IF YOU BUILD IT

If you want to understand a golf course–really understand it–you speak to the architect. In Royal Troon’s case, that would require a time machine and some detective work. The course has come a long way since George Strath presided over five holes on the Firth of Clyde in the late 1800s. A few years later, Open Champion Willie Fernie expanded Troon to 18. Skip forward forty years and Troon hosted its first Open. Just as happens today, the club decided to beef up the defenses and turned to master architect and Champion golfer James Braid, who  established the championship layout that has laid waste to golf’s top names for the last two days. We can’t speak to him either, although I would imagine yesterday’s fives, sixes, and quint (an 8!) on the Postage Stamp would make him smile. 

I was thinking about Troon’s design along 16 fairway last evening when I ran into an old friend. Agustín Pizá is a celebrated international golf architect, known for his bold approach to the modern game. Augie is a dear friend and a deep admirer of Scottish golf. We sat down for dinner and watched the last golfers come in from The Rabbit at Marine Troon. Our conversation is included below, edited for clarity. 

It’s good to see you Agustín. 

It’s so good to see you.

Welcome back to Scotland. Is it fair to say you fell in love with golf architecture here?

Yes! Well, fell in love again. I came to do my master’s degree in golf course architecture at the University of Edinburgh twenty years ago.

What was the name of your neighborhood pub?

The Golf Tavern. On Bruntsfield Links. There’s actually a story there. It is said to be the same building where the Honorable Company of Edinburgh Golfers first wrote the rules of golf. All thirteen of them. And the first round I ever played was around the corner at Braid HIlls. 

I’ve never played it.

It’s right in the city – in the hills of Edinburgh. And it’s a Victorian era golf course which, if you’re in golf architecture, you stop to notice that the different types of design, links or Parkland or Heathland, represent different eras. Even the greens at Braid Hill reflect the Victorian Era. They’re sort of triangular. There are all these corners and hard edges.

Who’s your favorite Scottish architect?

Definitely Alistair Mackenzie. He was ahead of his time. Not just with his camouflage and bunkering. The way he conquered the world with his art stands out to me. From Argentina with the Jockey Club all the way to Monterrey and Pasatiempo. I mean… Australia! 

Let’s talk about Royal Troon.

I love it as a golf course. The site demands a challenge. Just because you had wind the first day from north to south that doesn’t mean that today it will stay the same. On the west coast of Scotland the weather really plays not only with your ball but with your brain. Then there is the beautiful bunkering. The eighth hole alone is a display in defensive architecture. Niemman made an 8 today! 

What exactly is a coffin bunker? 

Well, the coffin bunker describes the form of the bunker. So you have pot bunkers that look like a pot and you have coffin bunkers that look like a coffin. They’re elongated, riveted, and you don’t want to be in one. Mostly because in a links setup, the bunkers are designed to give you a random–possibly penal–lie. That one hundred and twenty steps to the green are spent with crossed fingers that it’s not on the edge of the coffin bunker.

It requires patience. 

It requires a short memory and a good sense of humor. 

You’d imagine two hundred years ago the lies were even worse.

Especially with the equipment that they had to play with! And yes. I guess today we can manipulate the golf course to whatever we want. Even the irrigation system is pretty new. Back then, if it was dry and if it hadn’t rained for months, you’re going to play a different golf course. So there’s a balance. Some golfers would prefer if the bunkers had more concavity, so the ball would roll towards the center for everyone. But you can’t control everything. That’s golf. 

What modern golfer would make a great architect?

Oh, that’s a good one. It’s fitting actually because earlier today I was thinking: I would like to see a Shane Lowry design. He’s so witty, he knows how to play these courses. Usually when you have somebody that designs at the level of these players, they design for their game. Look at Jack’s courses.

A lot of long doglegs then? 

Exactly. Long irons into every hole. I mean, I would bet he’s out there right now crossing his fingers that tomorrow is windy and rainy. He’s built for it.

You like Shane to go all the way? 

It’s funny you ask me that because I don’t really have a favorite player. It’s more important for me that we have a good tournament, a good set up, a good competition. So when you ask me who’s gonna win it? Hopefully golf.

I like golf’s chances. 

If there’s a playoff we’re watching it from your room!

See you tomorrow,

Erik

Watch: World-Class Course Architect Breaks Down 5 Iconic Golf Courses

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