The Greenprint

In this episode of The Process by The Greenprint , Leighton Walker and Thad Layton are joined by renowned Australian golf course architect Mike Clayton for a wide-ranging discussion on the principles he feels underpin great golf course architecture. Drawing on decades as both a tour professional and architect, Mike explains why the best courses ask golfers interesting questions rather than simply...

In this episode of The Process by The Greenprint , golf course architect and shaper Brett Hochstein joins hosts Leighton Walker and Thad Layton for a deep conversation on golf architecture, shaping philosophy, and the importance of reading the land. Brett reflects on discovering golf architecture at just four years old and shares how his early shaping work alongside architects like Tom Doak helped...

It's an agronomy based episode of  The Greenprint , and Leighton Walker is joined by Scott Roberts, Course Manager at Hindhead Golf Club in the UK, alongside Mark Shaw and Will Bowden from PGG Wrightson Seeds in New Zealand. Together they explore the fascinating world of cool-season turfgrasses, uncovering the science, research and long-term planning that underpin the playing surfaces golfers ofte...

In this episode of The Process by The Greenprint , Leighton and Thad sit down with legendary golf course architect Bruce Charlton of Robert Trent Jones II to explore the design philosophies and creative process he has developed over more than 40 years in the industry. Bruce reflects on his early fascination with golf course design - including sketching golf holes during church services, and explai...

On this episode of The Process , we sit down with the thoughtful and highly respected golf course architect and shaper Riley Johns . Riley's path through the game is a rare one — having worked alongside both Bill Coore and Tom Doak , he has been shaped by two of the most influential modern design philosophies in golf. Those experiences, combined with years of hands-on shaping work around the world...

A very collaborative episode at the recent EIGCA Annual Meeting in Utrecht, where we joined our partner Toro to record a wide-ranging and insightful conversation with a fantastic group of guests, including: Andy Brown from Toro Toby Ingleton of Golf Course Architecture Magazine Golf course architects: Jeff Lynch of Re:Golf James Edwards of EDI Bruce Charlton of RTJ2. The discussion which was not a...

Dana Fry joins The Process by The Greenprint for a deep dive into his design philosophy, influences, and the journey that shaped him into one of golf architecture's leading figures. From his early days learning the craft, through his time working under Tom Fazio, and alongside influential figures like Andy Banfield and Mike Strantz, Dana shares an honest account of how he evolved from shaper to de...

We catch up with Jasper Miners of Evalu18 and Top 100 Golf Courses. Jasper has a deep passion for golf course architecture, and he's become widely respected for helping clubs uncover and understand their history. This work plays a crucial role in guiding future course design, ensuring that any renovations or restorations retain the original spirit and integrity of the course. We dive into his curr...

Leighton and Thad sit down with the inimitable David McLay Kidd of DMK designs to unpack the process behind his remarkable career designing some of golf's most iconic courses. They explore how David evolved his approach early on—taking on the role of general contractor on many of his projects to gain greater control over execution—and how that decision has shaped the consistency and quality of his...

On the Tee is our round-up of golf course projects taking shape across the globe, from new openings to developments under construction and recently announced designs. In this episode, we're joined by Toby Ingleton of Golf Course Architecture for our own take on a "Florida Swing," focusing on a cluster of exciting projects in the region and beyond. We begin with Apogee's Summit Course in Florida, d...

In Episode 2 of The Process we sit down with Tom Mackenzie of Mackenzie & Ebert to explore the philosophy and thinking behind his approach to golf course design. Strategy sits at the heart of Tom's work, with a clear focus on creating the best possible playing conditions while offering engaging strategic choices for as many golfers as possible. Strategy can take many forms, and in the episode Tom...

On this  Toro Partnership episode, we visit the stunning Lofoten Links in Norway and speak to Jerry Mulvihill (Superintendent) and Tekla Kvachadze Jerry and   Tekla share how they manage turf in one of the world's most remote and visually striking locations, dealing with short growing seasons, harsh weather, limited access to resources, and the unique challenges of midnight sun and polar night.  T...

We're excited to bring you The Process by The Greenprint , a new sub-series that digs deep into how golf course architects think, work, and create. Hosted by Leighton Walker and joined by Thad Layton of Thad Layton Design, the series explores the processes that shape great golf design. In this first full episode, we sit down with Nick Mills , a Melbourne-born golf course designer whose introductio...

Following the successful launch of  The Greenprint , the podcast dedicated to golf course design, sustainability and agronomy has announced a new sub-series titled  "The Process by The Greenprint."  The series will focus exclusively on golf course architecture, offering an in-depth, behind-the-scenes look at how architects think, work and create. The new sub-series will feature and be co-hosted by...

Episode 24 of The Greenprint is produced in partnership with Toro and takes the form of a wide-ranging panel discussion, recorded at BTME, on how modern machinery and technology are reshaping golf course design. The episode brings together three leading architects—Tim Lobb of Lobb & Partners, Caspar Grauballe of By Caspar, and Paul Kimber of Kimber Glen International—alongside industry expert Andy...

This episode takes a deep, topic-led look at golf course design for the slower swing speed player. We use this term deliberately, because swing speed is what really determines distance and ball flight, and a large proportion of the golfing population fits into this category. Slower swing speed players can be young or old, male or female, beginners or lifelong golfers. It is also worth remembering...

We're delighted to welcome the ever-thoughtful and well-travelled author and golfer Richard Pennell to the show. Following his acclaimed debut Grass Routes , Richard has recently released his second book, Common Grounds, a fascinating exploration of lesser-known yet deeply compelling golf courses found on common land across the UK and Ireland. These courses often play a vital role in their local c...

Glenelg Golf Club has been completely reshaped through a long, multi-year redevelopment that in 2021 brought architects, Neil Crafter and Ryan Van Der Veen together to modernize the course while protecting the character that makes it memorable. Neil Crafter started the process back in the late 1990's and more recently, with Ryan from 2021 to it's recent completion and opening.  The guiding design...

We're really pleased to welcome Paul Jansen to The Greenprint . Paul has built an impressive career in the world of golf architecture, and we kick things off by exploring his early journey in the industry, including a formative stint with Faldo Design . From there, we dive into two of his standout ventures: @himalayasgolf and @golfinsmallspaces , both developed in collaboration with Sir Nick Faldo...

Brought to you by Toro In this episode, we head to the striking Island of Madeira , an autonomous region of Portugal located off the northwest coast of Africa. While Madeira isn't traditionally thought of as a golf destination, it carries nearly 100 years of golfing history and features three courses across two islands— Palheiro , Santo da Serra , and Porto Santo . The islands have also played hos...

We're really lucky to be joined by Clyde Johnson of Cunnin' Golf Design . Clyde brings an extensive knowledge of golf course design and construction, built through his time working with Tom Doak at Renaissance Golf Design and, for the past decade, through his own practice. Learning from and collaborating with some of the best in the business, Clyde takes great pride in crafting natural golf course...

In this newly titled edition of On The Tee with Golf Course Architecture magazine , we're joined once again by Toby Ingleton to explore a range of exciting golf course projects—some recently completed, others underway, and a few still on the horizon—all from around the world. We kick things off at The Wisley , where work has just been completed on the Garden 9. Toby recently visited and shares his...

Leighton is once again joined by golf course architect Thad Layton of Thad Layton Design to explore a recent architectural study trip. Fresh off an incredible 20+ course tour of southern England and the Midlands, Thad shares the motivations behind the trip, how he organized it, and the design lessons he's bringing back to his own work. Many architects make this journey to the UK, but the focus her...

We're joined on this architecturally focused episode by Mike Cocking of OCM . OCM have been steadily building their reputation in the architecture world, particularly across Australia and more recently in the USA. Mike talks about the team's transition into the US market after many standout projects in Australia, such as Peninsula Kingswood and Lonsdale Links. That move began with Shady Oaks in Da...

In partnership with Toro, we're delighted to be joined by Andrew Wilson, Director of Agronomy at Bethpage State Park Golf Course, for an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to prepare a Ryder Cup venue.  Together with Mike Hadley, Course Superintendent of the famed Black Course, they will ensure the course is tournament ready, providing the perfect stage for one of golf's greatest co...