16 conditions makes it difficult to stop a ball,” he says, pointing out that catch bunkers can be helpful to keep balls in play. Curley tries to find as many areas of existing terrain that would make for suitable landing areas. “This is best accomplished by dealing with the elevation change from green to tee, not within the hole,” he says. “I would rather have long green-to-tee connections and solid golf holes than holes forced into the site. Eighteen great holes with an occasional path connection is a very tolerable solution, especially in climates with extreme heat and humidity. “Do not be afraid to take a cart to ‘get started’ or to get back to the clubhouse. In the case of Sun Hill, you take a cart under the road and up a hill to get to the first tee – this is no different than the fantastic Sand Hills in Nebraska, where you take a cart about three quarters of a mile from the clubhouse to the first tee.” Getting creative Harrison Minchew, ASGCA, also learnt how to deal with slope in Asia, during his time with Arnold Palmer Design Company under the mentorship of ASGCA Past President Ed Seay. “I was able to hone the skill of creative hole routing and mass grading on 15 projects in Japan and two very steep sites in Taiwan during the 1980s and 90s,” he says. Minchew has since applied that experience in the US, too. In the ELEVATION CHANGE “ Eighteen great holes with an occasional path connection is a very tolerable solution” Curley (pictured on site at Sun Hill) says it is important to get earthmoving right the first time, to avoid costly adjustments and create a playable and economically sustainable golf experience Photo: Brian Curley, ASGCA
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