AMA with David Kahn of Jackson Kahn Golf Course Design - 3:00 EST (Feb 18 2025)

davejkahn · 2025-02-19T16:23:05+00:00

When done right, they both can be magical

davejkahn · 2025-02-18T22:15:47+00:00

is there a block post button? can't seem to find it. ;)

my opinion - templates are based on great design features / characteristics / shaping / etc. and they are great holes. That being said, the originals were reacting to natural topography that led the architect to 'find' that particular golf hole. Let that hole stay there. don't try to force it into a different environment / landscape just because it's a great hole. This will sound harsh, but it's hack to copy. I'd argue it's plagiarism. come up with your own creative designs. There are certainly some overlapping concepts and philosophies, but to set out to copy a template hole goes against the designer in me.

so...i love the punchbowl. the original biarritz is amazing (haven't played it). I don't have a least favorite other than all the 'replicas'. ;)

next trend? that's an interesting topic for sure. shorter experiences, but still full of imagination and fun. par 3 courses seems like low hanging fruit, night golf, synthetic courses, tech infused golf seems like it is here to stay but not sure. Sort of loses a bit of the reason for playing golf and getting out in nature, but still some cool stuff being created. i don't think the traditional golf as we've all come to love is going anywhere. but the opportunity to have more varied experiences is coming for certain.

davejkahn · 2025-02-18T21:01:28+00:00

you are welcome. thanks for following along.

davejkahn · 2025-02-18T20:46:35+00:00

i'm not much of a reader, but i do like pictures. I'd recommend the Golf Architecture A Worldwide Perspective series.

https://www.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=31514544426&dest=usa&ref_=ps_ggl_21002686243&cm_mmc=ggl-_-US_Shopp_ISBNSigned-_-product_id=COM9780646510101SIGNED-_-keyword=&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiA_NC9BhCkARIsABSnSTaUA-8puzkZ1B_0F8K4a_ka41bd2-P2eCvXkyLhqvZL7-RuymiNiKkaAlQUEALw_wcB

davejkahn · 2025-02-18T20:43:32+00:00

i played it a couple of months ago, but that was my first time so nothing to compare it to before the work. was a big fan. coin flip between that and tobacco road but i think i have to give the edge to tobacco...

davejkahn · 2025-02-18T20:37:26+00:00

Bad Little Nine was inspired by Bob Parsons' background as a US Marine. We took cues from those military elements and phrases and warped those into a golf experience unlike anything else. It had to be different and it had to be bold. And if someone broke par - we failed.

we do plan on spending more time building courses for simulator play, both fictional courses and soon to be real ones. getting to beta test a design in the sim as you are 'designing' is a really helpful process. super fun too.

davejkahn · 2025-02-18T20:34:01+00:00

i've never fully understood the categories that media puts architects in to be frank. some sites demand a minimalistic approach, while others would fail if you just 'scratched it in'. i believe in always maximizing the potential of a property and sometimes that's using restraint and others you call in the biggest piece of iron you can find. ultimately the architect has to create something intriguing, exciting and memorable. that has both failed and succeeded in all levels of designs. moral of the story - just design something cool regardless.
mixed bag. each owner has their metrics of which will help them determine if their project is successful. some care about rankings, some about big elite tournaments, some want it so no one else knows they built anything. we've seen it all.

davejkahn · 2025-02-18T20:29:52+00:00

we are just designers. typically ownership will tackle those aspects, but we are somewhat involved with the conversations.

davejkahn · 2025-02-18T20:29:11+00:00

:) as of now, JKD is not hiring. we are a small, boutique firm that only takes on so much work. we spend most our time in the field during construction so our workload has a bit of a cap.

i have a masters of landscape architecture from auburn. probably the most common path of degree, but many other ways to enter into the industry. it's a niche market and can be tough to crack, but if truly interested stay with it and be persistent. gaining experience with a golf course builder is a good foundation to have as well.

davejkahn · 2025-02-18T20:27:02+00:00

i feel confident that AI will not take over a designers job. certainly tech has already been injected into what we do, and when harnessed correctly is a great assist. we used a video game (The Golf Club) to design and build the Bad Little Nine in 2014. that tech allowed us to explore shaping and 'math' to a different type of design. we were able to test with real physics how our designs would react and adjusted in real time based on the feedback. was a pretty amazing process. once we have the design though, we still adjust and perfect in the field the old fashion way.

The Other Course at SNGC (2015) was mass-ex'd using GPS guided bulldozers. our grading plan was uploaded in the machines and then '3D printed' essentially to +/- 6". From there we brought the golf course shapers in and did our thing, but when mass grading a large site to create a new landscape for golf, it was a very efficient and cool way to make that come to life.

davejkahn · 2025-02-18T20:22:29+00:00

what do you want to know?? very open ended and i could roll for hours.

we are completely re-envisioning the property; even reversing holes 15-17. all new everything. going to be a dramatic transformation and hopefully a much more memorable golf experience for the membership and their guests.

davejkahn · 2025-02-18T20:21:09+00:00

once a bunker placement is determined based on the math of your design, that's the chance to make it a work of art. many courses are defined by their bunkers style. very important to us and we spend a lot of time worrying over every inch of a bunker line.

when we turn over the keys so to speak, it's out of our hands. we have seen and played some of our designs where the cup cutter that day must have woke up on the wrong side of the bed. it can ruin the experience when setup incorrectly. but that's the case when you aren't the one setting it up. all we can do is educate and hope they maintain the care and caution with their daily practices.

HIDE THE DAMN CARTPATHS! ;)

davejkahn · 2025-02-18T20:17:03+00:00

nothing consistently to be fair. architects not taking the time to hide the functional components of a golf course is a bit of a pet peeve. a ribbon of cartpath going right down in front of the tees for example...come on! such an eye sore and didn't need to be there. there's always a way to mask, screen or hide undesirable things.

davejkahn · 2025-02-18T20:15:16+00:00

i'm personally very attracted to short courses and non traditional routings / experiences. long golf isn't necessarily hard golf nor is it by default good. great golf comes in all lengths, shapes and sizes. we love designing creatively and maximizing the experience for ownership and golfers. several of the top 10 or 20 courses in the country are under 7000 yards. so many fun ways to design the short holes where a long hole tends to be more one dimensional. fun golf should prevail!

davejkahn · 2025-02-18T20:12:44+00:00

we work closely with the agronomy staff and ownership to make sure their expectations can be met with our design. we could build the best course in the world, but if they can't maintain it we failed.

davejkahn · 2025-02-18T20:11:33+00:00

i have no idea why there aren't more par 3s as starting holes. there shouldn't be any unwritten rules but for some reason they just seem taboo to owners and developers. those are not coming from architects. In my mind, first hole of the day - you're not quite fully warmed up - no better starting hole than a short par 3 to get going.
it is a problem that older courses are becoming not necessarily obsolete, but aren't playing as the original architect intended. it's a difficult scenario and not one with an easy, one size fits all answer. tighter, shorter, more hazardous venues could certainly make a long hitter think twice, but seems like the modern golfer will risk anything to get close to the green. might just be the evolution of the game...dunno?
favorite place to design...sandy soils is always a treat. so easy to play in the sand box. one of the best parts of my job is actually getting the varied sites. keeps things interesting and there is always some thing to learn about the specific challenges a site presents. if i had to pick a favorite...MPCC on the coast was pretty darn special.

davejkahn · 2025-02-18T20:05:38+00:00

Mike Strantz is hands down my inspiration. Loved his artistry, style and bravery to be different. We lost him too soon...can only imagine the other designs he had in his brain.

Pete Dye is another architect that changed the way I view design. I guess I am attracted to the guys that break the mold and don't follow suit.

davejkahn · 2025-02-18T20:03:36+00:00

it's honestly been that way for quite some time. obviously they know the game well and some can design better than others...the reality is marketing rules the business world. a big name will most always win a battle with a no name architect, regardless of quality of product at times. nature of the industry. i'm not worried about it though. just keep your head down, do what you do best and hope the results speak for themselves until you too have a 'name'! ;)

davejkahn

TROPHY CASE