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From Garry Smits, Times-Union

Golf-course architects are Da Vincis of earth, grass, sand and water, designing 300-acre masterpieces for the enjoyment and challenge of private-club members, public-golf hackers and resort guests.

However, the Business of golf-course construction has changed the nature of Architecture. While original designs were the dominant part of the Business until the turn of the 21st century, re-designs (or re-models or renovations, depending on the architects'' favored terminology) now constitute the bulk of an architect''s workload.

Fortunately for architects, aging Golf Courses, combined with the desire of owners and operators to plant modern grasses that stand up better to extremes of weather and high traffic, are driving enough re-designs to keep the top firms busy.

"When you had 400 or more courses opening in one year in the late 1990s and even after 2000, that was where your Business was," said Mark McCumber, a 10-time PGA Tour winner and designer of First Coast courses such as Queen''s Harbour, South Hampton, Osprey Cove and Magnolia Point. "Now, it''s down to less than 100 per year. Do the math. Most of our current clients involve re-designs."

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