ARMY NAVY CC- THE 6TH ON THE RENOVATED BLUE NINE

This video (after the jump) is the second half of my interview with golf course architect Richard Mandell. The first half can be seen here. In this section, Rich talks about his project at Army Navy Country Club in northern Virginia. He stresses his firms ability to phase the project to allow for members to play at least eighteen holes at each of the club’s twenty-seven hole venues and the need to keep to a tight budget. Richard believes that golf architects and will need to keep a firm control on costs if they want to have a chance at growing the game in today’s economic climate. He has some good thoughts on how to go about doing this.

MANDELL ON SITE AT ARMY NAVY COUNTRY CLUB

I first met Richard Mandell when I was at graduate school at the University of Georgia. Richard is a graduate of UGA and had come back to give a talk about the realities of the field of golf course design. I found his talk informative and entertaining.

I was able to track Richard down this summer on a site at Army Navy Country Club where he was completing a large, phased renovation of the club’s 54 holes. It was great to catch up and watch how he works in the field. While I have not had the opportunity to play any of Richard’s new courses or his renovations, I was impressed by the work that I saw as we toured some of the finished holes.

Richard has made his living as a golf course architect since 1992 but has not yet qualified for the ASGCA because he has not completed the requisite number of new courses needed to gain entrance into that esteemed group. He has been an advocate and educator in the field though, contributing to many publications, authoring Pinehurst: Home of American Golf, and teaching a golf architecture class at NC State. Like my first encounter, I found Richard engaging, passionate, and a true credit to the field. (Video interview after the jump)