The game ain't the same, according to third generation designer

By Brandon Tucker, Managing Editor

The Matthews family has been in golf design since 1925, when W. Bruce Matthews I began designing courses in New England. Today, Bruce Matthews III continues the family legacy as a heralded designer in Michigan and throughout the Midwest. Here, Matthews shares with TravelGolf.com about the state of Michigan golf, why the past ten years have been the most revolutionary in golf design, and why his favorite course is yet to be built.

TravelGolf.com: In your opinion, what is the one course every golf architect should study?

Bruce Matthews III: I think you have to study several types of courses. Study the old classics, which are done by a lot of different architects with different styles. I can't pin it down to just one. Everyone ought to study the Scottish golf courses as well as the early American courses.

TG: Is there a perfect golf course out there, from a design standpoint?

BM: I think there are perfect golf courses out there, but even the perfect course evolves over time due to nature's effects, such as wind and trees that grow older and die - significant change in the golf hole and change in the course. They start out perfect and then grow imperfect over time. And then others start imperfect then grow into perfection over time depending on environmental factors and even the owners of the course as well.

TG: Has the well run dry in Michigan regarding new courses?

BM: The boom is over. There are a couple new courses going on, but not many. Most of my work now is remodeling. There is plenty of work in the Midwest for remodel work. It's funny, because in my territory, I never wanted to travel a lot but now I'm working in Wisconsin, Ohio and Ontario. I have three jobs right now. But in Michigan and the Midwest in general, the peak is over, now we're in the valley, not much going on. What's interesting is Canada however never hits peaks or valleys as high or as low as the Midwest.

TG: In your travels, where is the best place to design?

BM: The best natural land for golf is really northern Michigan. If you can have something on the lakeshore, the shores of Lake Michigan, Huron, it's some pretty property. Rick Smith had a beautiful piece of property with Arcadia Bluffs. You can't beat that when nature gives you a piece of land like that - both inland and outward. It's not just northern Michigan either. The Caribbean, Hawaii, you can't beat all the natural elements­water, land and trees. Wherever the coast is, that is the ideal place. I like Long Island courses on the Atlantic. Shinnecock Hills, National Golf Club. . . they are not on the ocean, but are on the sand dunes, we have a lot of that same land in Michigan.

TG: Has golf course design changed in any way over the past decade, how about the future? Can we expect to see new things?

BM: Everything has changed over the last ten years. Number one, people are more educated to what a good course is. Golfers appreciate good design much more. Technology has changed more than anything. We need more room to build more than ten years ago. Golfers hit it not only farther but further wrong. It requires more acres to build and higher costs as well.

With the technology, positioning of bunkers and hazards has changed. We used to put them 210-250 yards out. Now they are 270-300. We wouldn't have thought to put a bunker 320 yards out, now it doesn't bother me to put it out there. That's where the bigger guys are going. Technology has changed the most. Classical courses aren't the same challenge as they used to be. They were strong courses, but technology has made them weaker.

I've remodeled three Donald Ross courses. For the average player, the game is still all they can handle [no matter the course]. But for the stronger hitter or better player, the older courses are easier. A lot of the classic clubs are private clubs, and my recommendation is realize what you have: a nice piece of art and history. Work with what you have, there's no room to make it any longer. Tweak it here and there and that's all you should do.

TG: Who are some of your personal favorite designers? Who do you try and emulate?

BM: I like all the classic architects, Donald Ross's style, especially his bunkering in the 20s. I like Langford and Moreau (Chicago in the 1920s) and Seth Rayner-style bunkers. I admire Pete Dye tremendously. Pete is the single-most architect who had the most impact on my profession.

TG: Do you have a favorite course or project?

BM: The next one, whatever it is, it's always the next one.

TG: What about ones you've done?

BM: Angel's Crossing in Vicksburg, that's a neat classic, golden age style course. Hidden River Golf and Casting Club in Brutus, Michigan near Petoskey is a neat northern Michigan wooded, private and secluded. It's really a fun experience. Seven Lakes, across the bridge in Windsor, Canada is a nice links style course on the flat land. Three courses, but totally different in style from each other.

January 20, 2005