100 Years After the Golden Age, a Golf Architecture Awakening

The history defies logic.

How could so many epic golf courses originate in such a short span of time?

Pine Valley, Pebble Beach. Cypress Point, Shinnecock Hills, Augusta National, Fishers Island, Los Angeles Country Club, Riviera, Winged Foot, Seminole, Crystal Downs, Cal Club, Shoreacres, San Francisco, Baltusrol, Oak Hill, Camargo, Inverness, Maidstone, Yeamans Hall, Quaker Ridge.

All emerged from American soil in a 15-year period from 1918 to 1933. All still rank among the nation's 50 best courses. No wonder the Roaring 20s is widely known as the golden age of golf architecture. MacKenzie, Raynor, Ross and Thomas, to name a few.

It's a case study in creative genius and collective inspiration. With a little luck, history just might repeat itself a century later. 

Just five years ago, the thought of a golf course construction boom would've been improbable. The market looked saturated. In America, you could count on two hands the new courses under construction. The 2008 financial collapse lingered. Smart phones shortened attention spans. Tiger Woods' decline wilted TV ratings. Who needed more golf courses?

But a post-pandemic resurgence, combined with a new wave of creative thinking, has invigorated the golf industry and launched a series of thrilling new course projects that captivate golf purists.

Florida is hopping. Texas is booming. In the Carolinas, there's Pinehurst No. 10, Old Barnwell and Tree Farm. In Utah, there's Black Desert and Wohali. In Wisconsin, there's The Lido and Sedge Valley. In Nebraska, there's Lost Rail, Landmand and CapRock Ranch.

And, of course, just north of Sioux Falls, there's Mapletøn Golf Club.

Collectively, this new wave represents the most promising burst of new golf architecture in decades. What prompted the movement? It begins with America's renewed interest in the game. Total rounds of golf in 2023 broke the all-time record, according to the National Golf Foundation. And so far, 2024 is 7% higher than last year.

Passion is based partly on the challenge and competition, sure. Golf is just as addictive as it was in 1920. But the game also represents a respite from hectic schedules. A sincere opportunity to connect with family, friends, colleagues or even strangers. To engage in real conversations. To build real community.

It doesn't happen as much in book clubs or social groups anymore. It does happen on golf courses, especially with so many professionals working remotely.

"What was once seen as a waste of time – a four-hour game – is now seen as a valuable way to get a break from phones and computer screens," designer Phil Smith told Golf Course Architecture. "I attribute some of that to the psychological effects of Covid and people realized what was important to them."

Visionaries and developers have recognized the trends and pursued special projects on remarkable sites.

This isn't the 1990s when housing developers hastily squeezed courses onto flat sites with little character. These new venues come with beauty and soul. And golf fanatics will travel thousands of miles to play them, if necessary.

The new wave of architects and players prioritize strategy and playability. Wide fairways. Big greens. Dynamic contours. Amazing views.

Mapletøn features all of those characteristics and one more valuable advantage: convenience.

While most new projects around the country — and the world — are relatively distant from their consumers, requiring extensive planning and time, Sioux Falls' new club is just 10 minutes from downtown.

Mapletøn arrives at the perfect time and place for its audience. And the club is well-positioned to make a lasting impact.

How lasting?

Well, study the Roaring 20s — the golden age of golf architecture — and you'll quickly notice the timeless quality. Somehow those iconic courses get even better with age.

If you create a special golf experience, it's not just an immediate reward, it's a gift to future generations.