Construction This Fall

 

 

 

The 16^th today

 

I’m pleased to say that I have some construction this fall. It’s been a year composed of almost all planning work and one bunker project at Galt (although 90% of that was just sand replacement) I thought the fall might have no construction this year, but there was certainly a change in attitude this summer and clubs appear to be back to investing in the courses.

 

My first project is a green rebuild at Cutten. The 17^th green has had turf issues from the outset and the green will be replaced with new mix and seeded to eliminate the issues. I’m going to use this opportunity to make some minor modification to the contour and shape to get this green a little more in context with the others.

 

 

 

The 16^th in 1927

 

The project is another green, this time at Knollwood (Seth Raynor) in New York, where the 16^th green has shrunk 2,000 sq.ft. The plan is to recapture the green area and restore the bunkers around the green at the same time. The green has been struggling this year with the heat and rain. The work includes a major tree removal project behind the green for airflow and sunlight. We made an interesting discovery, the green has no fall, much to everyone’s surprise, and we have determined that we will require minor modifications in each of the three exit point to get the water out efficiently.

 

 

August 15th, 2010

 

 

 

 

 

Ebb and Flow of Business

 

The Fall Rush is here and I’m scrambling this month as I have been for quite a few now. I’m pleased to say that I have been a very busy year from very early spring right through to today. It’s all been planning this year. Why? Because clubs are not in the financial position to undertake major works, but they do want to move forward and planning is both good business and relatively inexpensive. There are very few clubs today that will do anything without a long term plan since it helps avoid more expensive pitfalls down the road.

 

I have worked on five brand new Master Plans this year (that suprised me when I figured it out) and will have updated three at the same time. Most of that work is now done, but I do have another few weeks work to finish up.

 

The funny part about the the workload is that it never comes in a steady flow; it’s more like waves at the beach. I find that I have to spend evenings and week-ends managing the bigger waves to complete the excess work and bring the flow back to something that provides me with the opportunity to get things back to people in a short period of time. I’m not capable of making people wait.

 

I have played golf only twice since May 1^st in Ontario and a couple of times out West for the opening in Saskatoon. I seem to have had less time this year than most and yet I feel better this year than other years. I've really enjoyed this year for some reason. The number of evening meetings or week-end meetings has been very high this year and I’ve had two in the last two days (one was in New York), but the committees have been fun.

 

So its fall and for the first time in a while I see a gap in my schedule. Either it will fill itself or I will play more golf. Both are just fine by me.

 

 

 

Working with My Son

 

Yesterday afternoon we got home from my Mom and Dad’s and I mentioned to my son Cam that I had some work for him if he was interested. Cam has begun to do very small projects on the computer to help me out. The first project was to digitize all the contour lines and hole locations off an old survey. It wasn’t difficult, but it gave him some initial idea on how to move around in CAD and also was an introduction to some simple tools. One day and he made some money off the old man.

 

Yesterday I mentioned that I thought the task may be too hard, but if he wanted to try and learn how to create individual drawings from an existing file, that he could really help me since I needed 19 holes done. I collected a base plan and showed him how reference files worked, how to manipulate the elements, cut them down to what we need, remove parts by changing the settings, how to take information from the reference file to the live files and then manipulate it, how to import text files to fill out a written section and how to save the drawings in a way for easy use. Not simple.

 

Well I showed him once, I helped him only once and he got all the other 18 holes done in 5 hours. I doubt I can go much faster, but what amazed me was the difference between my generation learning a process and his generation. Admittedly I needed to figure it all out and create the process first, but instantly he understood the process, use of tools and movement around the files. I checked a couple of the drawings and everything was done as it should have been.

 

The reason I was encouraging him was his desire be an architect (buildings rather than golf or landscape) and I thought a little experience would be helpful even if it wasn’t going to really help me. Well turns out I think he will be able to easily help me, and that should be fun to watch.

 

This does not change the fact that eventually I will need help in the future, we're just not quite there yest, and he can help me bridge the gap.

 

 

A Day at Firestone…with Mike

 

I had a terrific day today.

 

It began with me watching Mike warm up from the stands. I’ve always admired how good the players are and how hard they work at their games. At 9:00am Mike set out to play the back nine at Firestone. I was invited to walk inside the ropes with Mike, Bennan, Mike Wilson and Rich. I generally tried to stay out of the way, but you know me, I chatted with everyone when given the opportunity. I really enjoy Mike’s team. I must admit that getting inside the ropes to walk a course with Mike never grows old.

 

Firestone is solid. There was nothing I could really criticize, but there was also very little I liked. It’s solid, dull and one dimensional. The conditioning was outstanding and the tree management has been very well handled. The highlight was all of us trying to figure out how Tiger’s ball went over the roof. We went back to the range where I watched Mike work on his game and then sat and watched players work on their short games. The whole experience gave me insight on designing a better practice facility.

 

After the round Mike and I went up to the player’s lounge to meet with Steve Wenzloff from the PGA Tour. We went over our plans for our golf course and talked about what the PGA Tour would require if we were to hold a Canadian Open on the site. The feedback was excellent and we have some details to look at down the road regarding flow, access, staging, spectators etc. but the course itself was well received. We finished up with a long conversation about the ideal practice facility. This was timely since I’m working on the one at Laval-sur-le-lac.

 

I was able to bring Mike up to speed on a few projects including a really interesting new enquiry about a golf course out west. Since he was finished practicing and playing we had a few extra minutes to talk about the business, prospects and the future of the golf design industry. We had needed those extra minutes and talked through some ideas.

 

Mike need a few minutes before we left so I was left to sit back and take in all the players sequestered in the player’s lounge due to lightening. The atmosphere was very friendly since conversations seemed to involve multiple tables at a time. Some were watching TV and others playing cards, but mostly they were sitting around chatting over a (non alcoholic) drink. I had to smile watching KJ Choi massaging the shoulders of Tiger Woods as he came up to say hello. It was a very informal and friendly place.

 

I’m at the airport waiting for a much later flight. Once the golf was delayed, I decided that I might as well head out. I really enjoyed today.

 

Tommorrow I'll share the pictures (none from the lounge).