There is change afoot in golf, one of the world’s oldest and most traditional of games. Previously the domain of pristine fairways and putting surfaces like pool tables, the golf experiences are now much broader. The game is being played indoors on screens and outdoors at Topgolf facilities. Driving ranges that were once only places to warm up before a round have been turned into learning centers with space to work on your short game and full shots, many equipped with the latest ball tracking systems and covered pavilions to extend the season.
Changes are also taking place in how the game is taught. Lessons have gone from theoretical discussions and observations on ball flight to reviewing Trackman furnished data on things like spin rates, launch angles and swing speeds. Custom fitting means golfers no longer pick up a set of clubs off the rack. They can hit clubheads and shafts from all the manufacturers they want in a single fitting session and leave with clubs set up for their swing, warts and all. Even putting has been elevated to the ranks of club fitting and science.
Of course, in a game as storied as golf, some of the new things are a reimagination of vintage elements. Anyone who has been to St Andrews in Scotland has seen The Himalayas, a 27-hole putting course strategically placed between the first hole of The Old Course and West Sands Beach. This facility began in 1867 as the St Andrews Ladies’ Putting Club to provide a recreational opportunity for women when few alternatives were available. It provided inspiration for many of the putting courses that are popping up around this country.
Thistle Dhu, the 75,000-square-foot putting course at Pinehurst Resort and Club in Pinehurst, N.C., is noted for reviving putting courses in the U.S. Elite golf destinations like Bandon Dunes ran with the concept, creating The Punch Bowl. These facilities are increasingly commonplace, as evidenced by the opening of The Churchill, a putting course at The Golf Club at Briar’s Creek on Johns Island, S.C., complete with lights for night putting.
The private club interpretation of these trends is visible at clubs like Medinah Country Club outside Chicago and Washington Golf and Country Club in Arlington, Va. These facilities include all the technology needed for practice, instruction and club fitting, with a good dose of fun added by simulator golf, attractive seating areas, bars and social spaces. These facilities answer the call from golfers for the latest in training and equipment, and generate activity and community for members in the winter months.
Golf’s profile has changed dramatically in recent years and clubs would be wise to heed the call. The game that is being presented to them on television features well-conditioned athletes in sleek attire right down to shoes that can supposedly add length to your drive. The players carry FlightScope with them to the range and shots are visually enhanced through Toptracer. It is only natural that golfers at the club level want to mimic this behavior, while they also want to have fun. Like all good design, these facilities are causing members to spend more time at their club and interact with other members and staff in new and different ways. They check the box on many fronts, including the ability to enjoy the club when there isn’t time for a full round of golf.