Gil Hanse - the man changing the face of golf courses

The golf course architect made a name for himself at the Rio Olympics –but who is he and what can we expect from him in the future?

Mountains loom over the Rio course. David Davies/PA Wire

Who is Gil Hanse?
The American golf course architect runs his own design firm with partner Jim Wagner. While he’s been designing courses for a number of years, he recently hit the headlines for his Rio 2016 Olympic Golf Course – the Reserva Marapendi.

And while there has been plenty of controversy around the course’s development and usage since, the design was favoured among those that actually got to play it.

But his firm is more than just a one-hit wonder. Hanse was chosen as only the third American ever to design and build a Scottish golf course, taking on Craighead Golf Links.

What’s his background?
While Hanse hasn’t always been a keen golfer, his interest in designing courses stretches back to his university days. In 1989, he earned a master's in landscape architecture from the prestigious Cornell University and was recipient of the William Frederick Dreer Award. This award allowed him to spend a year in the UK studying the history of golf architecture.

Just a few years later in 1993, Hanse founded Hanse Golf Course Design. In 1995, Hanse’s design partner Jim Wagner joined the firm, with friend and golf historian Geoff Shackelford assisting in the design of several projects.

Justin Rose plays out of a bunker during the games. David Davies/PA Wire.

Design philosophy
The company formed by Hanse has been at the forefront of sustainable course design since its formation.

His philosophy is to put nature first, designing courses that adapt to the natural environment and not vice versa.

This has led to a minimalist design ethos. He describes his courses as “simple and elegant” in appearance, yet “sophisticated in strategy and design”.

But he’s not just about making natural courses – they have to be playable and exciting as well. He states on his website that while they look to nature for inspiration, they must “have confidence that our golf courses are not merely a replication of nature, but a work of art clearly reflecting human influence.”

When building these courses, the team takes a hands-on approach with contractors and his team urged to “personally shape and finish every green and bunker.”

You can see these design principles on courses such as South Fork Country Club in New York, The Vineyard Club in Martha's Vineyard and, more recently, Trump International Golf Club in Dubai.

The course was well-received by the pros that got toe play it. David Davies/PA Wire.

Future plans
With the relative success of Rio under his belt, Hanse moved quickly on to other projects.

He’s recently completed work on the Streamsong Resort in Florida and the aforementioned Trump course in Dubai.

And it’s recently been announced that he’ll get his hands on the world-famous Pinehurst No. 4 in North Carolina. Some reports also put him as favourite for the legendary Sheep Ranch transformation into a fifth course at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort in Oregon.