April is National Landscape Architecture Month

By definition, Golf Course Design is Landscape Architecture. It is a recreational design niche within the profession of Landscape Architecture. As such, I will be focusing on the profession of Golf Course Design within the field of Landscape Architecture over the next several weeks. I am kicking off the month by giving a lecture at the State University of New York in Syracuse on Monday April 4th. The class is an introductory course in the Department of Landscape Architecture and provides students insight into the broader field of Landscape Architecture. In the modern era of design, nearly all Landscape Architects specialize in something. So this is an opportunity to provide them with insight into golf course design, and the path to becoming a professional Golf Course Architect.

For this month, I will touch on the history of landscape architecture and parallel what was happening in golf course design. I will also spend a good deal of time on the legal qualifications for today’s golf course architects, including licensure and the various laws that regulate the profession. And finally, why I believe the future of golf design will be led by professionals within the field of Landscape Architecture and not by untrained and unqualified PGA Tour professionals. (Though some are trained, and have studied architecture - such as Ben Crenshaw - most are not. Ben also works hand in hand with a trained professional). This should make for an interesting month, particularly for the students who are following the blog, and for those curious about the path to becoming a “professional” Golf Course Architect.

Finally, in celebration of National Landscape Architecture month, the ASLA has posted Landscape Architecture Magazine online this month. You can find it through the link below.

http://www.zinio.com/reader.jsp?issue=416163142&o=ext&RF=LAM_April2011