5th Hole
Overview
The year was a year defined by the impact of Covid.
Covid kept Canadian golf closed till May except in British Columbia which stayed open. This became an enormous setback for many of us in the design business. In my own case, there were canceled visits and projects. Understandably, clubs had to find out what the financial fallout would be. Then in the late summer everyone began to realize golf was seeing a massive increase in play and income. Private courses were seeing a 30% increase in play and were benefitting with limited overhead. Even more interesting was the fact that Public courses were sold out. This would continue all year and would eventually also which impact the design business.
Golf was the unexpected benefactor of the pandemic.
Business Overview
This was my worst “business” year since I went out on my own. But it was way better than it looked mid-season when my projections suggested about 25% of normal. I was fine with this because I had saved for bad years and had decided that Cindy and I would enjoy the extra time. It became the year of the canoe.
Golf was the unexpected benefactor of the pandemic.
Business Overview
This was my worst “business” year since I went out on my own. But it was way better than it looked mid-season when my projections suggested about 25% of normal. I was fine with this because I had saved for bad years and had decided that Cindy and I would enjoy the extra time. It became the year of the canoe.
The turning points for me were: Edmonton CC went ahead with a planned Master Plan, then Rideau View decided to go ahead and rebuild their entire practice facility, and Spring Brook approved their bunker renovation project. These three projects took a bad year and made it much better.
By the Numbers
My Work
Winter: Up 25%
Spring: Down 100%!
Summer: Down 50%
Fall: Normal
Winter: Up 25%
Spring: Down 100%!
Summer: Down 50%
Fall: Normal
Late Fall: Up 50%
Overall: 70% of normal
Surprise: Atlantic Bubble
US Work
American Income: 40%
NAFTA: Done – nothing changed
Quarantine Days: 14 (worth it)
Worst Moment: I got violently ill on my US Trip this fall
Name of Virus: Not the virus you think - Rhinovirus
Surreal Moment: lady being dragged off my plane for refusing to wear a mask
Business Travel
Miles Driven: 11,185km (avg. 25,000)
Flights Taken: 4 (avg. 50)
Total Miles Flown: 1,835 miles (avg. 35,000)
Overall: 70% of normal
Surprise: Atlantic Bubble
US Work
American Income: 40%
NAFTA: Done – nothing changed
Quarantine Days: 14 (worth it)
Worst Moment: I got violently ill on my US Trip this fall
Name of Virus: Not the virus you think - Rhinovirus
Surreal Moment: lady being dragged off my plane for refusing to wear a mask
Business Travel
Miles Driven: 11,185km (avg. 25,000)
Flights Taken: 4 (avg. 50)
Total Miles Flown: 1,835 miles (avg. 35,000)
Nights in Holiday Inn: 43 (avg. 35)
Rental Car Days: 40 days (avg. 41)
My Business
My Business
Clients I Worked With: 19 (avg. 27)
Canadian: 11 (down 50%)
US Clients: 8 (normal)
Work with New Clients:
Canadian: 11 (down 50%)
US Clients: 8 (normal)
Work with New Clients:
Midvale CC (Rochester) – Trent Jones – Master Plan and Bunker Project Planning
International CC (Ontario) – Renovation Planning
Norfolk CC (Conn.) – Tillinghast – Master Plan
Calls and Inquiries
Proposals Written: 6
Walking Interviews: 2
Walking Interviews still to do: 2
Canadian Interviews: 0
Hardest place to find work for a GCA - is at home.
International CC (Ontario) – Renovation Planning
Norfolk CC (Conn.) – Tillinghast – Master Plan
Calls and Inquiries
Proposals Written: 6
Walking Interviews: 2
Walking Interviews still to do: 2
Canadian Interviews: 0
Hardest place to find work for a GCA - is at home.
What I Built in 2020
Rideau View – Full Practice Facility
St. Catharines – bunkers on two holes
Pepper Pike – tee projects
Crag Burn – full tee renovation project
Spring Brook – bunker project
Laval (Blue) – changes to #16 Blue
What’s Coming Up in 2021
Spring
Rideau View – Full Practice Facility
St. Catharines – bunkers on two holes
Pepper Pike – tee projects
Crag Burn – full tee renovation project
Spring Brook – bunker project
Laval (Blue) – changes to #16 Blue
What’s Coming Up in 2021
Spring
Kawartha – two new holes to replace holes in development
Spring Brook – bunker project continues
Spring Brook – bunker project continues
Fall
St. Catharines – more bunkers
Midvale Bunker Project
Canadian Opens
Midvale Bunker Project
Canadian Opens
2021: St George’s G&CC (client)
2022: ?????? TBA
Ian’s Travels
By the Numbers
Rounds Played: 12
World Top 100: 3
January Rounds: 3 - in Pinehurst
Hickory Rounds: 5
Hickory shafts broken: 2
Rounds in Ontario: 5
Rounds on Fall US Trip: 4
Best New Course Played: Somerset Hills
Biggest Surprise: Tuegega
Lowest Round: 83 Tuegega
Courses Walked on US Trip: 5
Biggest Surprise: Plainfield (Ross) - upper holes are incredible
Most fascinating change: Baltusrol – liked new work
2022: ?????? TBA
Ian’s Travels
By the Numbers
Rounds Played: 12
World Top 100: 3
January Rounds: 3 - in Pinehurst
Hickory Rounds: 5
Hickory shafts broken: 2
Rounds in Ontario: 5
Rounds on Fall US Trip: 4
Best New Course Played: Somerset Hills
Biggest Surprise: Tuegega
Lowest Round: 83 Tuegega
Courses Walked on US Trip: 5
Biggest Surprise: Plainfield (Ross) - upper holes are incredible
Most fascinating change: Baltusrol – liked new work
Life Beyond Golf
Stitches: 18 (thumb in March, knee in August)
Stiches before this year: 0
Bee stings at work: 1
Stitches: 18 (thumb in March, knee in August)
Stiches before this year: 0
Bee stings at work: 1
Days in Canoe or Kayak: 23
Days in Kayak on the River: 5
Days at the Lake: 51
Books Published: 1
Copies Printed: just over 250
Book Plans: Re-edit text - gifts only in 2021
Days in Kayak on the River: 5
Days at the Lake: 51
Books Published: 1
Copies Printed: just over 250
Book Plans: Re-edit text - gifts only in 2021
New Hobby: Water colours
Paintings in 2020: about 50
Given to friends: 11 (mostly sent with books)
I suck at golf holes, but feel comfortable with birds, go figure
Biggest News
Paintings in 2020: about 50
Given to friends: 11 (mostly sent with books)
I suck at golf holes, but feel comfortable with birds, go figure
Biggest News
A New Project
I’ve often said all I want is one new golf course project on a good site. I thought I had that site and project at Predator Ridge with Mike Weir in 2008. In the end the financial crisis stalled their new phase of development and eventually ended the partnership with the land holder.
I had a new golf course project. I plan to slowly unveil this project over time on twitter. I’ll begin by sharing the individual hole drawings and eventually share the overall plan. I think we have an interesting routing that takes advantage of some dramatic terrain. We are currently taking this project through the initial planning stages, so there is no timeline to share with you.
It's a great site, small property and best of all it will be a public golf course. It’s mostly wide open, but a third of the holes are set in the forest. The fairways will be wide, the short grass around greens extensive, the contours on the surfaces will be bold. The bunkers will be loose and natural to match the setting. There will be lots of texture and colour through fescues and native plant material, but you’ll always have a safe side to play away from the longer stuff.
I look forward to sharing this with you over the holidays.
I’ve often said all I want is one new golf course project on a good site. I thought I had that site and project at Predator Ridge with Mike Weir in 2008. In the end the financial crisis stalled their new phase of development and eventually ended the partnership with the land holder.
I had a new golf course project. I plan to slowly unveil this project over time on twitter. I’ll begin by sharing the individual hole drawings and eventually share the overall plan. I think we have an interesting routing that takes advantage of some dramatic terrain. We are currently taking this project through the initial planning stages, so there is no timeline to share with you.
It's a great site, small property and best of all it will be a public golf course. It’s mostly wide open, but a third of the holes are set in the forest. The fairways will be wide, the short grass around greens extensive, the contours on the surfaces will be bold. The bunkers will be loose and natural to match the setting. There will be lots of texture and colour through fescues and native plant material, but you’ll always have a safe side to play away from the longer stuff.
I look forward to sharing this with you over the holidays.