Photo by: Air Swing Media
The Metropolitan Golf Club
Crafter + Mogford were appointed as the Club’s golf course architects in March of 2015. In early 2017 the Board ratified the Course Enhancement Plan – a comprehensive 120 page color A3 document detailing course and landscape improvements. After the initial laying out of the Club’s course at Oakleigh by J.B. Mackenzie, two men have most influenced the current layout of Metropolitan – Dr. Alister MacKenzie and Dick Wilson. So it was that in 1926 MacKenzie inspected the course and submitted his report and plans for his remodelling suggestions, including plans of new greens. In 1958 the Club engaged Louis ‘Dick’ Wilson, a Florida based architect, to design a number of new holes and to fit them into the fabric of the existing course. While he certainly designed some fine holes, with the 7th, 11th, 13th, 15th and 16th holes being the stand out – there were also some less than fine ones, holes that have some compromises. Overall the terrain of the new land was flatter than the lost land and this loss of character was difficult to replace. And here lies our challenge – to imbue these holes with similar features which abound holes 1 through 5, the 8th, 9th and 18th and bring greater unity to this already tremendous golf course.
“Crafter + Mogford were appointed as our architect in late 2014 after a thorough assessment of a number of high-quality candidates.
Their firm was selected after demonstrating great sensitivity to the key characteristics of our course while identifying areas for improvement. Their detailed research on the golden age architecture, particularly Dr Alister MacKenzie, has been critical to the sympathetic evolution of our golf course.
Our principal architect, Paul Mogford, has developed and overseen some significant enhancements to our golf course in recent times. This includes the transformation of our 10th hole, 17th tee and carry, 15th tee and carry and most recently the transformation of the 11th tee experience. Paul’s experience in landscape management provides us with an architect that can not only provide strategic golf course advice, with his skills and knowledge ensuring that our out of play areas carefully integrate with the playing surfaces.
Paul’s calm approach to problem solving, and ability to articulate his vision, has been critical in assisting our Board when needing to educate members on the need for evolution and improvement of our treasured golf course.
We have been extremely pleased with the works completed to date under the Course Enhancement Plan developed by Crafter + Mogford, with their detailed design and methodical approach achieving the results that we desire”
Course Enhancement Interviews
Course Architect, Paul Mogford, and Course Superintendent, David Mason, provide an extensive outline of the upcoming works in the following videos.
Course Architect, Paul Mogford, and Course Superintendent, David Mason, provide an outline of the upcoming works on the 6th Hole.
Course Architect, Paul Mogford, and Course Superintendent, David Mason, provide an outline of the upcoming works on the 5th Hole.