as their main focus is development.