In a special feature, Inside Golf introduces esteemed golf course architect Ross Perrett, who joins as an occasional columnist. His first piece is The Real Heroes.
Ross Perrett worked with Khun Pitak Indravithayadnond, on the Ayodya Links GC in Bangkok, Thailand.
By Ross Perrett
THE development of a golf course relies on the input of a multitude of people – land surveyors, golf course architects, irrigation consultants, engineers, landscape architects, earthmoving contractors and shapers.
But without inspired leadership a project is doomed from day one.
I have been privileged to work with many great leaders. The best of them include – Dr Yuwono Kolapaking, Mount Merapi GC, Jogjakarta, Indonesia; Khun Pitak Indravithayadnond, Ayodya Links GC, Bangkok, Thailand; Lloyd Willams, The Capital GC, Melbourne; Australia; Bob Oatley, Hamilton Island GC, Queensland, Australia; and Laurie Curtis, The National Golf GC, Cape Schanck, Australia.
These men led projects with completely different landforms including a volcano, a floodplain, a derelict wetland, a rocky island and finally some powerful coastal sand dunes.
Dr Kolapaking was an impressive character – a respected Indonesian Engineer who at one stage had an office in the United Nations building in New York. He was always in good humour and liked to sing and dance. When asked why he looked so youthful his answer was always, ‘I have no ego’.
The site he selected for his golf course was only three kilometers from Mount Merapi, Indonesia’s most active volcano. To acquire such a site was a real coup as it was a local landmark with views over Jogjakarta to the south.
It was very steep and the land appeared inadequate for 18 holes. This was not a problem, with the course routing like a staircase.
The ground surface was covered in volcanic rock but it broke up easily when hit with an excavator exposing rich fertile volcanic sand. Mr Yuwono had triumphed because he had set up the essentials for a fine course. To pay for the course he launched a membership drive to a selective group of enthusiastic golfers. Such was the respect for Mr Yuwono, the memberships sold quickly and the money was in the bank by the time construction began.
The contractor was Wayan Tunas, a magic Balinese man who built the famous Jagorawi courses in Jakarta where he also was the Superintendent. He quickly got organized, removed the rock and using wire, bed bases were hand sieved by the sand into contour rows. In total some 40 hectares of the playing surface was treated this way. Bob Oatley was a successful businessman who made his fortune out of coffee and wine but his passion was sailing.
The fourth hole at the spectacular Mount Merapi GC in Jogjakarta, Indonesia.
When Hamilton Island was for sale, the buyer needed deep pockets and a reason to justify the expense. For Bob it was a sailing paradise with plenty of development potential. Initial projects included a luxury hotel, a state of the art marina and an upgrade of the of the food and beverage options. If a golf course was to go ahead it had to be built on nearby Dent Island, which was uninhabited except for a few goats.
A golf course had been attempted approximately 10 years earlier but was quickly abandoned. The site was hardly conducive to an easy build and had no flat land. A tricky routing meant the course traversed the site mainly along the ridges. The island was surrounded by a wide band of coral reef subject to tides which would further complicate getting the heavy construction on site. Bob and his family were very practical, born of the coffee days in New Guinea and setting up large scale grape production in Australia. In the end, it was decided to park and service all equipment on site. Three large crushing plants were added at full tide and proved invaluable when crushing drainage gravel and green sand. A 90 bed workers camp was added once the site reached full capacity helicopters were used to transport consultants and staff to the site from the nearby airport. During construction a rigorous safety plan was implemented to avoid collisions between machines.
The 13th hole at the Lloyd Williams-inspired Capital Golf Club in Melbourne.
The course has many spectacular holes that sit so comfortably within the landscape it is difficult to imagine the issues encountered building the course. When completed The Oately family put on special day to thank everyone who contributed to the course.
Lloyd Williams is a real estate developer whose passion is horse racing – his horses have won the Melbourne Cup seven times, was a scratch golfer and is a perfectionist. He is famous for putting together big deals but none more significant than winning the bid for the Melbourne Casino. The massive development had everything apart from a golf course for the high rollers (usually huge overseas punters).
A relatively flat parcel of land was assembled like a jig saw parcel – it was a collection or derelict sites, wetlands, rubbish tips and market gardens. The nearby airport was to be screened to maximise the privacy of the course of those lucky to be invited. Huge mounds wrap around the course and have been planted with indigenous plants. A series of interconnected lakes adds to the ambience complete with water edge planting.
The clubhouse is appropriate for its function and is tastefully appointed. The decoration is aspirational in that it displays the best of what golf has to offer in luxurious comfort. The chance to play Capital is a rewarding golfing experience.
Khun Pitak Indravithayadnond was a successful businessman who belonged to the Thai elite. He was involved in politics eventually becoming Deputy Prime Minister and running the successful Amazing Thai campaign. Pitak is an excellent golfer and was his ambition to build a private course along the lines of Augusta. On a golfing tour to Scotland he fell in love with links golf and decided to name his project Ayodhya Links, after the ancient name for Bangkok.
The fourth hole at the Hamilton Island course on the Whitsunday’s in Queensland.
The site was approximately 40 kilometers inland but only two metres above sea level. The solution was to dig the site into the ground, put a protective bund around it and install an engineered pumping system to ‘dewater’ the site. The pump would kick on as soon as there was a rain event. A large central lake was the source for all fill material for the bund wall and golf course shaping.
On paper, the project looked impossible but with good leadership and a dedicated but small consultant team, things went smoothly.
Laurie Curtis was an experienced Accountant from South Australia with bent for getting things done. He was a former Lord Mayor of Adelaide who took golf promoter David Ingilis’ vision and made it a reality. The plan to build two courses surrounded by real estate and sell equity memberships to a high end club. Initially the Club had minimum funds and no members. It’s matter of history that the Club now boasts four courses, 3300 members and a very healthy share price.
Without the strong leadership of Laurie in the early days, this would not have been possible. His led from the front, carefully picked his team and directed them to great effect, always with rigour and humour.
– edited by Michael Davis.
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