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Experience in all sectors of the industry since 1985.

Gregory E Martin,

ASGCA  ASLA  RLA

Greg Martin has been practicing golf course architecture since 1985, providing services to private clubs, the public sector and golf course architecture for residential golf course communities.   Working primarily in the Midwest, his work ranges from southwest Missouri to Northern Wisconsin.  Greg has been a member of the American Society of Golf Course Architects since 2006 and served as the President of the ASGCA in 2016-2017.

 

Greg has a long record of successful projects due to his attention to site conditions, budgets, market accuracy and appropriate design themes.  His work is considered fun, engaging, relevant and necessary for market competitiveness.   Simpler is better, and Greg uses an approach that expresses efficient, classic design concepts that offer a unique golf experience while expanding environmental benefits. 

 

A Landscape Architecture graduate of Iowa State University in 1983, Greg Martin joined William James Spear & Associates in 1985. Later, Martin formed the Golf Course Design Division at the Ives/Ryan Group developing numerous residential golf course communities throughout the Chicago region before forming Martin Design Partnership, Ltd. in 1991.

 

Greg has shared his expertise on golf course architecture in numerous publications and at Association Meetings, regional meetings for planning agencies and Golf Course Superintendents Association annual meetings. 

President - American Society of Golf Course Architects {ASGCA]

ASGCA Member - 2006

Midwest Association of Golf Course Superintendents {MAGCS]

United States Golf Association [USGA]

American Society of Landscape Architects [ASLA]

Registered Landscape Architect in Illinois [RLA - 157.000359]

Phil Kosin, Chicagoland Golf

"Greg is a compulsive over-achiever"

Phil Kosin, Chicagoland Golf

"Greg is a compulsive over-achiever"

articles

 

Six in Six

6 Essays that explore various aspects of Golf Course Architecture and Design, each touching on the challenging endeavor of designing in this age of high expectation and value discernment.

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The Rank on Rankings

Golf Chicago Magazine

why rankings sometimes miss the importance of indivdual experience, meaning, value to community and authenticity. 

 

Bunker Mentality

Boardroom Magazine

a quick review of the importance of bunkers to the design of a golf course, and more importantly, why an architect uses certain types of bunkers.

 

The Cost of Doing Nothing

On Course

a review of the ‘cost of inaction’ to a golf course operation.  Inaction increases maintenance and has the potential to erode customer satisfaction.  Systematic and logical action can reverse that, not only reducing maintenance costs, but increase play, income and improve market share.

 

Beyond Bunkers

Golf Chicago Magazine

a quick look at the importance of bunkering in design, strategic and aesthetic styles of various architects.

 

After the Flood

Golf Industry News. 

a detailed outline of the Oak Meadows Golf Preserve project including the overlapping design and approval requirements for creek restoration, water quality improvement, wetland expansion, habitat enhancement, stormwater management and the resultant golf course improvements.

 

Public Courses Survive and Thrive

By Design, and Daily Herald

an editorial outlining the benefit of public golf to a community and how those benefits are felt beyond the boundaries of the golf course.

 

Magic is Not Obvious

Golf Chicago Magazine

sometimes the beauty and wonder of a golf course is what you don't see.  It is felt and sensed, but not visible.

 

Golf's DNA

Golf Chicago Magazine

the allure of the game and great design can be found in its most fundamental aspect: Match Play.  Match Play may save golf.

 

Fun as Foundation

California Golf Superintendent Magazine

fun is central to the health of the game and fun is based on width, options, the the greens.  Golden Age Architects profess similar design philosophies that create variation, strategy, and playable flexibility. 

 

The Golf Paradox

the same things that have propelled golf to one of the most popular development opportunities and recreational options are the same things that create challenges for the golf industry. 

 

Additional Articles

Length, Strategy and the Need to Protect Par

Aurora Country Club - Small Changes, Big Benefits

Beyond the Boundaries - the Benefits of Golf

Rub of the Green

A Conversation with a Golf Course I & II

Challenging the Best and Playable for All

Golf & The Fight for Discrectionary Spending 

 

Greg Martin talks to Guy Cipriano of Golf Course Industry Magazine about a number of topics, including "Journey Mapping", Authenticity, Sustainability and the Work Flow of a Golf Course Architect. 

presentations

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Northwest Illinois Golf Course Superintendents 2019

Rich Harvest Farms, Sugar Grove, Illinois

Journey Mapping Your Golf Course

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Midwest Assn Golf Course Superintendents 2019

Medinah, Illinois 

The Cost of Doing Nothing

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National Golf Course Owners Assn

2018 Golf Industry Show

San Antonio, Texas

The Cost of Doing Nothing

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Golf Innovation Symposium

United States Golf Association

Vancouver, Canada

The Cost of Doing Nothing

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Top Agronomic Advisors, NGCOA

Monterey, California

What's Driving Renovation

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Wisconsin State Golf Association

Brookfield, Wisconsin

Master Planning - SWOT

 

Improvement Planning

MAGCS Assistants

Annual Meeting

 

Golf Industry Show

Design Trends Forum

The Unintended Consequences of Stroke Play & the Opportunities of Match Play

 

Illinois Parks & Recreation

Annual Meeting

Oak Meadows Planning and Challenges

 

State of the Industry

MAGCS Annual Meeting

Medinah Country Club

 

Sustainable and Authentic Golf

Experience Green

Sea Pines Plantation, Hilton Head Island

 

Golf & The Picturesque

Landscape Architecture

University of Michigan

 

Remodeling University

Golf Industry Show

Orlando, Florida

 

Sustainable Golf

ASLA Annual Meeting

Chicago, Illinois

 

State of the Industry

MAGCS Winter Meeting

Lemont, Illinois

 

Master Planning for Public Golf

Golf Course Managers Association

Charleston, West Virginia

 

Planning for Infrastructure Improvement

Heart of America Golf Course Superintendents Association

Kansas City, Missouri

 

Golf & Architecture

Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture

Talieson, Wisconsin

 

Golf Course Construction Roundtable

Golf Course Builders Association of America

Chicago, Illinois

 

Planning the Master Plan

MAGCS Annual Meeting

Chicagoland Golf Course Superintendents

Central Illinois Golf Course Superintendents

 

The 90 Day Miracle

Crittendon Golf Development

Palm Springs, California

awards

Settlers Hill Golf Course

           2023 Renovation of the Year - Golf Inc.Magazine

           2023 Environmental Excellence - ASGCA

 

The Preserve at Oak Meadows

2017 Green Star Award - Golf Digest

2017 Renovation of the Year - Golf Inc Magazine

2018 Innovator of the Year - Green Sports Alliance

2018 Illinois Landscape Architecture Merit Award

2018 Design Excellence Award - ASGCA

2019 Environmental Excellence Award - ASGCA

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Rich Harvest Links 

1999 Golf Digest Best New Private Course - 5th

Top 100 Golf Courses in the United States

2009 Host of the Solhiem Cup

2017 NCAA Mens & Womens Golf Championships

2018 Palmer Cup

 

The Oaks Golf Course

2004 Golf Digest Best New Public Course - 5th

 

Wilmette Golf Club

2016 Design Excellence Award - ASGCA

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Phillips Park Golf Course

2012 Design Excellence Award - ASGCA

 

Carillon Projects

2014 Design Excellence Award - ASGCA

 

Pottawatomie Golf Course

GolfWeek, Top 25 Nine-Hole Golf Courses USA

 

 

2022 - Martin Design  -   Est. 1991 

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