EIGCA - European Institute of Golf Course Architects’ Post

The recent announcement of Golf Pirkkala's expansion in Finland is a testament to the club's dedication to inclusivity and long-term sustainability. By hiring the esteemed team of architects Tim Lobb and Kari Haug, along with Kai Hulkkonen and Jim Ferguson of Turnkey Golf, Pirkkala Golf is setting a new standard for golf course development. Their commitment to extending the facility from 18 to 27 holes, while focusing on the needs of junior and senior members, showcases a forward-thinking approach to golf course design. The inclusion of around 75 acres of new land for the expansion is a significant step towards accommodating the club's growing membership and its renowned junior golf program. Haug's "Playable Pathways" concept ensures that the course will cater to golfers of all abilities, emphasizing the importance of accessibility and enjoyment for everyone. This approach not only enhances the golfing experience for current members but also attracts new players to the sport, fostering a more inclusive golfing community. The collaborative effort to incorporate forward tees, rest stops, and considerate course layouts speaks volumes about the team's dedication to extending the golfing life of its members. The challenges posed by the site's hilly, rocky, and forested terrain are being addressed with innovative solutions, demonstrating a commitment to environmental stewardship and the preservation of local wildlife. As construction is expected to begin in summer 2024, Golf Pirkkala's initiative represents a significant milestone in the evolution of golf course development. It underscores the club's role as a pioneer in promoting sustainability, inclusivity, and the growth of the sport in Finland and beyond. This project not only secures Golf Pirkkala's future but also serves as an inspiring model for other clubs worldwide to follow. #golfcourse #golfcoursemanagement #development #longtermstrategy #forwardthinking #playablepathways #sustainabledevelopment

Why is golf usually over 18-holes? The tradition of golf being played over 18 holes is believed to have originated from the Old Course at St. Andrews in Scotland. In the early days of golf, the course at St. Andrews consisted of 22 holes, but in 1764, it was decided to reduce the number to 18. This decision was made mainly due to the logistical challenges of maintaining all 22 holes and the desire to establish a standardized format for golf courses. The 18-hole format gained popularity and became widely adopted as the standard for golf courses around the world. It provides a balance between the time it takes to play a round and the challenge presented by the course. Additionally, 18 holes allow for a variety of strategic and architectural features to be incorporated into the design of the course, enhancing the overall golfing experience. Over time, the 18-hole format has become deeply ingrained in golf culture and tradition, and it remains the standard for most golf courses worldwide. I know. So what. Right! Mike Kahn mike@golfmak.com

The growth of golf is coming from the curious of golf, that’s right. But I think there is a big opportunity to bring back on courses all the players who quit (lack of time or patience to get the minimum level in order to take some pleasure or just to access the courses…) New off courses experiences are fun and accessible and surely the future of golf. So could do new on courses experiences ? What do you think of it ?

New Post: Vietnam’s Golf Course Development Surge - https://lnkd.in/gZxYCrfm, United States: Outside America, the nation with the most active golf development is Vietnam, with more than 50 courses in planning or under construction. Jupiter, Florida, United States: Outside the United States, the nation with the most active golf development is Vietnam, with more than 50 courses in planning or under construction. According to the National Golf Foundation (NGF), there are currently new golf courses in planning or under construction in 88 different countries – from Azerbaijan to Zimbabwe. This worldwide developmental pipeline encompasses more than 500 course projects in total, with half of those in the United States. After Vietnam, the United Kingdom is a distant third (25), followed by India, Korea, Mexico and Spain, all of which have 15 courses in various stages of development. The NGF maintains the definitive database of more than 37,600 golf courses worldwide, with a team of researchers continually verifying the operational status of every golf facility outside the US on a 24-month cycle. This verification process is done on an annual basis within the US, whose borders contain more than 42% of global golf supply. NGF’s database team also tracks projects under development, an increasingly challenging task for a game played in 207 countries and territories recognised by the ISO (International Standard Organisation). The US has by far the most courses in various stages of development – over 120 in active planning or under construction, and an even greater number than that having been proposed and looking to move forward. At the mid-year mark, 13 new courses have opened in the US, from additions like the Par 3 Shorty’s Course at Bandon Dunes (Oregon) and the Pinehurst Resort’s No 10 Course (North Carolina), to private club debuts like the Apogee Club’s Hanse Course (Florida) and the Darmor Club (Texas). The US has accounted for 57% of the worldwide openings thus far in 2024 and approximately twice as many could debut during the second half of the year. Meanwhile, there have been fewer than 40 18-hole equivalent closures through June. According to the NGF, it’s another sign of US supply equilibrium after there were approximately 90 18-HEQ closures in 2023, the fewest in almost two decades. The majority of these closures continue to be older, value-priced and/or nine-hole facilities. Some are in the process of being sold, others are being redeveloped, and a few may get new life in the future. One facility was even removed from the US database and is now categorised as a Canadian course.

New Post: Lobb Lobbies for ‘Sense of Place’ in Design - https://lnkd.in/g6uYPrHs, England: Building courses that fit their location, culturally and ecologically, is a vital part of golf design, according to Tim Lobb. Tim Lobb delivering his presentation at last year's AGIF Conference in Danang. Woking, Surrey, England: Building courses that fit their location, culturally and ecologically, is a vital part of golf design. That’s the view of Tim Lobb, Principal of London-based golf design firm Lobb + Partners, an Associate Business Member of the Asian Golf Industry Federation (AGIF). Not only is it a topic that Lobb has thought long and hard about. In public he speaks passionately about finding ways to operate courses that are sympathetic to their location and express something unique about it. Entitled Designing Golf Courses for the Cultural Setting, Lobb made thought-provoking presentations on the subject at the AGIF Conference in Danang late last year and again at last week’s PGA of Great Britain & Ireland International Conference in Bangkok. Lobb said: “A classic example is Thailand, where pretty much every course has a large, female caddie corps (something which has spread to other parts of Southeast Asia). “Caddying is one of the best ways for golf, which tends to spread from the top down, to embed itself in local populations: where labour is cheap, it can provide good jobs and expose a lot of people to the game who otherwise would have no connection with it.” The other side of this equation is about the design of the actual courses and facilities. Lobb said: “Creating a sense of place in golf design is challenging, but possible. This sense of place comes from the link between memory, emotions and physical location. “Take Lofoten Links in Norway, to mention a new-ish golf course whose location is absolutely central to its appeal. Located at 68 degrees north, well inside the Arctic Circle, Lofoten Links has become a bucket list destination precisely because the course celebrates where it is. “The course plays along the north-facing coastline of the Norwegian Sea, and at the appropriate time of year is one of the best places on Earth to see the aurorea borealis (Northern Lights). “To the side of the first fairway can be found a thousand-year-old Viking grave. Fairways and greens are bordered by rocks, emphasising the nature of the site. The course simply could not exist anywhere else. “At Laguna Lang Co in Vietnam, designed by Nick Faldo’s practice, the site incorporated sand dunes, which are clearly perfect for golf, and rice paddies, which are not so obviously suited to the game. “But in countries like Vietnam, where rice is a staple crop, rice paddies are a key part of the landscape. By incorporating the rice fields in the design of the golf course, rather than eliminating them, architect Paul Jansen helped to embed the

Two leading golf courses in England have begun projects to modernise their courses, both driven by soaring participation in recent years. Here we look at what both will entail https://lnkd.in/evZYwnMH

Great insights from Old Tom Capital. In the business world, the delicate balance between supply and demand shapes success. The golf industry currently is providing a unique case study: Demand Insights: Golf’s popularity is on the rise, driven by both seasoned players and the “golf curious.” These newcomers seek accessible experiences beyond traditional courses. Supply Challenges: However, the supply side – the golf courses – is leaning heavily toward private or resort layouts. Is this alignment with market demand? Market Wisdom: Businesses across industries can learn from golf’s dance. Conduct thorough market research, listen to customer preferences, and avoid oversupply or incorrect supply. #supplyanddemand #marketinsights #businessstrategy #golfbusiness #golfinvesting #strategy

Palm Beach County Golf on Noteefy 🔔 in the last 12 months: $1.1m+ in tee time revenue captured, over $600,000 inside 48 hours, 9,000+ golfers signed up, 20k+ rounds booked.... 🤯 When Eric Garber and I started talking a year ago about Palm Beach County Golf, and the levels of both demand and cancellations across their four courses, I never could have imagined this level of Noteefy adoption less than a year later. Eric: "Our Golfers were insisting on a better way to access their desired tee times, without constantly calling. At the same time - we needed a better way to plug holes in the tee sheet that were popping up from cancellations." Shortly after we launched and data started rolling in, the most surprising part to all of us was the amount of revenue re-captured from cancellations inside of 48 hours. With well over $600k to date (!!!) in last minute re-bookings via Noteefy, the risk of perished revenue AND lack of accessibility was very real. Working with Noteefy, Palm Beach County keeps 100% of that revenue to support recreational activities in the county. Palm Beach County's high cancellation rate and lack of accessibility are a problem for operators at courses across the country. If you run a course or courses and are interested in learning more.... we would love to chat! Shoot me a DM and we can set up time.

New Post: Vietnam’s Golf Course Development Surge - https://lnkd.in/g5292Dsm, United States: Outside America, the nation with the most active golf development is Vietnam, with more than 50 courses in planning or under construction. Jupiter, Florida, United States: Outside the United States, the nation with the most active golf development is Vietnam, with more than 50 courses in planning or under construction. According to the National Golf Foundation (NGF), there are currently new golf courses in planning or under construction in 88 different countries – from Azerbaijan to Zimbabwe. This worldwide developmental pipeline encompasses more than 500 course projects in total, with half of those in the United States. After Vietnam, the United Kingdom is a distant third (25), followed by India, Korea, Mexico and Spain, all of which have 15 courses in various stages of development. The NGF maintains the definitive database of more than 37,600 golf courses worldwide, with a team of researchers continually verifying the operational status of every golf facility outside the US on a 24-month cycle. This verification process is done on an annual basis within the US, whose borders contain more than 42% of global golf supply. NGF’s database team also tracks projects under development, an increasingly challenging task for a game played in 207 countries and territories recognised by the ISO (International Standard Organisation). The US has by far the most courses in various stages of development – over 120 in active planning or under construction, and an even greater number than that having been proposed and looking to move forward. At the mid-year mark, 13 new courses have opened in the US, from additions like the Par 3 Shorty’s Course at Bandon Dunes (Oregon) and the Pinehurst Resort’s No 10 Course (North Carolina), to private club debuts like the Apogee Club’s Hanse Course (Florida) and the Darmor Club (Texas). The US has accounted for 57% of the worldwide openings thus far in 2024 and approximately twice as many could debut during the second half of the year. Meanwhile, there have been fewer than 40 18-hole equivalent closures through June. According to the NGF, it’s another sign of US supply equilibrium after there were approximately 90 18-HEQ closures in 2023, the fewest in almost two decades. The majority of these closures continue to be older, value-priced and/or nine-hole facilities. Some are in the process of being sold, others are being redeveloped, and a few may get new life in the future. One facility was even removed from the US database and is now categorised as a Canadian course.

A really interesting article from Golf Club Managers Association detailing the cost of running a golf course. The struggles of trying to keep maintenance costs down while meeting (or exceeding) high golfer expectations are exactly why we founded Shorehill. Find out where on-course investment will have the greatest impact to the golfer experience, and reduce inputs where they provide little or no value. Make more cost effective and impactful decisions in the short, medium and long term using data.