F E AT U R E
THE ART OF GOLF COURSE Architecture Mont Choisy 11th low
By Louis van der Walt, Golf Course Designer, Matkovich Group
G
olf is not your ordinary Saturday afternoon sport. At some instances during a Saturday night live broadcast, it is not even worth watching or listening to. At times, golf can be as entertaining as watching grass grow, or paint dry… But, there is another side to the story. There is a part which is filled with absolute mayhem and madness – roaring crowds, chanting fans, bright lights, as well as private jets, luxury hotels and obscene amounts of money.
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Compacted gravel from site used as “waste areas” around fairways to increase playability, but limit irrigated surfaces at Mont Choisy Le Golf, situated in Grand Bay, Mauritius. Treated effluent water and a stylised natural landscape in conjunction with Patrick Watson, further reduces irrigation demand, yet creates a stunning showcase course using indigenous grasses and landscaping.
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The latter is, however, only reserved for the top elite of the sport, and not the reason why 99.9% of golfers all over the world took up this sport. The reason golf is played and loved by so many, is the fact that you are able to enjoy this game, from the age when you can walk, literally until the day you cannot walk anymore. It can be a great spectator sport, but at heart, is something meant to be played, not just viewed from the couch or by the big screen in the local pub, but rather being out there in the sun, or the rain, with fresh air and good company on a beautiful course surrounded by nature. The fact that golf has been invited back to the Olympics, would not change the lives of too many people, but the fact that millions all across the globe are able to play it and enjoy it every day, does. But as readers of this monthly landscaping trade magazine, I am sure you are not really here to read about all the glitz and glam of the golfing superheroes. That part of the game provides many opportunities for television broadcasts, sponsorships, charity events, as well as many inspirational stories – it is a billion-dollar industry, which provides employment to millions across the globe, directly and indirectly. But what I would like to highlight and point out in this article, is that golf is often overlooked when people think of "sport and nature" in the same breath. Sports like mountain biking, trail running or climbing comes to mind. But I believe golf also deserves some recognition here. It is not played on a standard or measured "field" or "track", but every course provides a different arena. Unique to the natural landscape of that part of the world. It is at the mercy of the elements and whatever nature dishes up in terms of weather for the day. Every golf course is different, unique, and set within a different environment.
