John Fought,

Golf course architects must accept the fact that not all properties are created equal. Some are steep and rocky; others are flat and featureless.

There are several elements that make golf land special:

First, the land must be of a character to have nice gentle topography with flow that allows golf holes to be routed into the movement with little or no earth moving. Try as we might, nature just seems to have a patent on shaping exciting land forms that showcase golf holes.

Second, ideal land has natural features such as ponds, hollows and/or rock outcroppings that add interest to the surroundings. Would the short seventh at Pebble Beach be as great if it did not sit on a rocky plateau above the Pacific Ocean? Or would the 13th at Augusta be as strategic if Rae’s Creek did not front the putting surface? Man simply does not make natural features of this quality.

Finally, there must be enough land to take advantage of the first two elements. While you can fit 18 holes on 135 acres, you do not have the room to utilize the natural features or nice topography to fit the routing into the natural elements.

Windsong Farm has all of these elements and more.

As the course’s architect, along with Tom Lehman, I found the opportunity of designing a first-rate course at Windsong a great honor and pleasure. The golf holes not only fit into the property with ease but they also have the element of beauty.

Dr. Alistair MacKenzie, the esteemed architect of Cypress Point and Augusta National, described it this way: “It may at first appear unreasonable that the question of aesthetics should enter into golf-course design; however, on deeper analysis, it becomes clear that the great courses, and in detail all the famous holes and greens, are fascinating to the golfer by reason of their shape, their situation, and their modeling. When these elements obey the fundamental laws of balance, of harmony and fine proportion they give rise to what we call beauty. This excellence of design is more felt than fully realized by the player… and in the course of time he grows to admire such as all works of beauty are eventually felt and admired.” Dr. MacKenzie’s sentiments echo my thoughts about Windsong Farm.

In due time I believe that Windsong will compare favorably to the best of the courses in North America. I am privileged to have been part of the design process, and am very proud and humbled by the result. As a fellow member and patron of the game of golf, I look forward to playing the course and enjoying the camaraderie of those who frequent the club.