Course

Architects

“A successful routing will be an exploration of the land and continuously intrigue the golfer”

These words by Mike DeVries have proven to ring true of Cape Wickham Golf Links; the result of a creative collaboration between Mike DeVries and Darius Oliver.

Cape Wickham Golf Links - Course Architect Mike De Vries

Mike DeVries

Cape Wickham Links Architect

A native of Michigan and passionate disciple of Dr. Alister MacKenzie, Mike DeVries is part of a new breed of modern course architects, who not only design holes and courses but personally shapes the features themselves. DeVries prefers a minimalistic style, working as much as possible with the natural ground contours to produce layouts that are  fun and attractive to play.

The Kingsley Club in his home state of Michigan was DeVries’ first significant solo creation, the layout resembling his beloved Crystal Downs for the manner in which the opening nine covers the open dunes, and the back nine rollicks across more heavily wooded slopes. The top few holes at Kingsley are excellent, as are the greens and bunker shaping work.

Also in Michigan, and by DeVries, are Greywalls at Marquette, The Mines and Pilgrim’s Run. Greywalls was a difficult project on steep rocky ground, but is a fine semi-private facility that gets high marks for being both an inexpensive build and a course that carries genuine strategic interest. Pilgrim’s Run was only finished by DeVries, and would have been a better golf course had the client allowed him more design control and to also have a hand in the routing.

Most recently, DeVries has joined with Amsterdam-based Frank Pont, noted Colt & Alison and Tom Simpson restoration expert, and Melbourne-based Mike Clayton, former European PGA Tour golfer and now golf architect, writer, and commentator, to form Clayton, DeVries, and Pont.  This global alliance is ready to coordinate resources, expertise, and personnel to create outstanding new golf developments for clients and they will combine their strengths to provide options for clubs seeking to restore or renovate their historic golf courses. CDP is dedicated to the quality and purity of classic golf design, while serving the needs of their clients and advising them as to the most effective and efficient ways of doing things.  The synergies of this global partnership will lead to a new paradigm of economic excellence in golf course design and construction.

For more information on Mike please view his company websites:

devriesdesigns.com
cdpgolf.com

Essay by Mike DeVries
Cape Wickham Golf Links - Course Architect Darius OliverVries

Darius Oliver

Cape Wickham Links Designer

Darius Oliver is an Australian golf course designer best known as the Author and Publisher of the Planet Golf series of books, and as a designer of the Cape Wickham Golf Links on King Island in Tasmania. He designed the wonderful new par three course at The Hills Golf Club in New Zealand, and is currently working on a spectacular clifftop golf course on Kangaroo Island.

Oliver also provides independent consultancy services, where he works with golf clubs and development clients to establish overall design and project goals and then an appropriate short-list of candidate golf architects. His personal design involvement is limited to projects of significance, be they sandy, coastal sites, short courses or important restoration/redesign projects.

Oliver is not an architect and, unusually for a golf course designer, chooses to not work actively on projects that are outside his specialized skill set. He will often advise clients on which other design and architecture teams are best suited for their particular project. With unsurpassed expertise in the area of golf course design, and direct knowledge of the world’s best/worst examples of golf architecture, Oliver is uniquely placed to be able to offer valuable and insightful advice.

For more information on Darius please view his company website:

planetgolf.com

Essay by Darius Oliver

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