Author Archive
September 19th, 2010 by admin
Thomson Perrett Managing Director Ross Perrett has invested in the Mornington Peninsula’s, St Andrews Beach Golf Course. Having obtained the original permits for the course and designed the original masterplan more than 10 years ago, Ross has a strong link to the project.
Ross has teamed up with a Chinese friend who has a passion for golf, a Melbourne based accounting firm and the courses incumbent managers, Golf Services Management, to form a group which hopes to turn St Andrews Beach in to one of Australia’s leading golf facilities. The Thomson Perrett team will busy over the next few years, working on reinstating permits, designing the clubhouse and planning for a possible second golf course.
September 19th, 2010 by admin
Thomson Perrett has been recognised by the Victoria Government for its international success by being shortlisted as a finalist in the ‘Small to Medium Services’ category of the 2010 Governor of Victoria Export Awards. The winners will be announced on 4 October at Government House.
The Governor of Victoria Export Awards is one of the most prestigious business Awards in Victoria and recognises those “demonstrating their drive to achieve success overseas and their significant contribution to the economy.” This is significant praise for Thomson Perrett and a reward for its long term vision and commitment to international markets.
At a time when other golf course architecture firm’s have found business difficult, Thomson Perrett have increased staff numbers and currently have its strongest ever pipeline of projects.
Managing Director Ross Perrett is particularly chuffed by the nomination and said “It is nice to be recognised locally for the work we have done offshore. In most part, the work we do offshore never gets seen or heard about in Australia. We are very proud of the new courses we have built offshore in recent years, it is just a pity our friends in Australia haven’t been able to see what we have been able to deliver.”
August 25th, 2010 by admin
In late March there was a very significant meeting of minds at The World Golf Forum of Golf Course Architects, St Andrews University in St Andrews, Scotland. The initiatives discussed at this conference will have very positive long term benefits for golf development in Australia and the Asia Pacific Region. There are many challenges facing the construction of new golf courses in
Australia including the perceptions that Australia already has too many courses and that golf courses are damaging to the environment.
How to overcome these perceptions was discussed openly at the Forum in St Andrews, where 150 Golf Architects and Industry Leaders from Australia, Japan, the USA, UK and Europe gathered to share their experiences and knowledge. The outcome of The Forum was a consensus that we need to work closely together to present the positive community and environmental benefits of golf.
That these common perceptions of golf are not true and can be easily refuted by science provided the underpinning for the creation of GEO – Golf Environment Organization, a not for profit organization that was established to be a central voice in this debate. Backed by major golf, governmental and environmental bodies including The R&A (The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews ), the Club Managers Association’s of America, Europe and China, the European Tour,
The Asian Golf Industry Federation, The World Wildlife Fund, the United Nations Environment Programme, the world’s Golf Course Architects and other industry groups, GEO will become a central figure in scientifically proving the benefits of golf whilst promoting world’s best practice for the design, construction and maintenance of golf courses.
In his address to the forum, GEO’s Jonathan Smith introduced the GEO’s Sustainable Golf Development guidance project which is aimed to support all stakeholders in realizing sustainable golf developments. This would be achieved by drawing together a clear and cohesive framework of technical issues and opportunities by providing practical solutions backed by scientific research.
This guidance will cover all phases of the development process and provide informed feedback to the industry. GEO will provide information to both developers and those who regulate the planning process. Developers need to understand the principles of sustainability whist regulators need to get a better understanding of what a golf development is all about and how to rationally determine if a specific proposal is sound in sustainability terms. It is hoped that with all industry parties working together globally, sharing an enormous body of experience, the quality of golf course proposals will continue to improve and the various planning regulators will be much better informed and able to support projects with the comfort of knowing that they are responsible projects and will achieve high standards of social, economic and environmental return on investment.
In Australia, planning new golf courses is particularly difficult in large part due to an overly bureaucratic planning environment. Planning in Australia is a state responsibility and there is very little common ground between the various state systems. The planning environment is expensive, time consuming and uncertain which discourages developers from entertaining golf course development. Perhaps this is part of the regulator’s grand plan. The planning process has also been corrupted by some perceptions that the golf industry is not responsible environmentally. This is despite the many fine examples of site restoration, habitat creation, re-use of effluent water and the fact that golf is one of the highest participation sports in Australia with obvious heath benefits. It is also frustrating that in Australia it is almost impossible to develop near the coast as our enormous coastline is wrapped by either National Park and or Coastal reserve with very little private land abutting the coast. This is particularly ironic as the game of golf began ‘on the coast’ over 500 years ago and has been a wonderful custodian of sensitive coastal ecosystems for centuries. Australia is a sporting nation and we are blessed with an abundance of beaches, sporting grounds and golf courses but not necessarily in the areas we now live. Australia is now a urbanized nation with nearly 90% of the population living in rapidly expanding cities.
Most of the population growth is being accommodated on the urban fringe of our major cities and these people are being deprived of the opportunity of easy access to golf. For example, Melbourne is expanding rapidly in a south easterly direction with the Pakenham corridor planned to house an additional 150,000 people by 2030, yet there is no provision in the planning scheme for any golf courses. Conversely the shrinking rural populations are more than adequately provided for with golf and other sporting facilities but do not have sustainable levels of participation. Currently Australia has on average a golf course for every 14,000 residents. At this ratio the Pakenham Corridor could legitimately support 10 courses. This is especially so on the basis of the likely demographic of its residents. Over the past decade there have been some significant golf course developments in Australia that demonstrate that sustainable golf courses can be built and have set a new benchmark for the next generation of projects. These Include Barnbougle Dunes at Bridport Tasmania; The National Golf Club at Cape Schanck , Victoria; Magenta Shores and The Entrance in NSW and The Hamilton Island Golf Course in Queensland. With an ever increasing commitment to the environment golfers have a lot to look forward to as more sustainable golf courses become the norm.
August 25th, 2010 by admin
Thomson Perrett have joined forces with a group of Australia’s best golfers, including Geoff Ogilvy, Stuart Appleby and Paul Sheehan, and Australia’s leading Golf Academy, Bann Lynch, in a consortium which will manage the Yarra Bend Golf Course.
Yarra Bend is situated in Yarra Bend Park, only 4 kilometres from the Melbourne CBD. The course is a parkland course and is wrapped by Yarra River and enjoys picturesque views of the river and the surrounding rocky cliffs.
Whilst the course is already one of Melbourne’s premier public courses, this group plans to transform the facility in to Melbourne’s leading public access golf venue. Thomson Perrett, led by Head Designer Ross Perrett, will put their magic touch on the course, with plans to redesign several greens, modify the layout to enhance safety and replace existing turf with a drought tolerant couch.”
Ross Perrett said “There is no doubt the course has great potential. With a bit of tweaking to the layout to improve safety, some remodelling to existing greens and the introduction of couch grass, we expect the course to become Melbourne’s leading public course.”
As well as the improved course, the facility will include a 45 bay driving range and will introduce two mini golf courses. The facility will be the home of Bann Lynch, Australia’s leading golf academy, who coach leading Australian golfers Geoff Ogilvy, Stuart Appleby as well as Korean star KJ Choi.
The venue will be a true multi purpose facility which will cater for families, junior golfers, social golfers and the elite.
Peter Thomson is proud of Thomson Perrett’s involvement because “Golf needs to provide pathways for junior golf development in Australia and we need to build facilities where children can develop through the ranks. This facility offers children a natural progression from mini golf to driving range to the course. I grew up playing on public courses and many of Australia’s future stars will also. I think it is a great model and I am delighted Thomson Perrett is involved.”
Construction of the driving range has already commenced.
Yarra Bend Park looking towards Melbourne City
August 25th, 2010 by admin
Thomson Perrett & Lobb has been appointed to consult on and oversee important design work on two historic courses close to London – The Berkshire Golf Club, one of the UK’s Top 100 Courses, and The Richmond Golf Club, Surrey.
The Berkshire, which features two of the finest, traditional heathland golf courses, with 69 bunkers in total, has appointed TPL to analyse the playing strategy on both courses and return the bunkering to a more traditional look, while using modern construction techniques and specifications to ensure longevity.
Tim Lobb said: “We are looking at incorporating the heathland elements, including heather, native grasses and rougher edges, into the bunker complexes, to give them an authentic look but with a slightly more modern feel. They will be constructed to the highest technical specification to ensure good playability, maintenance and longevity.”
An example of the bunkering at The Berkshire. This picture shows the 15th hole of the Red Course.
TPL will refer to historic data and photography as it looks to integrate bunkers into the strategy of golfers as they plot their way around the course.
An in-depth analysis and consultation with the club will take place for the remainder of this year, with work likely to start next year.
Meanwhile, at The Richmond Golf Club, TPL will oversee a complete review of the Tom Dunn designed course, which opened in 1891, with special attention to bunkering, including the renovation and reshaping of existing bunkers and the addition of new, strategic hazards.
Work will be completed in two stages, from September 2010 and then again from September 2011, over the winter months.
2nd Hole Berkshire Course
August 25th, 2010 by admin
International golf course architecture firm, Thomson Perrett, which was established in 1965 by 5 times British Open winner Peter Thomson and now led by Head Designer and Managing Director Ross Perrett, is busy on the international stage with current projects in China, Dubai, Egypt, United Kingdom, Vietnam and Australia.
In China, Thomson Perrett are very busy with a number of projects including 36 holes in Qinzhou, 18 holes in Dalian, 36 holes in Luohe, 18 on Hainan Island, 36 holes in Wujiang and 18 in Xian. Having already completed 10 courses in China this current round of course will cement Thomson’s Perrett’s position as one of China’s leading golf course designers.
In Dubai, Thomson Perrett Lobb, Thomson Perrett’s London based practice, has begun work at the Emirates Golf Club, where they will modernise its flagship Majlis Course, the home of the Dubai Desert Classic. Also the first course at Dubai Golf City, an exciting 5 course development is nearing completion. Thomson Perrett Lobb is also active in Egypt with 2 courses under construction – one on the Red Sea and another in Cairo overlooking the Giza Pyramids. The Giza course is being built in a limestone quarry and will have spectacular holes.
On the home front, in partnership with the Bann Lynch Golf Academy and golfers Geoff Ogilvy, Stuart Appelby and Paul Sheehan, Thomson Perrett have recently taken over the management of the Yarra Bend Golf Course, just 4kms outside the Melbourne CBD. The project is set to be one of Australia’s great multi-purpose public golf facilities.
Also in Australia, Thomson Perrett are working on new course at Silverwoods in Yarrawonga, a new 18 hole development in Beveridge, and the redevelopment of Sale Golf Club.
These current projects follow the recent openings of new courses in Hamilton Island, Ballarat and Antalya, Turkey, and clearly demonstrate that Thomson Perrett is a truly international company.
Commenting on the impact of the global financial crisis, Ross Perrett said “The world’s financial troubles have definitely taken their toll on golf development, and in most parts of the world, golf has slowed down dramatically. But fortunately for Thomson Perrett, we have established ourselves over a long period of time as an international practice with international recognition, and as a result, we continue to work on exciting new courses in areas that are booming. Our firm has worked on over 100 projects in Asia which gives our clients a lot of confidence.”
In relation to the hot spots in world golf, Ross said “China is developing steadily and we expect this to continue for some time yet. India has been slow to get moving but has a lot of potential. “
Thomson Perrett has offices in Melbourne, Beijing and London.
August 25th, 2010 by admin
Selecting a signature hole at Hamilton Island Golf Club is no easy task. While most golf clubs, particularly resort courses, like to nominate an iconic member of their 18 to build a reputation upon and to market the course, Hamilton Island has arguably a dozen or more worthy candidates.
Since its opening, many first-time visitors to the course, located on neighbouring Dent Island, have chosen the par-3 14th hole as their favourite, and having navigated my ball into the greenside bunker rather than the ball-swallowing bush that rings the green, I was tempted to agree. That was until I reached the 15th tee, where the course’s toughest hole beckons you to take it on like a pugnacious boxer, daring you to take a swing.
A few minutes later, standing on the tee of the short 16th hole where the green is perched on a hillside, the Whitsundays sprawled out around you and Hamilton
Island itself in full view, I realised that here again was another contender. And these selections omit the gorgeous fourth hole with its eye-catching backdrop and undulating green, and numerous other stunning challenges in the 18 holes. In short, this is an exceptionally beautiful place to play golf.
Some world-renowned golf courses in remarkable settings mask design shortcomings with spectacular scenery. Not so at Hamilton Island, where the Thomson Perrett team has designed a course that will appeal to the scratch-handicap player and once-a-year holidaying golfer alike.
At first glance the course appears to be a golf-by-numbers layout, where you must hit to specific, identified points to avoid the design’s pitfalls – the most obvious being the jungle lining most fairways. A more intuitive golfer, however, will realise that while the course is tight, it is not overly long by modern standards, so the driver might not be required more than a couple of times in 18 holes.
With judicious club selections, even a C-grade golfer playing from the forward tees will find it possible to avoid exhausting.
With little else occupying Dent Island, space is not an issue. The golf course spans much of the eastern side of the island with the two nines looping in different directions. The unique site yields several design quirks. For instance, from the 15th green you backtrack almost the full length of the hole to reach the next tee, while the journey between the 17th and 18th is almost a kilometre.
Thomson Perrett’s finished product unquestionably owns the No.1 excursion to a golf course in Australia. Nowhere else is a boat (or helicopter) the only access option to reach the Clubhouse. It’s a short ride, less than 10 minutes, but it reinforces the isolation of the course site.
The first two holes are a reminder of your challenge and your location: the opening hole is bordered on both sides by thick bush while the second tee affords a clear view over your shoulder back to Hamilton Island.
It’s almost preferable to play this course ‘blind’, without doing any homework on the holes, as for the first-timer there’s an element of “what’s happening next?” to the design.
One minute you’re scaling a steep hill to a plateau tee and the next you’re being asked to drive a ball from high above the fairway to the strip of green snaking below. It’s a roller-coaster ride without the seat belts and queues.
I love the par 3 fourth hole, partly because I hit a nice 4-iron just behind the flag, but also for the shot the hole asks you to play and the canvas of the Whitsundays behind it. By the eighth hole I realise that if the driver isn’t behaving, a 3-wood might be the more prudent play from the tee. Despite a slight hook with mine, I manage to find the fringe of the green in two and two-putt for a par 4. Later, I miscalculate the steep rise to on the green the 10th green and leave an awkward pitch that leads to a bogey 5, but two holes later I face a similar chip from in front of the 12th green and almost hole it for a birdie.
The tee shots and vistas from the final five tees are the layout’s crescendo. Those wary of losing a ball off the side of the island on the little 16th have been given a bail-out bank on the left to bounce a ball onto the green, but there’s nowhere to hide on the previous two holes. The 14th is a white-knuckle mid to short-iron par 3 with two bunkers the only respite from the vegetation. This is a tough hole, but local golfer, Bernice Petersen, became the first person to score a hole-in-one in competition at the course on this very hole! The 15th green is perched on a peninsula and its fairway so narrow you almost have to ride single file to the green.
Ross Perrett says there’s a ‘fluidity’ to the design, and I see it on the back nine. While I dislike the hidden nature of the 17th green, there’s a simple way to play the hole without threatening its hazards. A lay-up second shot leaves a straightforward pitch to the green and a chance at par, which is how all mortal golfers should play it.
Yet the showstopper might just be reserved until the 18th, a long par 4 that plays much shorter thanks to the enormous drop from tee to green. A good drive will have your ball etched against the distant horizon for a moment before plummeting to earth and scuttling down the fairway.
The sheer range of nominees means a signature hole may not be readily identifiable, but all visitors will agree Hamilton Island Golf Club has left its mark on the Whitsundays.
Courtesy of Reef Magazine – Hamilton Island and the Great Barrier Reef
April 3rd, 2010 by admin
B.Arch, M.L Arch, Dip RTM, RAIA, AAILA, SAGCA
Managing Director and Head Designer
With over 25 years experience in golf course design and qualifications in architecture, landscape architecture and turf management, Ross is one of the world’s most highly qualified golf course architects.
He brings to TP Golf an understanding of the wider context of golf course design, including resort planning, integrated residential development and landscape design.
One of his key interests is in the increasingly important area of environmental responsibility, striving to create courses that are sustainable, sensitive to their setting and require less maintenance. his expertise on these issues is often sought by conference and seminar organisers, and he has given a number of presentations around the world to help raise awareness in the golfing community.
Ross is a member and past president of the society of australian golf course architects, and is widely regarded as one of the industry’s innovators, leading the adoption of both new technologies and landscape design concepts throughout the region and beyond.
“…one of the world’s most qualified golf course architects.”
February 19th, 2010 by admin
January 19th, 2010 by admin
