GolfClubAtlas.com > Golf Course Architecture

Feature Interview with Ron Forse

(1/3) > >>

Ran Morrissett:
Golf Club Atlas » Feature Interview with Ron Forse

Restoration is funny business. Golf clubs place their most prized possession, their courses, in the hands of architects who are creative by nature yet whose goals are to not leave footprints. This conundrum is not for the faint-hearted. A good restorer is a diverse individual, part historian, archeologist, and agronomist. That’s Ron Forse. Remember too: he is one of the first restorers of courses, having been doing this since the late 1980s, long before it became architecture’s hot market segment.

Restoration is far from a science and subjective decisions are a constant. How those decisions get substantiated and communicated to the membership are topics unto themselves. Still, substantiation is enhanced by experience. Ron Forse is such an individual and has the portfolio to prove it. Started in 1989, Forse Design is over thirty years old and has included Jim Nagle for the past 22 years. They are a very effective team and have elevated many of the country’s finest courses including Davenport, Newport, Salem, Philadelphia CC and breathed new life into less gifted sites like the CC of Orlando.

A plethora of topics are covered in this month's Feature Interview including Ross and his multiple stages of architecture, Langford & Moreau and even Dick Wilson. Forse's body of work spans both coasts. Tellingly, some of his clients have been with him for decades including Hyannisport and GCA mega-fav Lawsonia Links. With the grace that comes from being an elder statesman, he is quick to praise not only his partner Jim Nagle but fellow architects. For instance, Mountain Ridge and its amazing greens have played an outsized role in influencing what constitutes good architecture in the eyes of someone who grew up in its neighborhood and he is plum-pleased that Ron Prichard has done such a fine job restoring that Ross work.

Without clamoring for attention, Ron Forse has had an outsized impact and added to the enjoyment of the game for thousands of golfers. Therefore, it is with genuine pleasure that we shine the spotlight where it belongs - on a great and long-time friend to the game.

Best,

mike_malone:
Learned more about golf architecture in one day with Ron, Wayne Morrison, and a copies of Flynn’s hole by hole designs for Rolling Green than any other session since.

Ronald Montesano:
Enjoying this very much. Check your PMs.

Rory Connaughton:
Ron and Jim are two of the good guys in golf. I don't think they get enough recognition but when you look at their client list and see the results of their work on site you appreciate just how good they are.


https://www.forsegolfdesign.com/forsegalleryscroll

PCCraig:
Really good stuff, Ran. Thanks.


We all know about their excellent work at Lawsonia. However, a couple years ago I played their essentially new design at CC of Orlando and enjoyed it immensely. Just a great lay of the land design with a really cool set of greens.

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[#] Next page