John Fought Design
When one door closes, another opens. It wasn't easy for John Fought to understand it at the time but when the door on his six-year PGA Tour playing days started to close due to neck and back injuries, it helped open the door on a what has become a successful second career.
John believes three qualities are the basics to an outstanding golf course designer:
- One must have a keen understanding of the game of golf and it's rich history;
- Have a full understanding of construction methods and techniques which could be applied at each site;
- Finally, a vibrant imagination is a must. Being able to envision concepts and have creative ideas that can be translated into the actual project you are designing.
The best golf courses, John says, are like obstacle courses: "I love it when people come up to me and say, 'I played that course and I had better be thinking when I'm out there. I need to go play that again. I can do better on that hole.' That's what it's all about."