William RIDDLE - Member of La Zagaleta & primary client for the members
Owner of Remedy Oak GC UK & Canford Magna GC UK
"My name is William (Bill) Riddle, I am an experienced golf club owner and builder currently owning 2 golf course complexes. I have known Steve Marnoch, Director of G&M Ltd both professionally and personally for 6 years. During which time I have found him to be competent and a pleasure to work with. Since their appointment at La Zagaleta I have allowed G&M Ltd the use of my villa on the estate (in my absence) in full knowledge that they would look after my property as their own.
As well as being involved in La Zagaleta, G&M Ltd also designed the original layout for Remedy Oak, my second golf course complex in Dorest.
In 2000 G&M Ltd were appointed following a design competition (against a top class international field) for the design of Los Barrancos La Zagaleta the second course at the presitigious La Zagaleta estate. I have found them to be very professional in their work and regard them as one of the most talented young golf architectural practices currently available.
The reasons for their employment at La Zagaleta were based upon several factors, which were determined to be important for this challenging design contract.
- There would be two clients; La Zagaleta SL (the owners of the whole site and interested in the residential development) and the existing members of La Zagaleta Golf Club who wish to have a second course to play.
- The charges for the contract would be split 50/50 between both parties.
- Up until the appointment of G&M Ltd there were many proposals for the design of the second course including proposals from La Zagaleta SL themselves using their own engineering skilss and knowledge of the site with advice from a Spanish Architect. When the members saw these proposals they were concerned that (for their 50% stake in the course) they would not be getting the best course that could be developed therefore other architects (including international golf architects and members of the European Insitute of the Golf Course Architects) were invited to make their proposals.
- G&M Ltd submitted a professional sketch proposal for the new course supported by a detailed written description.
- Due to the quality of their proposal and the care taken to try to fit the golf course within the difficult topography of the site they were chsoen for the work. It was agreed that this type of contract should not be determined on cost as there were too many other important aspects, which determined the final choice of architect.
- Another factor was that G&M Ltd were made up between Johnathan Gaunt and Steve Marnoch and as the 'practice' consisted of more than one person competent in designing and supervising the construction, it was considered that the enormity and difficulty of the contract would be better handled this way rather than relying on an individual.
I gather that they have been critised for not controlling the budget for construction. I can confirm that the original budget was based upon the previous design for the course as proposed by La Zagaleta SL in conjunction with the negotiations with the contractors Jerezana. This aspect of the works was completely outside the remit and control of G&M Ltd. Their main role was to ensure the quality of the golf course design and construction for the playing members. All financial aspects were then discussed between La Zagaleta and the course members.
What we have seen G&M Ltd create at Los Barrancos is a unique golf course, which despite the huge difficulties of the site is already fitting well within the terrain. In designing and attending throughout the construction G&M Ltd have illustrated that they are a world class design practice being able to deal with not only the golf course design but also the landscape design, the engineering difficulties, ecological issues and also the sometimes delicate political issues that were involved during the contract.
Due to the need to liaise with the Spanish engineering firm Marbella Engineeros, G&M Ltd had to appease the engineers, the consultant ecologist Pedro Milan and both Clients.
As the contractors were also appointed (in negotiation with La Zagaleta SL) prior to the architects completely resolving their design work it can be said that the design was an ever-moving process. Even up to some months ago there were still holes within the layout that had to be completely redesigned due to the engineering constraints making access to previously designed holes impossible. This naturally led to delays and additional costs which although unwelcome were not due to the architects but were a net result of;
a) creating a golf course in such extreme terrain and
b) not having fully resolved the design work before the contractors were appointed and brought on site.
G&M Ltd have shown that they can design extremely attractive golf holes within difficult sites. When visiting the course one can see that their skills as landscape architects have blended well with those as golf course architects in achieveing this combination of the hard engineering requirements of the construction with the softer more natural pre-requisites for a golf course.
In addition to the full set of golf course construction drawings, G&M Ltd were asked to provide a fully detailed landscaping proposal using native plant species and their proposals have formed the basis of the site reforestation programme to re-vegetate the areas damaged during construction. Their drawings are professional and clear.
What we have seen in the detailed design on the new course is a refreshing approach to golf architecture not frightened by the challenges of the site but almost using those difficulties to explore new solutions and in doing so introduce a more classic character to the golf course design which has been lost in many of the courses so typical of Spanish Costa's. Hole #18 for example, (in my view the best on the course) will provide the members with great enjoyment and challenge at the end of the round. The G&M Ltd 'risk and reward' design strategy is also very well illustrated on holes #3, #4, #5, #9 and #16.
The overall design of the course is interesting, fresh and unique and not stereotypically golf course architectural. The design of the individual pin positions on the greens, the contouring and bunkering positioning and strategy of each hole will give the members huge enjoyment and I believe the new course will soon become the preference over the old course designed by Bradford Benz.
Another difficulty facing G&M Ltd was the specific requirements from us as members.
In general the standard of golf at La Zagaleta is not high however there are some single figure players who demand a more challenging course. Specifically we demanded fairways as wide as possible, which would enable a greenkeeper to create areas of semi-rough and rough outside of the fairways areas. This obviously had huge engineering and cost implications when designing in this setting. The need to make the course playable for the weaker players conflicted with the ecological constraints and protected zones in river valleys therefore forced carries over Barrancas were inevitable however, the architects have generally made the course playable for all standards of player by considering alternative tee positions and more reasonable routes to the fairways and yet not making the challenge any easier for the better players.
One aspect, which was essential for the new course was a decent practice facility. The new practice range is stunning and given that access to the Clubhouse is via a tunnel underneath the driving range this illustrates the ingenuity of the designers in maximising the available space. Futhermore, the design of the practice range enabled the excess materials from the course earthworks to be deposited making the construction more economical. The range alone will make the new course more popular than the existing allowing the complete range of golf shots to be practiced whilst taking in stunning views of the course.
The views from the Clubhouse are dramatic and I am not aware of another course wher so many greens and fairways can be seen from one position.
The construction period has not been easy and despite there being several changes to the Spanish construction management staff, Steve Marnoch has maintained a constant site supervision every two weeks during the construction period, supplemented during the latter stages by their Spanish speaking Project Manager, Mr Daniel Ellwood.
Even down to the design of the routing for the buggy track G&M Ltd have put huge effort into incorporating the track within the landscape without making it too dominant an element which would detract from the actual design and playability of the course.
I sincerely believe that the design of this course on this site with these constraints has been a great achievement.
The design of what I believe will be a stunning new course whilst largely repairing the inevitable scarring on the landscape is a gift and although I am sure Steve would not wish to be typecast for the creation of courses in this style of lanscape for the future I would have no hestitation in recommending him and G&M Ltd for any golf course development at any scale.
Not a person to hide from confrontation Steve Marnoch has exhibited a tenacity of character and great inherit love for what he does in creating this course and overcoming the difficulties of this appointment. he and his co-director Johnathan Gaunt should be congratulated for their achievements, the new course at Los Barrancos La Zagaleta will be a great addition to their ever-growing portfolio of world class golf course developments.
In some ways this conract has ran for so long and had so may difficulties, twists and turns that a written reference cannot do justice to the architects in charge. Therefore I have no objection whatsoever to you making direct contact with me to discuss any aspect of the works at La Zagaleta or the appointment of G&M Ltd."
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