Architects to Discuss Their Art at MSU

A twosome of Michigan-based golf course architects will be discussing their crafts at Michigan State University in East Lansing in early 2006.

Jerry Matthews, graduate of Michigan State University and past president of the American Society of Golf Course Architects, will be making a presentation on Saturday, January 14th. Matthews has designed more than 100 golf courses throughout Michigan and across the country. In recent years his Michigan designs have included the Lakes Course at Michaywe (Gaylord) Timber Ridge (East Lansing), Elk Ridge (Atlanta), St. Ives (Stanwood) and Timberstone (Iron Mountain). Each of these courses has been honored by Golf Digest as being among the top five new public courses designs in the country in their respective years.

Matthews will be discussing various design elements, with a particular focus on one of his specialties, wetlands management, as carried out at Hawk Hollow. Additional information concerning Jerry Matthews and his work can be found at http://www.naturalcoursedesign.com.

On Saturday, March 25th, Ray Hearn, an MSU graduate and also a ASGCA member, will talk about the design process for his award-winning Mistwood Golf Course in Romeoville, Ill. Hearn has been involved in numerous original course designs and remodeling projects since opening his own firm in 1998. His Michigan courses recognized by Golf Digest include The Grande (Jackson) and Hemlock (Ludington), which was also noted by Golf Magazine as a Top Ten New Course. Hearn is also an instructor with the acclaimed "Golf Architecture in the British Isles," which is taught on location in Great Britain.

Additional information concerning Ray Hearn and his work can be found at http://www.rhgd.com.

Matthews and Hearn will make their presentations from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. on the Fourth Floor of the West Wing of the Main Library at Michigan State University in. The seminars will include discussions by each architect followed a Q&A session and reception. The cost is $35 per session or $50 for both sessions.

Advance registration is required, and interested attendees should respond by January 6, 2006. Reservations will be accepted in the order in which they are received. For more information, contact the appropriately named Birdie Beckwith at 517/355-2341 or via email at birdie@msu.edu. For details, visit http://tic.msu.edu/pdf/MeetArch.pdf.

The above report is courtesy of Michigan Golf News.