Mike Gogel’s design style could be categorized as “bespoke” in that each client, and each property, is unique and different. Timeless design combined with interesting, strategic elements are the hallmarks of Mike’s projects. As a design philosophy, Mike prefers the timeless architecture developed during the ‘Golden Age’ of the 1920s and 1930s when designers such as AW Tillinghast, Donald Ross, Alister Mackenzie and Seth Raynor were creating their master works. Mike has played and studied golf all over the world and has found that courses from this era are some of the most highly regarded in terms of their strategic interest and individual character.
From a sustainability standpoint, Mike Gogel Golf Design takes into consideration the turf types, turf coverage and maintenance efforts needed to achieve sustainability while ensuring playability and maintenance efficiency.
With the introduction of native plant material, we consider ongoing maintenance inputs and their costs in time and labor. We evaluate any introduction of native material and the potential to generate storm debris, and life expectancy which may require additional labor for cleanup.
Within the framework of the design process, Mike Gogel Golf Design considers other maintenance efficiencies which may be improved upon with innovative and thoughtful design. For example, in the Southeastern U.S., we may consider a bunker design that is strategic in placement and perhaps designed with lower sand exposure in high wind environments or areas where the potential for significant and heavy rainfall exists.
On greens design, we ensure that the majority of the green surface is viable for hole locations – thus spreading out the wear and tear on the green as well as offering multiple options for how a hole may play from day to day just based on the hole location.
Our analogy for greens design is to look at a green as though we were building a home. If one has a LEED certified home with the best finishes and world-class chef’s kitchen but you have to live in the garage, what’s the point? At Mike Gogel Golf Design, we design courses that are not only sustainable, but also playable and one that the staff can maintain well into the future.
Mike Gogel Golf Design redesigned the bunkers in concert with a course renovation. The new bunker design has proven to save the course maintenance over $100,000 a year compared to the old bunker style.
Mike Gogel Golf Design redesigned the bunkers in concert with a course renovation. The new bunker design has proven to save the course maintenance over $100,000 a year compared to the old bunker style.
We redesigned all the bunkers on both courses, reducing the total area on each course by +30%. This effort saves the maintenance staff hundreds of hours a year in bunker maintenance. The courses were re-rated following the project and neither course became any easier with the significant reduction in area.
In concert with the full course Master Plan and 2022 Greens renovation project, Mike Gogel Golf Design identified over 100 acres of maintained turf grass that is being converted back to native grassland. This effort has saved the Club numerous hours of regular maintenance in these areas. In addition, more habitat was added for flora and fauna.
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