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The Links at Las Palomas
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The Links at Las Palomas is the first 18-hole golf course to grace the natural dunes and white sandy beachfront of Puerto Pe?asco, Sonora, Mexico. Penasco, or Rocky Point as it is known throughout the region, is the closest beach to America’s fifth largest city—Phoenix, Arizona. As of summer 2005 more than 3,000 luxury condominiums were under construction in Rocky Point. Add this to a growing inventory of villas and hotel rooms, and you have the makiings of a great Mexican destination. The drive to Rocky Point is just a short 3.5 hours from Phoenix, and the roads are well kempt and safe.
In this recent interview, golf course architect Forrest Richardson (based in Phoenix) shares his thoughts on the soon-to-be-open Links at Las Palomas. Richardson has designed several resort and daily fee courses in the West. He is also the author of two books on golf architecture, Routing the Golf Course and Bunkers, Pits & Other Hazards, both published by John Wiley & Sons, NY.
What can we expect when the course is ready to play -- what kind of course will it be?
Well, our goal is to make it a fun and enjoyable golf experience. After all, golf is supposed to be fun. Of course, to be enjoyable a golf course has to offer a decent challenge -- enough trouble that the golf is exciting. The best way to describe what we are doing down here is to focus on the tremendous sand dunes and how the course will play up, over, around and through these beautiful land forms.
You call it a "Links", what exactly does that mean?
A links golf course is one that occupies true linksland. Linksland comes from the Scotish word "hlincas", which means a ridge or hill. So, only on land where the sea and wind have caused erosion and undulations do you get such land. This is where golf began, along the coast of Scotland on just such landforms. The game of golf developed in Scotland in around 1500 A.D., probably from traders who brought clubs from other parts of Europe where a game called het kolven had been played over ice. But, to answer the question, a links golf course is always by the sea and it requires natural dunes through which holes seem to fit naturally to the land. Not even Pebble Beach is on true linksland, it's really a seaside course set on rocky cliffs.
Are all the holes at Las Palomas links holes?
About half of them are in dunes areas -- or links areas. The others wrap around lagoons and connect the course together from the top of the hill and then back to the ocean. But the feel is all links in spirit.
What about the course's length, par, etc.
The course can be played from 5,000-yards to nearly 7,000-yards. From the normal tees it will be about 6,700-yards with a par of 72. All of the par-3s play to different lengths -- and we've managed to face them in different directions. The par-5s are also of varying lengths. A few will beckon the player to try and get home in two shots, which always makes for a fun game.
Would you say it's a difficult layout?
Our goal was to create a course which might look intimidating, but really plays quite fairly. Jack Snyder, my mentor and co-designer of Las Palomas, has always believed in creating fair and friendly courses. This isn't to say that the hazards are weak. We believe a hazard should provide some trouble for the golfer -- after all, that's how the game evolved. Plan ahead and avoid trouble and you will get to the green safely -- take risks and you will either be rewarded or suffer a few additional strokes. The course will play tricks with golfers. Some of the holes and shots will appear easy, but the winds and elevations will play a solid role. Let's put it this way: The golf course will be difficult if you're wild and not careful. On the other hand, if you think through the options it will reward you with pleasant shots and less trouble.
What are the most difficult holes?
For me it will be No. 13, a long par-4 situated along a lagoon. But that's because I don't hit the ball very far. I think some of the most difficult holes will be the easiest in appearance. For example, the 7th is a short par-3 of not much over 120-yards. But the green is huge with three levels. What makes this fun is that all players are equalized -- the long hitter has no advantage over the short hitter. It's all about putting -- and you'll have to be on your toes otherwise it's a three-putt. Overall, the most demanding of the par-4 and par-5 holes are probably Nos. 2, 8, 13, 16, and 18. These are where matches will be decided.
What about the turf -- what variety is it?
We are planting the newest strain of paspalum, a grass developed in South Africa which can survive on water which has abundant salts. In Pe?asco we have lots of salt in the water, obviously because we are near the ocean. Paspalum is being used on some of the finest courses in Cabo, Hawaii and throughout the Carribeabn. Our test plots have done very well in Pe?asco. The greens will also be paspalum. It's a great turf and it putts terrific.
Do you have a style in your designs?
I suppose all golf architects have some common threads in their work. For me it probably comes from my studies across England, Scotland and Ireland. I like a sense of adventure in golf courses. We don't lay out all of the course so you can necessarily see it all at once. I sometimes hide a few areas of the green. This creates a treasure hunt situation. The golfer can see the green, but perhaps not all of it. My goal is to have the player leave the course wanting to come back for another round. This usually means he or she will be looking forward to beating the course on the next round. Why? Because they will have discovered something that they didn't see on the first visit. It's the same thing that brings fishermen back to a lake or stream -- they feel that their return visit will be more fruitful now that they have some experience.
We noticed that you have 19 holes -- why an extra?
Bonus holes were common in the 1930s. And we see a few popping up even today. We felt that Las Palomas was a great site to add a short hole where golfers could settle their bets or just have some fun before of after a round. Our extra hole sits just below the clubhouse and it looks out at the Sea of Cortez. It's about 100-yards downhill to a rolling green. We've also designed the 18th hole so you can play to an alternate green -- the one usually used for the Bonus hole. This allows the course to play differently.
Forrest Richardson established his own firm following work with golf architect Arthur Jack Snyder. Snyder, and his father before him, each were greenkeepers at Oakmont, learning the design business at one of America's most classic courses and then passing their knowledge onto Forrest.
Forrest is the author of Routing the Golf Course, a book about the art of routing courses which is published by John Wiley & Sons. He is a member of the American Society of Golf Course Architects and a Patron of the prestigious Keepers of the Green in St. Andrews, Scotland. His work has received numerous recognition and awards. In 2001, Forrest created The Hideout in Utah, an 18-hole course which was voted "Best New Course of the Year" by the editors of Golf Inc. Magazine.
Other southwest courses by Richardson include Phantom Horse, Coldwater, Legend Trail, Lookout Mountain, Coyote Lakes and historic renovation at the Arizona Biltmore Adobe Course.
You can find out more about Forrest Richardson & Associates by visiting www.golfgroupltd.com
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