Trip of a Lifetime! In Search of MacKenzie

In mid-November 21 EIGCA representatives joined with 31 members of the American Society of Golf Course Architects and 11 from the Society of Australian Golf Course Architects to go `In Search of MacKenzie`.

The 6-day Tour, which was supported by Toro, followed in the footsteps of Dr. Alister MacKenzie who spent nine weeks in Australia at the end of 1926. That was the Doctor’s one and only visit but his legacy includes New South Wales Golf Club, Royal Sydney Golf Club, Metropolitan Golf Club, and Royal Melbourne Golf Club.

At each of these venues the architects were able to play the courses and were entertained by the host club’s senior management team who not only made everyone welcome but also explained the history of the club and how the operation had evolved over time.

The group’s final visit was to Kingston Heath Golf Club, another MacKenzie design, to view the third day’s play of the Australian Masters, ultimately won by Tiger Woods.

“It was the trip of a lifetime!” said David Krause. “Our group shared an exceptional experience together. Those visits will remain clearly in my mind and indeed influence my designs in the years to come.”

Phil Ryan from the Society of Australian Golf Course Architects organised the trip. He clearly did a brilliant job in co-ordinating the whole group throughout the Tour but modestly says, “I could not have asked for a better group of people. They had come to have fun and interact with other like-minded Golf Architects, study and play some of the best golf courses in the country, and also see a bit of Australia.

“It did not hurt that we had perfect weather, the golf clubs were great hosts and we had tremendous support from sponsors. A lot of work went into the tour from the administration of EIGCA, ASGCA and SAGCA and the investment certainly paid off with the next tour now eagerly anticipated.”

Fifteen of the party then carried on to New Zealand. One member of the party was from the American Society but the rest were from the EIGCA. Kristine Kerr, a SAGCA member, had arranged for them to play four very different golf courses in New Zealand: Tom Doak’s course at Cape Kidnappers; Wairaikei Golf Club designed by Peter Thomson and built in the ‘70s; Kinloch Golf Club, a Nicklaus course; and, finally, Paraparumu Beach Golf Club where they have held the New Zealand Open 12 times.

“Going on to New Zealand, since we were already in Australia,” concludes David Krause, “was a good idea but with only 15 of us the trip was on a much smaller scale – it was very pleasant, more like a family outing.”

To read David's full account of the Tour, please click here.