Jim Engh

Golf Course Architect Jim Engh Takes Your Questions

By Colorado Avid Golfer

Dozens of CAG readers and website users asked questions of Colorado-based golf course architect Jim Engh. His abridged answers appeared in the Spring issue. Here are his complete responses:

Having played a number of your courses, it seems, that when I hit a reasonably good approach shot, the ball rolls a lot closer to the pin than I expected. Is this by design or have I just been really lucky?–Richard Friedland (via email)

Hi Richard.
Quite true, in some instances. Remember that there remains a great variety of design concept within the greens that I have designed. Most importantly, I hope that they are fun to play. I encourage you to examine the entire picture of the design concept rather than one type of shot. Remember that your upcoming putt, although shorter than anticipated will have additional swing to it because of that same bowled effect. You referenced a reasonably good shot. You might also notice that should your shot miss the intended containment area for a particular hole location, the ball will move away from the hole, leaving you with a putt that is not only longer, but it also might involve a ridge to negotiate.

With this bowl type concept it is certainly possible to setup the course to play tremendously easy, with holes being placed in the “low areas” of the bowls and shaving the slopes around the greens to allow for many balls that miss the greens to bound onto the putting surface. Certainly, this would provide the easiest of golfing scenarios on my courses. However, should the holes be placed onto the side slopes of the bowls at approximately 3% – 4%,and should the grass around the greens be left at a longer length to catch the shots that miss the putting surface, you would have created a tremendously difficult golf course. Certainly, the putting aspect will become much more challenging and the downhill chip shot from long rough to a downhill slope is one of the hardest shots in the game. Obviously, the answer is to find a balance for the course setup that will make the golfing experience interesting, unique and fun. As this can be changed and modified on a weekly, monthly or even seasonal basis, your options for variety greatly increase.

What is your favorite American golf courses other than one you designed–and why?–Jim Dauer (via Facebook)

Interesting question. My approach to this question is a bit unique. In the world of American golf and the evaluation of the quality of a golf course, the aspect of history and stature have a lot of influence. And from the point of view of the golfing public, that is perfectly understandable. Because I cannot design history into a new golf course, I must evaluate the work of others purely as a physical structure that is without emotional attachment.

If I am impressed by a golf course, it must be based upon the simple factor of how the experience inspires me. Creativity, adventure and variety are what make up a fun golfing experience or any human experience. That is what I look for.

In answer to your question, my favorite courses in America are Cypress Point, Pine Valley and Royal New Kent.

We live in Colorado and I think we've played all of your courses. Which of your Colorado designs is your favorite?–Suzan (via www.coloradoavidgolfer.com)

Man I could get in a lot of hot water with my clients if I put together a list like that!

Truly each project and course is special to me in a different way. Like having children, they are different and special with a piece of your heart in each one. Sanctuary was my first course in the US and started my career, Harmony Club is the home course of my CSU Rams, Pradera is my where I live and Fossil Trace took 12 years to complete.

I suppose that I have a special feeling for Four Mile Ranch in Cañon City. With a shoestring budget in a small town during difficult financial times, it is the ultimate underdog. Also we were allowed to go well outside the box of American golf, even for me. I have a giggle and grin going the entire time I play that course.

Some people have described certain holes you‚Äôve designed as having weird or goofy (or even unfair) features. What is your response to them?–G. Brown (via email)

Hi G. My response is that those people are paying attention. I love it!

I am not a believer in the image of a diabolical golf course architect madly drawing a golf hole that “must” be played the way that he / she determines. That type of golf seems quite boring and a little tedious. The game of golf was created as a “pastime” to enjoy the walk from the town to the sea on the way to work. The routes taken were not obviously determined and due to the fact that the game was played solely against nature, there was no fair and there was no unfair. It was simply a game against nature predicated on randomness.

Simply stated, I believe that I am in the entertainment business. My job is to create a place that allows or in some instances induces people to have fun. Within the realm of human perception are simple beliefs that I have determined over the years to be the key elements toward achieving the goal of a fun experience: Creativity, adventure and variety.

In order to achieve my goals I feel that I must take people out of their comfort zone. I must create a bit of a “ride” that has many unique aspects to the experience. I fully understand that some will not like or appreciate my point view and that some consider my ideas to be contrary their vision of traditional golf values. I find that to be perfectly understandable and acceptable.

I was once told, “Even if you are the best in world at what you do, one out of five people will not like the way you do it.” Following that thought, I would prefer to try to inspire those four people, with a unique and inspiring experience than be considered safe and under inspired by all five.

With fewer courses in development in the states, you've no doubt had to look for projects overseas. How is the dynamic of designing and building courses in Asia different than it is here?–Henry Osawari (via email)

Hi Henry. We presently have four courses under contract in China. Additionally, we are working in Mexico and the Canary Islands of Spain. Fortunately, I began working and living in Europe in 1987 and had completed three courses in China and Thailand in the 1990s.

This experience has made it much easier to understand the international business culture, especially China. Certainly, the methods of construction are different and require a little more patience and lateral thinking. However, the most important element to working in China is understanding that relationships are made upon developing personal friendships before business can be undertaken. It takes a little longer, but it is very rewarding.  

Which course designers–living or dead–have influenced you the most?–James Cunningham (via www.coloradoavidgolfer.com)

Hi James. I would have to say that my biggest influence has been through my experiences with Irish links golf. Not really any designer, just a love for the wild landforms and the randomness of nature. The crazy, the wacky and the fun.

More specific to your question, I really admire the work of Mike Strantz. Unfortunately, he died much too early at the age of 50 a few years ago. However, his work has been an inspiration to me. Royal New Kent in Virginia is truly a testament to his creative “out of the box” genius. Along the same lines I admire what Pete dye has done to expand the envelope of creative thinking. This has allowed the rest of us to stretch a little more with our careers.  

I read you're designing a course in Nebraska (Awarii Dunes in Kearney). How close is it to opening?–Cliff M. (via www.coloradoavidgolfer.com)

Hi Cliff. Awarii Dunes (http://www.awariidunes.com) will open in the spring. Most likely May.
Along with the expertise of Niebur Golf Constuction and the owner Kent Freudenburg , we were able to create a “dunes style” golf course at the eastern edge of the sandhills in central Nebraska. I am very excited to have used the the rolling character of the land to create my vision of Irish links golf here in America. Fortunately, Kearney is located right on I-80 and is an easy drive from Denver.

Why do Irish courses hold such fascination for you?–Steve C. (via email)
Hi Steve. Funny thing, it has taken me many years to be able to answer that very question. I used to design courses to what I thouhght other people would like. That by the way is a very tough task. I then fell in love with the Irish Links courses and decided that the pathway to success was to design courses to what I liked. This of course took quite a leap of faith and the hope that my new views would keep me in business. Most importantly, I determined that in order to provide what I liked, I must determine why I liked what I liked.

It became obvious that I had to determine why I was in love with the Irish golfing experience. During one of my many trips to Ireland, in pursuit of the answer to that question, it became obvious. One day while playing Carne, one of my pals said to me “you have been turning, spinning, looking and gazing at this place since the first tee with this huge smile on your face. You are having so much fun”. At that moment it occurred to me that the reason that I love Irish golf so much is because my brain was 100% “engaged and tuned in” with endorphins flying freely in my brain for the entire 18 holes of golf. 

Because it is not always possible to re-create Irish forms here in the US , especially in the mountains of Colorado, I have tried to create features and experiences that provide an atmosphere similar to that of the Irish experience by having your brain inspired and “turned on” for the entire time.  

You've created courses on some of the most extreme sites in Colorado. From a purely topographic standpoint, which was the most challenging?–Angela (via email)

Hi Angela. We have been fortunate to have worked within some very spectacular settings. And yes, they have been quite extreme. In a variety of ways they are all unique. Lakota Canyon was very close to not being possible within the budget until we found a unique way to transfer the storm water from the mountains through the site. Redlands Mesa required some creative construction techniques from the boys at American Civil Constructors and the mine site at Fossil Trace was tremendously challenging with the presence of 64-million-year-old fossils. 

However, as Sanctuary was among the first of the wild mountain sites that have become more common today and the fact that some said that a golf course was not possible on that land, it may have been the toughest project.

Do you approach the design of public and private courses differently?–Manuel (via www.coloradoavidgolfer.com)

Hi Manuel. The simple answer is yes, but not as much as you might expect. My ultimate goal is a to create a fun adventure of golf. In my opinion, that is what public and private course players deserve.