Golf Landscape Insights | 03 Great Golf Course Design: Lessons from Three World-Class Courses and Emerging Industry Trends
July 21st, 2026
Berkeley, CA
The world's most outstanding golf courses rarely rely on extensive artificial landscaping. Their core design philosophy is to work with the existing landform and natural ecology rather than reshape it. Instead of large-scale earthmoving, they use natural topography, vegetation, wind, and water features to create strategic playing challenges while preserving the site's ecological character.
I. Analysis of the Naturalistic Design Strategies of Three World-Class Golf Courses
1. The Old Course at St Andrews, Scotland | The Birthplace of Golf: virtually no large-scale land alteration.
The course preserves its original coastal dunes, natural depressions, and native grasses with minimal earthmoving or landscape modification. Rather than reshaping the terrain, the course relies on natural undulations and coastal winds to create a distinctive playing experience, making it one of the world's finest examples of a golf course that is fully integrated with its natural setting.
Image: Hand-drawn colorized overall map
Image: The original sand dunes in the 11th hole in real life
2. Augusta National Golf Club | A Benchmark for Championship Golf：working in harmony with the existing landscape.
Approximately 80% of the site's mature woodland has been retained, while fairways follow the natural slopes of the terrain. Layered planting creates seasonal interest without disrupting the mountain landform or natural drainage system. The result is a course that successfully balances championship play with exceptional landscape quality.
Image: Hand-drawn color schematic diagram
Image: Looking back at the fairway from the green of the 2nd hole
Image: A large grandstand will be set up on the left side of the 15th hole green
3. Anvaya Cove Golf & Sports Club, Philippines | A Benchmark for Coastal Mountain Golf in Southeast Asia
Designed around a unique coastal mountain setting, the course minimizes earthmoving while preserving the site's tropical forests and dramatic coastal cliffs. Natural elevation changes, sea breezes, and cliff edges become integral elements of the playing experience. Combined with native grasses and water-efficient irrigation, the design achieves a careful balance between championship golf and long-term coastal ecological protection.
Image: Real scene
II. Four Emerging Trends Shaping the Future of Golf Course Development
Trend 1 | An Ecology-First Approach to Golf Course Development
When developing or renovating golf courses, ecological sustainability is becoming a primary design objective. Priority is given to restoring native soils, vegetation, and natural water systems before introducing new landscape elements. High-impact pesticides and herbicides are progressively being phased out, while water-efficient irrigation systems and native planting strategies are increasingly adopted to support low-input, environmentally responsible course management.
Image: Machrihanish Dunes, Scotland — a benchmark for pesticide-free, rainwater-fed golf course management
Trend 2 | Expanding Public Access and Community Value
Many golf developments are becoming more open and community-oriented by introducing walking trails, public open spaces, and recreational amenities. Rather than functioning as isolated private facilities, golf landscapes are increasingly being integrated into broader urban green infrastructure, allowing more people to experience and enjoy these open spaces while reshaping the traditional perception of golf as an exclusive sport.
Image: Kaohsiung Golf Course Nature Park — a former golf course transformed into a public nature park
Trend 3 | From Single-Purpose Facilities to Multi-Functional Landscapes
Beyond golf, many courses are incorporating a broader range of recreational and educational activities, including camping, hiking, nature education, and other low-impact outdoor experiences. By making use of existing grasslands, forests, and water systems, golf courses are evolving into multi-functional leisure destinations, significantly improving land-use efficiency and year-round public value.
Image: Hangzhou West Lake Golf Course — transformed into a multi-functional outdoor recreation
destination
Trend 4 | Low-Input Maintenance for Long-Term Sustainability
Maintenance strategies are increasingly focused on reducing long-term resource inputs by limiting intensively maintained turf areas and preserving larger expanses of native grassland. Simplifying hardscape features and reducing dependence on labor, irrigation, and chemical treatments help lower operating costs while supporting more sustainable, long-term landscape management.
Image: Machrihanish Dunes, Scotland — an international example of low-input golf course maintenance
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