Since forming his own design firm in 1997, Colorado’s Jim Engh has won four “best new course” awards from Golf Digest, been named “Golf Architect of the Year” in 2003 (ahead of such luminaries as Fazio, Dye, Jones and Doak), built a reputation for getting world class work done on time and under budget, landed one gorgeous site after...
Breaking News – Jim Engh left yesterday for Dickinson, ND from his Idaho summer home to be inducted into the North Dakota Hall of Fame. This is a victory for everyone who loves excellent golf course architecture. Engh has won four best new course awards and finished second a handful of times as well for some other stellar designs. Briefly, lets review some...
I had the chance to catch up with Jim after he returned from his annual vacation to Hawaii with Monie and the kids (Brian 10 and Bailey 8). Here are some of his thoughts. Look for a longer article soon in my column for Golf Observer. Jay: How was the vacation? Jim: Oh it was great. Every year in the winter, we go to Hawaii. I rarely play any golf there. Instead...
The first part of my article on Redlands is here. Below, you’ll find the UPDATED star system ratings, based on the SEVEN star system. Most of Engh’s unique design elements are present at Redlands. His trademark squiggly muscle bunkers are placed “randomly” – i.e. where the land accepts them, not at any specific distance from the tee...
Here’s something interesting when you have time for a long term project. Take your favorite architect and play three or four (or more) of his designs in chronological order. Then trace the evolution of his design style and see how his philosophy changed over time. Two good examples are Brian Silva and Jim Engh. Silva began his career building what most people...
JIM ENGH – PLAYING THE ENGHLES Since forming his own design firm in 1997, Colorado’s Jim Engh has won four “best new course” awards from Golf Digest, been named “Architect of the Year” in 2003 ahead of such luminaries as Fazio, Dye, and Doak, built a reputation for getting world class work done on time and under budget, landed one...
The full interview will follow, but here are some snippets of the interview I did with Jim Engh, Golf Digest’s architect of the year in 2003. JIM ENGH IN HIS OWN WORDS JF: What’s the most important goal for you in creating a successful design. Engh: For me, it’s all about options. The more ways to play a hole and get a ball close to the pin, the...
Author’s Note: While this site is primarily about public courses and golf course architecture, we will spend some time over the next month or two reviewing some courses up for this year’s Best New Private Club award. The author’s views are his own and are in not meant to be impugned to either GolfObserver.com or the monthly periodical to which I...
FOSSIL TRACE GOLF CLUB 3050 Illinois St. Golden, CO 303.277.8750 www.fossiltrace.com Architect: Jim Engh Par – 72 Excitement Level – 11/12 Diff. – 7/12 Design: five and 1/2 stars (all ratings 0ut of seven) Natural Setting: 5.5 Conditioning – Five and ½ stars Cost – $60 Value – Six stars Overall – Five and ½ stars Tees...