Introduction
Rennie Design Ltd Golf Course Architects have been commissioned by West Lothian Golf Club to undertake an analytical review of the existing 18-hole golf course within the overall facility. The study has been carried out in order to develop conceptual ideas and views of how the club can move forward in a sustainable, environmental and economic manner with development proposals. The commission has seen Rennie Design carry out an analytical review of the existing golf course providing professional external opinions on how the club may be able to enhance the existing facilities and future proof for many years to come.
Golf Course Architecture
Rennie Design offers International Golf Course Architecture services based in Scotland the home of golf. We are led by an aspiring young award winning Golf Course Architect Stuart Rennie who is the Toro Sponsored European Institute of Golf Course Architects (EIGCA), Student Architect 2009. He was fortunate to have won this award after studying on the coveted Post Graduate Diploma in Golf Course Architecture run by the EICGA and was also successful in passing the course with Distinction. Having studied many ‘Classic’ courses and the works of historical Golf Course Architects such as Old Tom Morris, Donald Ross, James Braid and Alistair Mackenzie, besides many of the modern day Architects, Rennie Design are proud to offer specialist restoration, renovation and design improvement services which respond to the classic design principles incorporating modern day Rennie Design philosophies. The Rennie Design philosophies integrate the historical golf architecture principles of designing with nature and strategic play, and combine them with analytical, environmental and contemporary approaches to design.
Golf Course Architect
Stuart Rennie is a qualified professional golf course architect & landscape architect and a member of the European Institute of Golf Course Architects. Stuart has worked for Peter Thomson’s design practice in Australia and in London. This experience has seen Stuart work on projects throughout Australia, New Zealand, China, Middle East and the UK. Stuart formed Rennie Design Ltd in 2011 his specialist international design practice based in Glasgow Scotland, focusing on Golf Course Architecture & Landscape Architecture as well as Private/Public Garden Design and Environmental Consultancy. The varied professional experience and expertise allows us to carry out projects of any size from inception to completion. Rennie Design believes in building a strong professional relationship with the client team, which helps develop the optimum design solutions.
Select Experience
Rennie Design have worked on and completed similar projects at West Kilbride GC, Kirkwall GC, Stromness GC, Cawder GC and Inverness GC. We completed one of Scotland’s newest golf courses, The Kings Course Inverness on behalf of the Highland Council from inception to completion and are currently working on a wide variety of projects.
Process
The analytical process on any given project is of paramount importance to the success of the project. An in-depth analysis has been carried out across the West Lothian Golf Course to provide an overall understanding of the existing set up, studying areas such as the landscape character, vegetation, landform, health and safety aspects, playing strategy, playability for all categories and levels of golfer, key playing angles, bunker placement and positioning, maintenance, path network, slope, drainage and the like. A number of site visits, meetings with the greens committee, note taking, photographic studies and desk study research has been carried out and presented in this report format along with a presentational masterplan. One of the main objectives is to assess the challenge of the golf course for all categories of golfer looking at areas where the course can become an improved challenge for the better player without making it any more difficult for the average, or high handicap player and ladies. If fact, making an objective to ensure certain characteristics of the course and its playability are easier for the higher handicap player whilst increasing the challenge for the better player. The initial analytical study has been undertaken through both field and desk studies assisting in the evaluation and production of robust concept development.