Last Update :11/7/2017

Lester George Recognized for work on Alabama Course

2017 Design Excellence Recognition Program honorees announced by ASGCA

New visions for seasoned facilities, renovations to classic courses and new layouts to meet the needs of today’s golfers display the innovative, thoughtful work of ASGCA members

BROOKFIELD, Wis. – The sixth annual American Society of Golf Course Architects Design Excellence Recognition Program honorees have been named. Projects from 11 courses have been cited for their work with ASGCA members in addressing unique design challenges.

Since its creation, the Design Excellence Recognition Program has highlighted the innovation and problem-solving skills required of today’s golf course designs, from new 18-hole layouts to practice facilities and renovations of various sizes.

The 2017 nominations were reviewed by a panel of golf industry leaders, including representatives of the Club Managers Association of America, Golf Course Builders Association of America and Golf Course Superintendents Association of America.

The recognized courses are:

• Colleton River, Bluffton, South Carolina/Tim Liddy, ASGCA
• Compass Pointe Golf Club, Leland, North Carolina/Rick Robbins, ASGCA, & Brian Lussier, ASGCA
• Golf de Club de Panama, Panama City, Panama/Ray Hearn, ASGCA
• Hunt Valley Country Club, Phoenix, Maryland/Jason Straka, ASGCA, and Dana Fry, ASGCA
• Longleaf Golf & Family Club, Southern Pines, North Carolina/Bill Bergin, ASGCA
• Meadowbrook Country Club, Northville, Michigan/Andy Staples, ASGCA
• Mountain Top Course, Hollister, Missouri/Jeff Lawrence, ASGCA
• Royal Ottawa Golf Club, Ottawa, Canada/Neil Haworth, ASGCA
• Vestavia Country Club, Birmingham, Alabama/Lester George, ASGCA
• Wellesley Country Club, Wellesley, Massachusetts/Mark Mungeam, ASGCA
• Westfield Group Country Club, Westfield Center, Ohio/Dr. Michael Hurdzan, ASGCA Fellow

“These wonderful golf facilities, and the architects who worked so closely with them, have my congratulations and great respect,” ASGCA President John Sanford, ASGCA, said. “The projects recognized here continue the tradition of the Design Excellence Recognition Program; well-designed facilities that make a positive impact on the game to benefit golfers and their communities.”

• Vestavia Country Club, Birmingham, Alabama/Lester George, ASGCA

Vestavia Country Club was falling behind in market standing, sustainability, design strategy, playability and turf quality. All of this impacted the club’s ability to recruit/retain members. 

 A five-year process of focus groups, design study, due diligence, bidding and design execution of a total golf course reconstruction resulted in the following: re-routing reconstruction of all 18 holes, tees, greens, bunkers, streams and drainage paths; new turf varieties; new practice facility; updated putting green and cart storage facility; and more. The design was predicated on increasing the strategy, playability, fun, conditions and sustainability of the golf course to retain, gain and attract new members. 

ASGCA Background

Founded in 1946 by 14 leading architects, the American Society of Golf Course Architects is a non-profit organization comprised of experienced golf course designers located throughout the United States and Canada. Members have completed a rigorous two-year long application process that includes the peer review of four representative golf courses.

The average ASGCA member has spent nearly 30 years as a golf course architect, designing 42 new 18-hole courses and has worked on or consulted on nearly 150 projects in eight different countries around the world.

For more information about ASGCA, including a list of current members, log on to the ASGCA website at http://www.asgca.org or call (262) 786-5960.

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