RENOVATING GOLF COURSES P H I L I P C H R I S T I A N S P O G A R D
C O M P A N Y E X P E R I E N C E Most award winning golf course architects in Europe in the last 5 years Project work in 15+ countries on 4 continents EIGCA lecturer in golf course renovation/restoration since 2008 A W A R D S A N D R E C O G N I T I O N S Working on 4 European Tour status courses Top 100 Golf courses in the World (UK Golf World) Renovation of the Year Winner (US Golf Inc. Magazine) World’s Best Golf Course Architects under (US Cyber Golf Magazine) Development of the Year (US Golf Inc. Magazine) Europe’s Best Golf Course (UK European Property Awards) Philip Christian Spogárd Golf Course Architect BA.Jur, BSc Hort.Arch, EIGCA (hcp. 2.9)
CURRENTLY WORKING IN 6 EUROPEAN COUNTRIES
PORTFOLIO S E L E C T E D P R O J E C T S
World’s Greatest Golf Courses - #68 (Golf Digest) #71 (Golf World) County Louth Golf Club – Ireland European Tour Course 2004 & 2009
Hilversumche Golf Club – Netherlands European Tour Course Historic Harry Colt design EU Top 100
Himmerland Golf & Spa Resort (New Course) – Denmark European Tour Course € Renovation Renovation of the Year Award Winner 2012 – Golf Inc. (American Magazine)
Holstebro Golf Club – Denmark Denmark’s best golf course, EU Top 100
Golfbaan Stippelberg – Netherlands ”Development of the Year 2011” – Golf Inc. Magazine (Best new golf course in the World 2011) ” It’s hard to see how a better solution could have been found on this particular piece of land... It is delightful to see a new course, built on a modest budget, achieve its goals so successfully and so early in life” - Adam Lawrence, Editor, Golf Course Architecture Magazine “ Stippelberg is the best course that has been built in the Netherlands since World War II ” - Mr. Martin Lehmann
Carya Golf Club – Turkey (Designed by Philip Spogard on behalf of TPL) ”Top 100 in Europe” – Golf World 2009 European Challenge Tour Course 2010 ”Europe’s Best Golf Course” – EPA Awards 2010
The Dalmatian – Croatia Pre-Approved European Tour Course holes
SO WHY RENOVATE ? TECHNICAL ISSUES (DRAINAGE, TURF ISSUES, ETC.) SAFETY ISSUES (HEALTH & SAFETY, LEGAL CLAIMS, ETC.) LOSS OF LAND (NEW ROADS, HOUSING, PATHS, ETC.) DESIRE TO IMPROVE LAYOUT (OPTIMIZING THE POTENTIAL OF THE GOLF COURSE, ETC.) PR & MEMBERSHIP (MAINTAIN & ATTRACT MEMBERS, ETC.) ENVIRONMENT (REDUCE PESTICIDS, FUNGICIDS, IRRIGATION, ETC.)
TECHNICAL ISSUES
Himmerland Golf & Spa Resort (New Course) – Denmark Renovation of the Year Award 2012 – Golf Inc. (American Magazine) European Tour Course € Renovation
EQUIPMENT
SAFETY ISSUES
THE EVOLUTION OF THE GOLFER = NEW DEMANDS
UPGRADE or DOWNGRADE DESIRE TO IMPROVE
TREND: STOP COPYING – BE DIFFERENT
TREND: HOW DO WE BECOME UNIQUE BY OPTMIZING THE USE OF UNIQUE FEATURES (AND CREATE NEW ONES)
MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION: WHAT ARE WE TRYING TO ACHIEVE MEDIUM TO LONG TERM ? (WHAT SHOULD THE COURSE LOOK LIKE ON AN AERIAL PHOTO IN 2025)
WHAT TO FOCUS ON
MAKE GOLF FUN F O R E V E R Y O N E
PROVIDE THE GOLFER WITH OPTIONS
CREATE VARIETY F O R L O N G - L A S T I N G A P P E A L
“VARIETY IS THE SPICE OF GOLF, AS IT IS OF LIFE” Donald Ross, Golf Course Architect 1920s
UNDERSTAND BEAUTY A N D H O W T O C R E A T E I T
THE DREAM THE REALITY
CREATE CHARACTER A N D S T A N D O U T F R O M T H E C R O W D
THE DREAM THE REALITY
S M A L L E R - B U T W I T H C H A R A C T E R
L A R G E R - B A S E M A I N T A I N A B L E B Y M A C H I N E
IN THE END IT IS THE SUM AF ALL DETAILS – CONSCIOUS AND UNCONSCIOUS – WHICH MAKES A GREAT GOLF COURSE.
CASE STUDY: HIMMERLAND GOLF & SPA RESORT, DENMARK
UNIQUE CHANCE TO CHANGE FOR THE BETTER.
ALWAYS THINK: OPTIMIZE TECHNICAL PERFORMANCE + OPTIMIZE DESIGN (PLAYING AND VISUAL ‘PERFORMANCE’)
Himmerland Golf & Spa Resort (New Course) – Denmark Renovation of the Year Award 2012 – Golf Inc. (American Magazine) European Tour Course € Renovation
Himmerland Golf & Spa Resort (New Course) – Denmark Renovation of the Year Award 2012 – Golf Inc. (American Magazine) European Tour Course € Renovation
9 OUT OF 10 CLUBS DON’T HAVE A DEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR THEIR GOLF COURSE PLAN AHEAD AND AVOID THE WORST CASE SCENARIOS
QUESTIONS ?
RENOVATING GOLF COURSES P H I L I P C H R I S T I A N S P O G A R D