Golf course architect Barry Jordan of Jordan Golf Design shares his journey from landscape architecture student to golf course architect, focusing on his extensive work restoring Donald Ross courses in upstate New York.
The conversation covers his major restoration projects at Brook-Lea Country Club and Teugega Golf Course, highlighting the challenges and rewards of working with authentic Ross designs.
Jordan discusses his collaborative approach with shapers and superintendents, the importance of detailed construction drawings, and the process of expanding greens back to their original dimensions while maintaining play during construction. He emphasizes the artistic aspects of green design, comparing it to a baseball pitcher’s varied repertoire, and reflects on how classic golf architecture serves everyday golfers better than modern professional players.
The interview also touches on his early career working on modest budget projects and his development of relationships with key superintendents and contractors who helped establish his practice.
