9 minute read
Interview: Architect Ian Andrew
Ian Andrew is a Canadian golf course architect based in Ontario. His Toronto-area renovation projects include the likes of St. George's, Scarboro, Islington, Oakdale, Cedar Brae and Maple Downs. Carlos Verde (CV, The Nineteenth): Ian, you first got into architecture in 1989. Where did the idea to pursue this begin, and what was your first opportunity?
Ian Andrew (IA): I was 13 years old watching the Pebble Beach Pro -Am with my father when I started sketching holes. I asked him if people designed golf courses, then got a few books together. He realized I was serious and encouraged me and taught me about the game and its architecture.
Advertisement
In my mid-teens we started making trips to see famous courses.
The first thing I ever worked on was a green for Carrying Place. I was 16 years old. It's crazy in hindsight, that they let a 16 year-old build a green with the superintendent! I did two greens, one that still exists and the other is gone - the one with three tiers - and it's probably better for golf that it is!
CV: The restoration of courses is a key theme for you, and evident in much of your Toronto-area work. Where did the idea of returning to the original architect's design stem from?
IA: It began with frustration. I'd seen a couple golf courses done - mainly by Stanley Thompson - where the renovations were awful. I was frustrated watching really interesting, golden-age work disappear.
At the same time, I ended up working with Lookout Point and quickly realized I didn't know enough about (architect) Walter Travis.
I went on a bit of a tour, took some time to learn about Travis, and came back to eventually restore some things pretty well.
That gave me the confidence to be a bit more aggressive in my restoration, and the journey culminated in St. George's where we really leaned into a pure, true restoration.
CV: That work at St. George's is cited often. It's obviously a prestigious club, both in terms of social standing in Toronto and visibility with the Canadian Open. What was a highlight of your work on that property?
IA: I felt the weight of the world. One of the most prominent courses, and one of Thompson's best-ever projects - I was being given his greatest piece of work, and my first thought was 'don't mess it up'.
Ultimately the detailing took us to the next level on that project, and a magical moment occurred for me in that I realized that level of detail was what made these projects work.
That work gave me a profile that was separate from (architect and then-boss) Doug (Carrick), and after nearly 20 years together it was time for me to strike out on my own. We parted really amicably, (and) I think Doug should end up in the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame - he's been that important to the game, and I was lucky to work for him.
CV: Let's consider your other Toronto projects. Islington, Cedar Brae, etc. Of the private courses in the GTA you've worked on, which project stands out?
IA: Islington always will, because of the greens. They'd said they wanted to be known for the most frightening and fast greens in the city again, (and) had troubles with turf loss.
If greens are steeper, they're going to be healthier - and you don't have to manage them to get speed, they'll just naturally be fast. Your 7th green at Scarboro is a great example; nobody has to manage that to make it difficult, it just is because gravity is three -quarters of the player's problem.
Andrew's GT A-area work includes renovations at Scarboro, St. George's, Oakdale and Islington among others.
The golf course isn't overly hard, but what I enjoyed was putting that level of thought into the greens. CV: You've done some original work as well. How does the process change when you're building something from scratch, like Club de Laval-sur-le-Lac?
IA: It's fun to think about in two ways: one is how you want the round to go, how the holes play collectively. The other is how the game is played - in my case, I like the ball to get on the ground and moving. Laval-sur-le-Lac has four greens which fall away from play. One of the greens goes dead sideways.
It's an unusual approach: almost all modern architecture pitches back to front to make it receptive and visible.
Laval-sur-le-Lac forces you to make running shots, bouncing shots - it's very golden age.
I've got a potential project down in Niagara Falls, and I could use that at this point in life to show people a bit of me and allow people to play that (style) alternative.
It's the only thing I still want to have happen: Get a raw piece of land and build something for public play.
CV: Let's talk Scarboro. It's Canada's only Tillinghast course, and you had a role in its renovation. What are some of your favourite features of the golf course?
IA: Remember when I said I felt the weight of the world at St. George's? Scarboro is similar as Canada's only Tillinghast course, it comes with the same weight.
I did the initial renovation with Gil Hanse, and I've taken care of tree removal, tees - let's call it housekeeping - ever since.
It was so great to work with somebody with such a great knowledge of Tillinghast. Rather than feeling all the weight, I found all the history we needed (and) we made a few decisions related to things he did at other courses.
The mounding complex close to the green on the 1st hole is a good example. CV: Over the 18-hole layout, what are one or two of your favourite features?
IA: It's got one of the best collections of Par 3s in Canada. I love the little short 11th hole, the joy in that everyone can reach the green and feel the rush of opportunity to make a two.
The 2nd hole is such a challenging Par 3, and you follow that with the 4th, then the 14th ... it's a great set of threes. You have to have a bit of game to get through that section, (and) every one of them is exceptiona I.
I love the short fours. I know there's some criticism you come in short, but the 15th hole is excellent and the 7th is the best shortfour in Canada, no question.
Whenever I take friends there, it's the same bet every time. It's 275 I think (on 9), and l'Il pay them five bucks for a par and they pay 10 if it's a bogey. If it's their first time playing Scarboro, I always get 10 bucks!
One of Tillinghast's strengths are those little short, off-angle greens. All trouble, short-fours was something he was exceptionally good at - the one at Scarboro reminds me of the one at Fenway.
Overall, Scarboro is a great piece of land and the river's used well. Given the choice, I would pick it over just about any course in Toronto - it's a better, more interesting golf course. That's part the land, part the quality and part the details of the course. CV: One parting question: Who is on your 'Mount Rushmore' of golf course architects?
IA: Harry Colt, the first great architect and roadmap for every architect that followed him. The quality of his courses, considering he didn't have the body of work to draw from that we do, is remarkable. He's the foundation that the remaining members of Rushmore - as well as myself - work from.
Alister MacKenzie, because he understood how to incorporate nature and make things both natural and beautiful. He mastered strategic placement along with unparalleled beauty.
Stanley Thompson, the foundation of Canadian golf architecture. He was the beautiful and the playable. He made sure there were ways for the average player to play, but if you had to score you also had to take on more of his trouble.
A.W. Tillinghast, last. He showed us what championship golf is supposed to be, and I love the fact he mixed up his styles and architecture from tiny greens and super-short fours to incredibly long fours and large greens. The other thing is, if you look at Winged Foot, it wasn't a great site but he made it a great golf course. He was better at manufacturing landscape than anybody in history.
CV: Ian, thank you for your time and best of luck with that prospective project in Niagara Falls.
IA: Truly a pleasure. You have a fantastic golf course and club there at Scarboro.
A finite number of spaces remain for entry into our popular two-year Learn to Play Program!
Designed as an introduction to both the sport of golf and club life, the program has grown exponentially in recent years and is ready to provide another great season of on-course learning and off-course socializing in 2022!
Year One of the program comprises four group clinics, an on-course clinic and two one-on-one lessons, in addition to a number of 3-hole social events.
Year Two retains all events and clinics from the first season, and adds two additional one-on-one lessons to maximize learning opportunities.
LEARN MORE Jessica McGoey Membership Manager e I jmcgoey@scarborogcc.com o I (416) 266-4546 Ext. 241
