How will your designs change the future of golf?

I don’t want to change the future of golf – I am anticipating the future of golf. There are new types of golfers emerging who have different wants and needs. For example, the value of family experiences and being together outside the ever more demanding world of work will become more important in the future. So clubhouses and multi-functional city driving ranges have to be ready for these total family experiences for men, women and children. I believe there will be a need for low-entrance opportunities into golf, which is why I want to create a new style of urban driving range; and I think clubhouses will be required to relax the mind before and after play. So the way we see the future of golf is built into our designs.

Why do you think modern architecture is more readily accepted in a city environment?

We are living in an era when a wide range of people can have anything they want. They like luxury and new gadgets – and it’s not the technology that drives their choice, but the design of the product. The same is true for modern architecture. It has a new luxury design expression not only for the people, but also for a city to put itself on the world map. It attracts people to live and work there and it’s good for tourism and business (although not always for health, of course). Keeping respect for natural environments in mind and by choosing the right materials you can still create a modern concept outside a city with a different and more human related goal.

Do you believe that all clubhouses should reflect
the period in which they were built?

No, not all clubhouses. It depends on the country, culture and history. When there is a story to tell about the clubhouse, protect it – when there is no story, no soul, break it down and create one for history. Heritage is important to protect and to inspire new generations. You have to know where you’ve come from to know where you are going and how to improve things for the future.