Architects Have Big Plans For Golf Courses.

Want to know where your next golf shot is headed? Good luck. But if you want to know where the future of golf course development is headed, ask a golf course architect.

That’s what the American Society of Golf Course Architects (ASGCA) did in their 2022 Golf Facility Trend Watch. The ASGCA is the professional association representing the most acclaimed and experienced design professionals in the golf industry. Their members have designed clubs around the globe from the most famous, storied golf courses to local favorites.

According to their latest study, renovations at golf courses in North America aren’t just through the roof. They’re through every part of the course. Volume of renovation business over the past 24 months shows half of architects reporting year-over-year revenue improvement, maintaining an upward three-year trend.

The outlook for the next 24 months is significantly more bullish relative to what the ASGCA survey observed in 2021. 56% of architects expect to see renovation revenue increase over the next two years.?

Master plan development has re-taken the top position as the most common project activity for architects, while practice area improvements remains a strong second. Master plan development also rebounded to recapture its place as the greatest revenue driver for golf course architects followed closely by total redesigns and new course construction. Course operators have seen improvements, like the addition of forward tees, lead to large increases in player enjoyment.

The upshot of this study is that golf continues to gain favor with a new generation of players and courses are responding to the demand with major improvements across the board.

Whether you’re in the middle of a renovation or in the planning stages, it’s never too soon to start talking with an award winning golf course photographer.