GREG NORMAN
As we continue to look for ways to grow the game of golf and attract new people to the sport , it is critical that we start thinking outside the box . Everyone from the PGA TOUR to the R & A to the Golf Management Association of Australia has a responsibility to the game and looking after its ’ future .
The conversation surrounding what makes golf “ fun ” and where we can find it has increased significantly in the past five years . The explosion of TopGolf is a great example of this . The concept is a driving-rangemeets-sports-bar-meetsnightclub atmosphere that attracts clientele including kids with parents , couples on dates , and even a bachelorette parties . It has been reported that in the past five years , the company has opened 23 new venues , more than half of them since the beginning of 2015 . They are now targeting global expansion with news about a new facility on Australia ’ s Gold Coast .
Another model that seems to be working for those suffering from less time to play and looking for more fun is the resurgence of the Par 3 , 12-Hole course . Ideal for developers , as it doesn ’ t require a lot land and is significantly more sustainable ( 20 acres vs . 120 acres ), it also solves a lot of the issues plaguing the casual golfer . Our newest design at Camden Heritage is a great example of this . With plans to open by the end of the year , our Par-3 , 9-Hole design located outside of Sydney will provide a wonderfully unique golfing experience in a growth corridor of NSW . Perhaps this is a model for the direction in which golf should be headed long-term .
The game of golf faces many difficult issues - environmental and economic sustainability among them . This is something my firm dedicates a lot of time , attention and energy to , specifically through our redesign program . Our goal is to help courses assess their own situation and develop ways to improve – a trend we are seeing gain steam throughout the country .
We recently completed an 18- hole redesign of Brookwater Golf & Country Club in Queensland where we were able to improve not only the environmental and economic sustainability of the course , but also playability , which made both the managers and members very happy . We saw maintenance costs come down significantly after undergoing a progressive overhaul that included strategic design changes to the greens , fairways and bunkers . It ’ s always great to come back to one of my designs and have the opportunity to modernize it and restore it to its ’ original form , so to be able to return to Brookwater was extremely rewarding .
20 I GOLF MANAGEMENT AUSTRALIA I WINTER EDITION 2017