Benjamin Warren

Artisan Golf Design’s lead architect and shaper was raised on the fairways of North Berwick West Links in Scotland. Benjamin has studied the world’s greatest golf courses. He learned the art of design & build by working for elite firms from the United States.

Benjamin’s essays about golf and life have been published in Golf Digest Choice and McKellar Journal. A collection of his work is archived on this site. To discuss writing projects please get in touch.

Golf Architect: Benjamin Warren, Artisan Golf Design (2022)

Golf’s intergenerational appeal is a superpower. Adaptive golf is in that same ballpark. Why shouldn’t a kid in a wheelchair be able to tee it up with their able-bodied buddies as ‘just one of the foursome’?

Benjamin’s beliefs about what constitutes fun golf are all rooted in his childhood experiences in North Berwick, Scotland. Putting courses are the lowest common denominator in this game. Anyone—regardless of skill or physical ability—can enjoy the feeling of trundling a ball across a putting green towards a target. There’s no better entry point to golf. Chaska Par 30 has a beautiful frontage on Hazeltine Boulevard. What better place for a town putting green??

Urban green spaces that welcome golfers are vital to the the future health of the game. There will never be more golf in cities than we have today. With rapid urbanisation and the changing recreation patterns of city dwellers any space that provides an ‘outdoor sport’ experience within the city limits shouldn’t struggle to find a customer base. Golf facilities can be quite unwelcoming. Goat Hill Park in Oceanside is an example of how to do it right. Embracing the character of the local community is a winning formula.

Courses that are truly accessible for golfers with disabilities are somewhat of a new frontier. Some efforts have been made in this area—notably Bobby Jones Golf Course in Atlanta—but a budget running into tens of millions diminished its value as a showcase project.

In Chaska we’re keenly aware that we are stewarding taxpayer funds and charitable donations. Bringing in Tom Mead to help with sustainability and construction specs, Don Mahaffey and Ian Williams on irrigation, and Brian Horgan on turfgrass selection helped to keep material costs as low as possible without sacrificing playability and ease-of-maintenance.

Missouri-based contractor Mid-America Golf & Landscape started construction in late 2020.

Golf Architect: Whitman-Axland-Cutten (2020)

The newest golf course in Inverness, Nova Scotia perches on the side of a ridge high above Cabot Cliffs and the Gulf of St. Lawrence. The first project for new design house Whitman-Axland-Cutten is another instant classic in the short course genre. Guests at The Nest at Cabot will enjoy views, gambling opportunities, and respite from the gales which punish all but the truest of shots down at the coastal Links and Cliffs courses.

As the son of a Canada-born Scot it was an honor for Benjamin to make a small shaping contribution in this golf-mad country.

During his short stint in town Benjamin was attempting to fill the shoes of Dave Axland. That is a tall order for anyone but in perfect summer weather he helped Rod Whitman and Keith Cutten dial in the final details of the design. Fun times with a great team.

Can short courses save golf? The USGA invited Benjamin to discuss this loaded question with a panel of experts at its biennial Innovation Symposium.

Benjamin put it simply to the crowd in Tokyo with an instant poll: “should protecting & supporting city golf be an industry priority?” The assembled leaders of the game were 96% in favor of ‘big golf’ allocating resources and expertise to support city golf.

Short courses can be architecturally significant. Benjamin’s favorites—urban and resort—are all packed with super fun golf.

But, to protect city courses golf needs a more scalable model than local heroes.

Could golf help cities to plan upgrades to urban courses?

• Make development expertise available?
• Introduce brands that have community-building expertise?
• Introduce low cost design talent?

For every 400.4 million Winter Park 9 redo a municipality spends $20 million to create a ‘tournament ready’ course that is all but unplayable for 99% of local golfers.

Could the industry raise funds & provide expertise to support city leaders who commit to delivering our strategic objectives for golf in urban areas?

What might that commitment look like?

• An open-door welcome for local people & golfers
• Walking golf only (carts for medical)
• 6 and 9-hole play options
• Dedicated facilities / programs for kids
• No dress codes
• Heavily discounted family play and shared equipment subscriptions
• Sustainable maintenance / operations
• Fun architecture

A Links Trust was formed to protect St Andrews, the home of golf. Could something similar work for cities on a local / national level?

in the months following the USGA Symposium Benjamin was delighted to hear about the formation of the National Links Trust in Washington DC, which has taken over the lease for three courses in the US capital and is currently raising funds through philanthropic donations. This is perfect for the United States. The financing model must be recalibrated for other nations.

Posted in USGA