Golf Course Design Principles

A course that provides engaging puzzles to solve beats one which does not.
A course that lets the ball run beats one where it does not.
A course where you can carry your bag at any time beats one where you cannot.
A course where you can play quickly while walking beats one where you cannot.
A course you can enjoy at all ages beats one where you cannot.
A course with understated maintenance beats one with conspicuous green-keeping.
A club that emphasizes the simple game of golf beats one that pursues status trappings.
A course you want to play again and again beats one you only wish to play annually.

The architects working closest to these principles are mapped in Minimalist Golf Architecture School; the ethic behind them is the subject of Golf’s Original Constraints.