Thinking through change before work begins.

What does a golf course architect actually do?

A golf course architect helps a club make better decisions about its course. That can include routing, strategy, greens, bunkers, tees, practice facilities, landscape character, phasing, construction detail and long-term presentation.

At McDonnell & Cooper, the role also includes communication. A sound idea still needs to be understood by committees, greenstaff and members before it can become a successful project.

What makes a golf course strategically interesting?

Strategic interest usually comes from choice. The golfer should be asked to weigh risk, angle, distance, ground conditions and ability. Good architecture rarely relies on simply punishing bad shots. It creates meaningful decisions for different types of player.

Width, angles, contour, wind and hazard placement can all contribute. The strongest holes often allow more than one route, but reward the player who understands the best line for the day’s conditions and the hole location.

Can a course evolve without losing its identity?

Yes, but only if the work begins with a clear understanding of what gives the course its character. Historic courses should not be frozen in time, but change should strengthen rather than dilute their identity.

That may mean restoring lost features, removing accumulated clutter, adjusting strategy for the modern game, or improving maintenance efficiency while keeping the course rooted in its landscape and architectural tradition.

Why does variety matter in golf course design?

Variety is central to the experience of a round. A course should test different clubs, trajectories, decisions and forms of recovery. If too many holes ask the same question, the round becomes less memorable and less engaging.

Variety also matters for equity. The best courses create interest for stronger players without making the course unnecessarily severe for shorter hitters or higher-handicap golfers.

How disruptive is golf course construction work?

Disruption depends on the nature of the project, but good planning can reduce it significantly. Some work can be scheduled around seasons, phased over time, or located so play continues on existing holes while new work establishes.

Disruption should be considered from the earliest design stage. It is not just a construction issue. It affects cost, member confidence, greenstaff workload and the quality of establishment.

Can golf course projects be phased over time?

Yes. In many cases, phasing is the difference between a good idea remaining theoretical and a club being able to deliver it. A long-term masterplan should identify priorities, dependencies and opportunities for logical implementation.

Phasing also gives clubs time to build support, manage budgets, establish new turf properly and learn from early phases before committing to later work.

Can greenstaff undertake parts of the work in-house?

Often, yes. With the right guidance, greenstaff can play a significant role in enabling works, clearance, preparation, shaping support, grow-in and detail refinement. This can reduce cost and build ownership within the club.

The key is clarity. The architect, contractor and course manager need to understand what should be carried out by specialists and what can sensibly be undertaken in-house.

Does every project require a full reconstruction?

No. Many good outcomes come from small, well-judged changes: moving a bunker, widening a fairway, rethinking mowing lines, restoring green edges, improving tee position or simplifying maintenance-heavy features.

A masterplan should help a club understand the difference between essential change, desirable improvement and work that can wait.

Why does member communication matter so much?

Golf courses are emotionally important to their members. Even modest change can provoke concern if people do not understand why it is being proposed, how it will affect their course, and what the long-term benefit will be.

Clear communication does not guarantee universal agreement, but it creates a better conversation. Plans, visual comparisons, presentations and phased explanations can help members judge proposals on their real merits rather than on rumour or assumption.

How do clubs build support for architectural change?

Support is usually built through clarity, patience and consistency. Members need to see the problem, understand the options and feel that proposals are connected to the long-term health of the course.

The strongest communication is specific. It explains what is changing, what is not changing, why the change is recommended, and how the work can be delivered responsibly.

What causes golf course masterplans to fail?

Masterplans usually fail when they are too vague, too expensive, poorly communicated, disconnected from maintenance reality or impossible to phase. Sometimes the ideas may be good, but the club has not been given a clear route from drawing to delivery.

A useful masterplan should help a club make decisions. It should give direction, but also provide practical sequencing, priorities and a communication framework.

Can architecture help reduce maintenance pressures?

Yes. Architecture can have a significant effect on maintenance. The number, type and placement of bunkers, the extent of maintained turf, mowing lines, walk-off areas, irrigation demand and construction detail all influence long-term workload.

Simplification should not mean making a course less interesting. Done well, it can free up time and resources so greenstaff can focus on the details that most improve quality.

Can strategic simplification improve the quality of a course?

Often, yes. Many courses have accumulated features, bunkers, paths, trees, signs, tees and maintenance obligations over time. Some are useful. Others dilute the course or consume resources without adding much architectural value.

Removing or rationalising weaker elements can make the strongest parts of the course more visible, more playable and easier to maintain.

What does the early stage of a project usually involve?

Most projects begin with conversation, background review and a site visit. The first task is to understand the club’s ambitions, constraints and existing course properly before deciding what level of work is appropriate.

For some clubs, that may lead to a full masterplan. For others, a more focused review or single-area study may be the right starting point.

How involved are you during construction?

Our involvement depends on the nature of the project, but we believe the transition from plan to ground is crucial. Drawings and visuals can establish intent, but refinement during construction often determines the final quality of the work.

Where appropriate, we provide on-site oversight, shaping guidance, contractor coordination and support for the course manager and greenstaff.

What types of clubs do you work with?

We work with clubs that are thinking seriously about the future of their course. That includes links, heathland, downland and parkland courses, historic clubs, member-owned clubs, municipal projects and clubs seeking a clearer long-term strategy.

The common factor is not a single course type, but a willingness to think carefully about improvement, identity and delivery.