Golf course architects to offer instruction and unique experiences for design aficionados
PINEHURST, N.C. – After the overwhelming success of the inaugural event, the American Society of Golf Course Architects (ASGCA) Foundation will host its second Design Boot Camp at the world-famous Pinehurst Resort, March 9-13.
The five-day session—a fundraising initiative of the Foundation—will provide aspiring golf course designers and architecture buffs the opportunity to work up close and personal with nine renowned architects on a special site.
The curriculum will take participants from the classroom, where they will learn the foundations and principles of golf course design, out to Pinehurst Sandmines, adjacent to Pinehurst No. 10, for hands-on field work.
In the field, the participants will have the opportunity to study the site, route a layout, and design holes that fit the unique Sandmines property. The program also includes rounds of golf on Pinehurst No. 2 and The Cradle with the instructors, who can provide design insights as they play, as well as social activities and opportunities to learn about the business from the instructors, all past presidents of ASGCA who have collectively designed hundreds of courses around the world:
- Jan Bel Jan, ASGCA
- Jeff Blume, ASGCA
- Jeff Brauer, ASGCA
- Bruce Charlton, ASGCA
- Steve Forrest, ASGCA
- Dr. Mike Hurdzan, ASGCA
- Tom Marzolf, ASGCA
- Damian Pascuzzo, ASGCA
As an added experience, Bill Coore, ASGCA, of Coore & Crenshaw Golf Course Architects, will lead participants on a site tour of Pinehurst No. 11. Currently under construction at Sandmines, Pinehurst No. 11 is scheduled to open in fall 2027.
Through a combination of being on the ground at one of the most venerated addresses in golf and interaction with some of the leading architects in the world, Design Boot Camp is a rare opportunity for anyone who loves drawing golf holes and wants to learn what it takes to advance to the next step in their architecture journey. Inaugural Boot Camp attendee Rob Shults shared how it felt to step into the shoes of a practicing architect.
“We experienced what it is like to be a golf course architect and gained an appreciation for golf architecture that can only be done face to face with professionals,” said Shults, who co-founded Honours Golf and is the managing partner at RLS Ventures. “This was the ultimate golf trip for anyone who loves golf and appreciates the nuances of the game.”
The cost is $20,000 per person, with $15,000 qualifying for a charitable tax deduction to the ASGCA Foundation (501c3 EIN: 23-7385866), which supports projects and organizations that enhance public and municipal courses, such as Clearview Golf Club in East Canton, Ohio, in addition to funding programs that inspire, develop, and assist the next generation of industry leaders.
The enrollment fee covers all Design Boot Camp materials and supplies; lodging at the historic Holly Inn, centrally located in the Village of Pinehurst; food and beverages; golf; caddies; gratuities; special gifts; and mementos. Participation is limited to 16 enrollees.
Additional golf and activities may be booked at the participants’ expense.
For more information, visit Design Boot Camp 2026. To enroll or ask specific questions, send an email to bootcamp@hunter-pr.com