Hi Folks

I am keen to learn more about golf course architecture and am intrigued to find out what sort of qualifications are out there, with the aim of setting up a practice in a few years time.

I am UK based, but that shouldn't deter any input from the rest of the world.

I'd really appreciate any helpful constructive comments, for those who think this is a bad idea, please be constructive and not disrespectful

Cheers

I can promise you that you are in for a long haul ahead. I'm graduating this week with a degree in Landscape Architecture, which is what a lot of golf course architects study in college and I briefly thought about pursuing a career in it but decided I would stick to playing golf instead. I did take a course on it last semester though.

First thing you have to do is start working for a golf course architect. If you know a golf course architect who will give you a job you are ten way ahead of almost everyone else. If you don't, best case scenerio is that you are digging bunkers with shovel for five bucks an hour. You should apply for Tom Doak's internship program. His website is www.renaissancegolf.com

Next, you would try to get into the office doing anything you could. You need to know how to read a topo map and grade land. Most firms use autocad (nicklaus uses something else) so you need to know how to run that. Knowledge of different grasses is necessary. Do you know how to do a playability analysis?

Each firm is different. It would be very difficult to build a course based soley on a set of plans out of Tom Doak's office. His guys spend a ton of time in the field. Author Hills sends out very detailed plans. I would say that those two are on the opposite ends of the spectrum.

Name recognition is a huge factor in golf course architecture, which is why that starting your own firm in a couple years really isn't a practical goal. Being a chief designer at a bigger firm would be a great accomplishment in 20 years.

I know you said that you are UK based but this is a truely international profession. I have a buddy who works for Author Hills and he is in Europe all the time. Another guy I know is in Costa Rica and Nicarauga all the time.

I hope this helps and I'd be more than happy to answer any more questions you have.

Good luck!

I would suggest you begin reading and participating in the discussion group over at golfclubatlas.com. Numerous practicing architects, including Tom Doak, frequently participate over there and can provide a world of insight into their practice and how they got started. Most american architects went to school in landscape architecture and then spent numerous years as a grunt worker for a well known architect until they could start up on their own. The study of golf course architecture is a small hobby of mine, so take what I say with a grain of salt as I am not working in the field, but I would suggest you begin talking with the nice folks over at golf club atlas and maybe try and get a job as a laborer with a project near your area in order to understand what it really takes to design and build a golf course.

One last thing, the discussion board at golf club atlas will be down until late tomorrow, but you can still look over their extensive database of interviews and course reviews.