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Denis Griffiths, a world ranked architect, is the course architect for the Chancellors Course at The Georgia Club. His firm has completed courses throughout the world, including the United States, England, Spain, the Canary Islands, South Africa, Puerto Rico, the Philippines, Japan, and Thailand. He also designed all of the courses at Chateau Elan in Braselton, Georgia.
Since 1985 his courses, Pole Creek Golf Club in Winter Park, Colorado, Fox Hollow in Lakewood, and St. Marlo Country Club in Duluth, were ranked first, second and tenth respectively by Golf Digest Magazine for "Best New Public Golf Course of the Year."
Says Denis, "With The Georgia Club's commitment to excellence and the ideal site, I have been given the essentials for the design of an outstanding golf course. Built in traditional style, players of all levels will find the course offers unlimited variety and subtlety, and a pure test of the game."
Denis is a Past President of the American Society of Golf Course Architects. He has been active in various issues related specifically to golf and environmental compatibility. Read the interview below with Denis Griffiths about the 2006 addition to The Chancellors Course.
Have you identified any course highlights yet on the new nine?
Things could change as we go along, but right now I would have to say that Hole #4 will have one of the most striking tee shots. Number 4 is an elevated tee shot with a short par 4 and dogleg left. It has a striking view and will make the golfer walk up to the tee and say "what do I do?" I like that little bit of mystery. The philosophy of American golfers is that they want to see what they are doing from the tee - they need a road map. European golfers have a lot more blind shots forcing them to make a decisions - and, they don't always want to go the obvious route. Hole #4 gives forces that decision.
The other hole clearly of note at this point is Hole #2. The lake surrounding this hole and Hole #8 has surpassed expectations with its water features. Hole #2 is a short par 3 with a greenside bunker that may be bigger than the green. It will be a special hole.
Has it been hard working on the new nine knowing that you are trying to integrate it with the existing 18?
It's easier to do it now than it would be if there were 10 years between the construction of the two. The key is to always remember what you have across the creek. It's working very well and fortunately, we have some of the same design and construction team doing this addition as who worked on the original course.
We have some great trees to work with on the new nine, too. There is a great selection of preferred hardwoods like Oak and Hickory.
What will the new nine provide to golfers?
Our plan is coming to fruition that the new nine will add some teeth to the course. Holes #3, #5 and both #6s are substantial distances. The new nine is more diversified and incorporates a balance that will definitely improve the golf experience.
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