"Creekside is one solid hole after another, with a few exceptional ones in the mix. The 14th may be the toughest par 4 in the state. 18 is a great gambling finish for all."
-Ron Whitten,
Golf Digest
Environmental Concern
A key component of Richard Mandell Golf Architecture's philosophy is creating strategically challenging and player-friendly golf courses. Contrary to many opinions, we achieve this by embracing environmental challenges on all fronts, from a macro-site viewpoint to micro-site aspects as well. These challenges are addressed from the initial routing of the golf course to grow-in. Our basic outlook on these environmental challenges is, "Why eliminate site-specific characteristics of a property just to make it look like another property?" Our design philosophy is predicated on the fact that each property provides the golf course's character. Richard Mandell Golf Architecture allows the character of the land determine the design. We do not let our design determine the character of the land.
During the routing and earthwork design process, Richard Mandell Golf Architecture practices the philosophy of "Minimalist Impact". The strength in all great golf course design is in the initial routing of the golf course. Golf holes are routed high point to high point, thereby preserving natural drainage patterns, promoting positive golf course drainage, and minimizing the need for subsurface drainage. This practice also helps minimize earthwork and, by default, enhances the natural characteristics of the site. A goal of ours is to move less than 250,000 cubic yards of material on each project. We have not yet exceeded this number.
In this macro-design stage, Richard Mandell Golf Architecture will not impact the natural environment just for the sake of design. There are many creative ways to conserve Wetlands, preserve natural habitats, and maintain the integrity of natural waterways. This philosophy is reflected in our high success rate in permitting environmentally-sensitive projects from the Eastern Shore of Maryland's Critical Area to the New York City drinking water reservoir watershed.
All Richard Mandell Golf Architecture projects increase the amount of wetlands during the design process. Created wetlands are an element of our closed stormwater management system in which all runoff is controlled on site and filtered through the proper channels before leaving the property. This system does not dump nutrients directly into off-site water bodies. Created wetlands also provide additional habitat for animals on site.
Richard Mandell Golf Architecture utilizes many small-scale environmental strategies in its golf course designs as well. Minimizing maintained turf areas and implementing no-mow zones and naturalized areas is an effort to ensure that our designs favor efficient management of turf and irrigation. No-mow areas and naturalized areas are coordinated with existing wetland corridors to create additional animal habitat. These areas consist of taller grasses and wildflowers that will take over in an old-field succession and provide further cover for animals. We also try to connect existing animal habitats to create habitat corridors from property edge to property edge.
Richard Mandell Golf Architecture strives to show the world that golf and the environment can exist in a harmonious and symbiotic relationship. This relationship is a strength of Richard Mandell Golf Architecture.