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Golf course architecture...
Philip Sparks and Richard Myers have combined their expertise to offer a unique service for Golf Clubs requiring Golf Course Architectural advice and planning.
Philip Sparks – Has over 30 years experience as a PGA Club Professional and was the first Golf Professional in the world to gain a Professional Diploma in Golf Course Architecture from the EIGCA. Not only did he gain the Diploma with a distinction he also won the coveted Toro award for student of the year in 2000. He has been involved in building and renovating courses since 1988.
" My main interest in Golf Architecture is the redevelopment of existing courses. I have a passion for modernising the older courses to make them once again play with the difficulty and intrigue that the original architect designed. However, when shorter holes cannot be lengthened, sometimes a new strategy has to be formed as the original one cannot then be restored. The challenge is to make the revised hole fit within the style and flow of the rest of the course. I have lived and breathed golf for forty years and know how to challenge the best of players and yet make it fun and interesting for the lesser ones. I have a unique empathy for all golfers, having played the game at every level from beginner to Professional standard.”
Philip Sparks
Company Director |
Richard Myers – Educated in Landscape Architecture at the University of Greenwich, London, Richard spent seven years with the largest Golf Architecture Practice in the UK, Swan Golf Designs. With international projects from China to Florida, Richard specialised in the renovation and refurbishment of existing golf courses.
With an award winning Diploma from the European Institute of Golf Course Architects, Richard has been acknowledged as having become one of the top three renovation architects in Europe.
" The real challenge is to bring courses back up to modern technology and power without changing the special character each older golf course possesses. To balance challenging the better player without penalising the lesser golfers whilst retaining, in many cases, over 100 years of historical golfing context is a process that usually takes 5 – 10 years. Nobody wants their golf course to look like a battlefield and yet all this needs to be done with modern maintenance practices in mind; the Course Manager and members both demand levels of playing surface quality that were unachievable 100 years ago.
There’s no substitute for being on site. You’re reputation is only as good as your last bunker. Whenever possible, I like to work with the course’s Greenstaff because as it is they who are left to look after the results, the attention to detail in construction is far more attuned. It is their course, their job and they care about it.”
Richard Myers
Company Director |
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