\’The Next Big Name in Golf Course Architecture.\’

1. tEXasht
houston
spotlig Notebook
Carl mICKelSon, Regional Editor, carl@texasgolfermagazine.com
THE CURIOUS CASE OF MIKE NUZZO
Meet the Man who
should be the “Next Big
Name in Golf Course
Architecture”
G olf course design isn’t exactly the gig it
used to be—at least not in this econo-
my. However, if the future of that profession
is influenced by innovative up-and-comers
like Houston’s Mike Nuzzo, maybe that’s
not such a bad thing. Nuzzo has proven a
great deal with his first 18-hole design proj-
ect, Wolf Point Golf Club, not the least of
which is that a compelling golf course with
classic shot values can be constructed and
maintained on a reasonable budget.
Wolf Point is a revelation. Built on a se-
cluded expanse of pastureland (just a few Wolf Point Golf Club, Hole 6
miles from the Gulf of Mexico), many of its
views call to mind the open spaces and directed carry over some obstacle.” Wolf Each teeing ground is only a few paces
the natural knobs and contours at The Point is full of firm and fast golf holes upon from the previous green. Nothing distracts
Old Course at St. Andrews. Other features which Jones, Mackenzie and Colt would the golfers from an ideal walk in the park.
instantly remind one of the principles have been proud to stamp their signature. Nuzzo’s green complexes are immensely
upon which classic designers like Alister Wolf Point’s fifth hole, one of the layout’s challenging but fair. Some resemble crabs
Mackenzie and Henry S. Colt built their longest par-fours, tempts the golfer to carry flipped on their backs. Others replicate rip-
masterpieces: generous landing areas but a high-lipped, 30-yard-long chasm named pling waves. “The owner wanted a home
with reward for accurate shot placement; the “Inferno” bunker (one of Nuzzo’s few field advantage in his regular matches,
green complexes that test both thinking indulgent choices on the course, but one so the greens are challenging and angles
and shot-making skills; and design fea- that really pays off). Successfully passing into the greens on your approach shots
tures that fit the landscape rather than the bunker sends your ball down a speed are critical,” Nuzzo says. “The difference
over-embellish it. slot that should add yardage and give you between two tee shots found 10 yards
Perhaps Bobby Jones, a collaborator with an ideal angle into the green. Failing to do apart could mean one player has a perfect
Mackenzie on Augusta National Golf Club so can lead to, well…hellish results. angle in and the other player has almost
and a St. Andrews devotee, put it best: From the well-executed double-green no shot.” (Think: the false front on the
“In my opinion, a properly designed hole connecting the putting surfaces for holes green at the Road Hole at St. Andrews)
should impose a test upon each shot the eight and 18 to the ruff-hewn, natural-edge Adam Lawrence, editor of the UK’s Golf
player has to make. There should always bunkering to multiple greens that allow Course Architecture magazine says of Wolf
be a definite advantage gained from an you the bump-and-run option, Wolf Point Point, “Not only is it probably the best first
accurate and intelligent placing of the tee plays like a classic-era course, but mani- course by a modern architect that I have
shot, or a reward offered for a long, well- cured to modern country club standards. seen, but it is also a living case study for the
texasgolfermagazine.com April 2011 TexasGolfer 37

2. tEXasht houston
spotlig
so with all this praise, why has most of the golf
world never heard of this course or its designer?
Wolf Point is a personal golf course. it has one
owner who is also its only “member.”
more nuZZo
future of golf design and construction.” golfers are intended to see, let alone play, area by the Houston Chronicle.
Wolf Point was constructed by its su- as your calling card? Nuzzo’s talent and practical approach
perintendent Don Mahaffey, Nuzzo and an “It is a challenge, but I can offer cli- could help usher new techniques into golf
expert shaper, with the help of local labor ents a lot of the same practical skills and design. Rather than Auto-CAD, he uses
who learned golf feature shaping, exca- services that helped make Wolf Point a a more graphic-design-oriented software
vation and bunker building while on the success,” he says. “I think an approach product, Adobe Illustrator, which enables
job from Mahaffey. Mahaffey’s company, that marries artistry and engineering will him to render hole designs (or redesigns)
Greenscape Methods, essentially built serve some projects very well.” that look like a detailed photo of the hole.
the course from the ground up for rough- Nuzzo’s path to golf course design was Moreover, his approach to projects is fo-
ly one fifth the cost typically required to far from typical. He left his job as an aero- cused on saving the client as much money
complete a resort or public course of simi- space design engineer at Lockheed Martin as possible and ensuring his designs can
lar quality and size. in 2000 to pursue a lifelong passion. He be maintained practically and simply.
So with all this praise, why has most of learned about golf design and maintenance “I think I’ve found that in the construc-
the golf world never heard of this course or from the likes of Finger-Dye-Spann associ- tion process you can push yourself to make
its designer? Wolf Point good holes into super-special
is a personal golf course. holes,” he says. “Those last steps
It has one owner who is can be done, or re-done, on any
also its only “member.” project. I’m certain there are a lot
To date, 517 humans of clients I could convince that
have traveled into outer they really don’t have to blow the
space. It would be fair whole thing up and start over to
to guess that consider- get an amazing renovation.”
ably fewer have played In a more robust economy, the
Wolf Point Golf Club in golf community might have al-
the four years it’s been ready declared Mike Nuzzo the
open. The owner, who next big thing in golf course ar-
wish to remain anony- chitecture. Message board junk-
mous, might be one of ies might be dropping his name
the nicest men you’ll along with Tom Doak’s and Bill
ever meet. But when it Coore’s just to sound in the
comes to notoriety, mag- know. For now, Nuzzo is working
azine rankings or host- on a couple of renovation and
ing USGA events, he’ll practice area projects and sub-
politely pass. A major at Wolf Point would ate Baxter Spann and Champions Golf mitting proposals for redesigns in and
consist of the owner teeing it up with Club superintendent Charles Joachim. beyond Texas.
a couple of guests with two loyal giant “I had to ask Mike if he had rocks in his “There are a lot of courses that need just
schnauzers acting as unofficial scorers. head, wanting to leave a career in aero- a little bit of help,” he says. “It’s not that
“Part of me wishes more people could space for the golf business, but I could tell hard for us to turn the worst hole on some
come see this course,” Nuzzo says. “It’s he had a real passion for the game and he golf courses into the best. And that can
only when you get on the ground and see also had real skills to offer people doing make a big difference.”
what we’ve built here that you put the golf course projects,” Joachim says. Nuzzo often uses the term ‘practical’ to
back story together with the ‘wow fac- Nuzzo renovated and expanded the describe the methods and philosophies he
tor’ of the golf course.” practice area at Champions and trans- follows in his work. Until we find our way
Having such a unique course as the cor- formed a former par-three course in North to the next golf course construction boom
nerstone of his design resume is a bless- Houston into the new and improved (whichseemslikeitcouldbedecadesaway),
ing and a curse for Nuzzo. How do you Swanson Golf Center, which was named ‘practical’ seems to make a lot of sense.
build a following with a property that few the best practice facility in the Houston mnuzzo.com.
38 TexasGolfer April 2011 texasgolfermagazine.com