What often happens in golf, and most commonly at Augusta during Masters week, is that you see a champion who is fueled by the inexplicable forces of desire and intention.  Something Shotlink or Trackman can’t measure, something not learned from a book or a mental coach.  They may have been born with it, or something happened in their life to gift them this superpower, often stemming from tragedy or adversity.  Every now and then you have somebody who displays this power, and that is when I love golf the most. 

Just look at what 2026 has brought us in the other worldly comebacks of both Anthony Kim and Gary Woodland. Those two stories alone make up two of the greatest comebacks in the history of golf.  And as we mosey down Magnolia Lane towards the 2026 Masters Tournament, just think of all the uncanny winners in the tournament’s recent history. Last year’s win by Rory, fueled by a decade of Major heartbreak but never giving up, claiming victory over an equally passionate and relentless Justin Rose. Tiger in 2019. Sergio in 2017.  On and on we go all the way back to ’95 when Ben Crenshaw took down The Masters only 5 days after his lifelong mentor and golf coach, the legendary Harvey Penick, had passed away.  Ben had no business winning The Masters that year the way he was playing, but he tapped into that fire which sits at the bottom of your heart and at the top of your gut.  It’s the fire that makes you feel like you could be sick.  The one that gets you out of your thinking mind and turns on some deep, primal part of yourself which sends a message to the course, your competitors and the universe that you are the force of nature here.  You are going to win the day!

 

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by Dave Turner (retired Parks and Rec Manager)

The recent articles in the national papers, The Globe and The Vancouver Sun advocating for the closure of municipal golf courses to free up the land for other more beneficial uses caught my interest and I started to do a little research. The articles gave the impression that golf is a dying sport and that kids aren’t entering the game. It doesn’t take long to go online and get the information about sport participation numbers published by Statistics Canada. I would have to think those are the most reliable numbers that we have. 

A major report was published by Statistics Canada 2005 showing the sports that Canadians participated in the most. It showed us: 

Golf engaged the largest number of adult Canadians of any sport 

1.5 million golfers. Ice Hockey came second with 1.3 million participants 

The 2005 study was followed up by another study published by Heritage Canada siting 2010 numbers of participants. Again golf topped the list: 

Golf has been Canada’s most popular sport since 1998 

In 1992 golf was fourth most popular sport behind ice hockey, swimming and downhill skiing 

In 2010 there were approximately 1.5 million golfers 

The most recent publication by Statistics Canada shows 2016 numbers with golf placing second to hockey as the most participated sports in the Country 

It is clear from the statistics that golf is one of the healthiest sports in the Country based on participation. There is cause for concern however for golf and indeed for all sports other than soccer. The number of kids taking up the games are dropping. Soccer is the only one showing an increase in participation. 

This brings me to the advocacy part of this letter. I sat on Sport Council for the North Vancouver Recreation Commission as a staff representative for twenty years. There were advocates representing the major sports that are played in the parks. My observation was that soccer were the most successful advocates. They raised a lot of money when kids registered for soccer and that money was used to help the municipalities put in new soccer facilities in the public parks. Is it any wonder that soccer is the only sport showing growth and bringing kids into the game. 

The glaring omission to me as a golfer was that all of the major sports in the Country were at the table advocating for municipal support for their particular program. There was hockey, swimming, track and field, tennis, pickle ball, baseball, soccer and others but not golf. 

You have one of the top sports in the Country, golf, and they aren’t at the table advocating for their sport where they could connect with kids the best. In their neighborhood park. 

I have looked into what is possible that could be placed in a neighborhood park that would introduce kids to the game. All of these would be low cost additions relative to other facilities that are placed in parks and they would go a long way to introducing kids to the game of golf. Kids would then have the same chance to learn golf basics of hitting, putting and chipping a ball the same as they do with the other major sports. 

Putting, just as we did in Sam Walker Park. Install a small synthetic turf putting green. Chipping, similar to putting, install a synthetic turf chipping area. Hitting, install a hitting net where a kid can practice hitting a ball into a net. These are all, low cost, resilient surfaces that are easy to maintain, they are safe and they don’t take up much space. They would go a long way in getting a kid exposed to the game and would get them ready to move onto real golf. 

The real key as I see it is the golf community would have to start advocating for these types of facilities in their neighbourhood parks. That is where you really reach kids. Imagine if soccer, tennis and baseball weren’t reaching kids in the parks. They would be nowhere. Golf has done very well on its own but there is so much competition now for a kids interest I think golf needs to step up and start advocating for golf at the neighborhood level the same as all the other sports people advocate for their sport. 

If the little putting green that we put in Sam Walker Park is any indication then this kind of addition would be welcome and popular in any park and would go a long way to bringing kids and others, often new Canadians into the game. I am reaching out to the golf community with this letter to introduce the idea of getting basic facilities in local parks that would give a kid the chance to at least learn the basic skills as they can with all the other sports. I hope this letter will generate some interest and get people talking about getting golf in your local park so kids can give it a try. The other sports have been doing this for decades. 

I would be more than happy to discuss this idea further. 

Sincerely, 

Dave Turner 

• please leave a comment or email davidfturner@shaw.ca and he will be sure to answer your questions and comments. He is as passionate about bringing the great game of golf to kids, and others who wouldn’t otherwise get the chance, as anyone around.

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A GIFT TO GOLF IN METRO VANCOUVER

This Championship Par 72 cozy’s up to Boundary Bay, a lovely little inlet off the Strait of Georgia, and the Pacific Ocean.  As you settle in to sashay your first tee ball of the day you can’t help but notice you are in the great wide open – like nowhere else in the lower mainland, you have a 360 degree panorama view of it all.  As you feel anything from a one to four club wind blowing you are entirely distracted by the beautiful surrounds.  Looking North you’ll see city sky lines and the backdrop of the north shore mountains.  Panning east you’ll catch twin prop engine planes gunning hard to take flight from Boundary Bay Airport.  You’ll see the continuation of the mountain ranges that seem to only bookend themselves at the glorious site of Mount Baker and Mount Rainier.  Now staring South you gaze across the Strait of Georgia at the silhouetted Gulf and San Juan Islands while Vancouver Island backdrops it all.  Finally, looking south east you see the unmistakable outcropping of Point Roberts and the sand cliffs of Lily Point Marine Park.  With eyes wide open you are witnessing one of the most beautiful panoramas anywhere.  Bring your gaze in a little closer and you’ll see you are in one of the most incredible bird habitats in Canada.  I have personally been regularly awe struck from the flight of the Great Blue Herron; the majestic hunt of a Northern Harrier, who can hover almost motionless just above the tall fescue as it searches for field mice.  I even saw a live catch once.  Bald eagles are plenty.  I have counted as many as 14 in the same tree, and you get a close up of a nest with two adults just behind the 18^th tee.  Most special of all sightings perhaps was a snowy owl chilling out in the bay.  Apparently, they migrate South only once every four or five years.

If that’s not enough beauty for you, you now have the golf course to look at.  The first thing you’ll notice when getting ready to swing it and ding it is the stunning contrast of green grass fairways against the tall, yellow fescue.  You’ll see perfectly pronounced mounding and well-designed bunkers built into the hills in such a way that reveal their existence to the player before taking them on.  As you pour into the course, you’ll get large, reflective ponds which, on a calm day will perfectly mirror the seemingly endless sky. You’ll get more intriguing vistas of the Strait and the Islands, and you’ll see strategic aiming trees sitting lonely atop mounds, wind-swept as they lye exposed to the elements.

Do you actually play golf at this course or just stare at stuff?  Well, yes, golf is played here.  I must preface that before coming to Kings Links I never thought I would feel as embraced by the love that golf can offer as I had when playing Peace Portal or other tree-lined golf courses, especially during twilight hours, as the sun is setting.  But Alas! Early morning or late into the evening, this is the place where I call home for playing golf, and I’ll tell you why.  Aside from all that I have mentioned, you can show up to the course any given day and it can be playing one of a thousand different ways.  You see, depending on which way the wind is blowing and at what strength, the course can already be playing a variety of different ways but, add in the fact that these green complexes are freaking awesome and have 3 or 4 distinct pin locations defined by exquisite mounding on each hole, then what you get is a course playing hundreds of different ways.  But!!!  If you add in the season, you’ll get anywhere from 1 yard of roll out to 40 yards of roll out on a 7 iron!!  And now, what you are looking at is a course that plays thousands of different ways.  I’m not even going to add on what we are looking at when you have to consider whether you are going to land your 7 iron, with 40 yards of roll out, into an upslope or downslope, into the wind, or down wind.  What trajectory should you try and hit this shot? High? Low?  Can you draw it? Can you fade it?  If you can, it might help!  The course will never never never bore me.  You don’t have the luxury of working on the mechanics of your swing out here, which is a blessing, because all you are trying to do is navigate.  Consider the elements, be aware of the danger, and navigate.  To most golfers that might mean just putting your foot on the gas and white-knuckling it until you get back to their world-class patio and clubhouse for a well-earned coca cola, but to the golfer who embraces the nothing-less-than-spiritual experience of Kings you’ll be best served to embrace the challenges, smile at the risk and swing as freely as you can regardless of consequence.  Feel the wind, breathe deeply and experience nature at its finest – allow golf to be secondary to your experience and the day will treat you right.

Legend has it that Bob Ahoy, the original owner of the course did the entire design.  They say he worked the machines to shape the course before the zoning was even approved.  At first, I didn’t believe it, it HAD to be a professional design – every single mound and slope is so well thought out its absurd.  The routing is brilliant and the holes are all distinct – there isn’t a “throw away” hole on the course.  And the par 5’s!  All “gettable” for the lowish handicapper, but not if you swipe at one – you have to hit it on the screws.  So, back to the design; I have resolved to believe that perhaps it had to be Mr. Ahoy himself all along as only the person with the land, the vision, and the time to spend could have thought this course through so much as to have it end up the way it did. It must have come from deep inside the mind of the man and expressed perfectly into this physical reality we now call Kings Links.  Thank you Mr. Ahoy for this gift to golf. 

Lastly, I have to make mention that the reason it is what it is today is because of the love that is poured into it from the Newell Family.  Brad and Maria have made every decision based on the value of the golf experience.  They have supported the vision of golf course superintendent Mike Kiener in making well thought-out adjustments to the course in regard to design, maintenance, and playability.  They added all measure of drainage and sanding protocol to have the course play well in the shoulder seasons and they all agreed on the addition of a 15,000 square foot putting green complete with gnarly mounding and fun backstops to make the all-important putting contest a reason to visit all on its own.  Head in and say hi to the amazing shop staff- Mike White and Co. And finish it off with a meal and a beverage in what is one of the best kitchens in town. 

All around, I rate this course five stars on the “Why Wouldn’t Ya” scale.      

 

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A CAREER OF DESIGN & BUILDS

It was an “Aha!” moment, the first time I saw a synthetic turf golf green.  I was living in Las Vegas as a 20 year old working for a golf tournament organization company.  A golf course where I was working had a teaching area with fake turf for a golf green and fringe, and it was beautiful.  Within a month my friend Shaun and I were back home in BC building one for my parents in their side yard in exchange for room and board.  We built them a golf green that would bring years of fun memories to our home, and that’s how my first company Precision Greens was born. 

Working other jobs that would supplement our income, we were able to build 4 greens the following year and 14 greens the year after that.  When we hit the 30 project total the following year, we were in heaven and could afford to work solely at building greens.  It was so much fun – designing and building every project with our own two hands.

Slowly, what was a golf green only company began to turn into a synthetic grass company, meaning we installed fake lawns as well as golf greens.  The lawn side of things really took off, becoming 80% of our installations.  As our company grew, golf greens continued to occupy my interest more than anything.  I had the privilege to work with Vancouver’s preeminent landscape architects, designers, and developers. I worked with passionate homeowners, celebrities, iconic sports personalities all the way through to Canada’s best golf course architects.

The following is a look at some memorable installations. Notice the progression as time goes on…

My first golf green in 2001 (below). My knowledge of green speed and slope were limited as my Dad putts one off the green. It took all summer to make because we built the brick border ourselves. Scanned from Mom’s printed 6×4 photo – thanks Mom!

It wasn’t long before realizing fringe and rough, made with contrasting heights and complementing colours, makes for a perfect finish. Finding a way to create the perfect radius was also a huge breakthrough.

Earning a reputation for quality work awarded us installations in several Senior Living complexes in BC – a perfect low-impact activity.

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My first real “Dream Project” was at TAKaya Golf Centre in North Vancouver in 2008. Two 3500 square foot golf greens (two different technologies – one for holding shots and the other for putting true). Also built an 18 hole minigolf. Hearing the laughter that was coming from the minigolf after it opened is what it’s all about. Thank you to Ernie George for putting your trust in us!

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My second great “Dream Project” was in 2009 at a private residence, and one of Canada’s most incredible gardens, in Mission, B.C. Designing and building this 9 hole par 3 course brought me to life and inspired me the whole way through. To this day the course looks and plays wonderfully.

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It was a joy to design Islandview Golf Centres World-Class Putting Course.

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Eaglequest Coquitlam needed a team to resurface their putting course so we decided to take it on.

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2010 to 2018 went by so fast with hundreds of golf projects to keep me busy and feeling creative.

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Condominium rooftop golf amenities weren’t uncommon

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There were very few “grass only” jobs that I truly admired but, being a part of some of the most impressive residential landscapes in the Country made me appreciate my job. This Paul Sangha design is inspirational.

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Below is one of a few residential putting courses that I designed and built. A little 6 hole beauty

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I started to become more confident. There was an art to everything I was doing and I started to feel more and more like the person qualified to bring these projects to life.

(Below) Common space golf amenities were becoming more accepted and became a draw for the sale of condos in Vancouver.

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I did a few full landscape designs along the way that I can be proud of.

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I helped design and bring this golf project to life for Ron Rule Landscape Architects.  A project in the beautiful equestrian community of Southlands in Vancouver.

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This Client’s inspiration was the Par 3 -12th hole at Augusta. Ray’s Creek in the foreground with pine trees and azaleas growing on the slope behind the green.

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One of many Rob Spytz designed landscapes – this one in stunning Deep Cove.

Ocean front paradise. A new employee from Ontario almost lost his mind when a seal came up for a rest on the sea wall.

An incredible 3500 square foot golf green designed by famed Canadian Golf Course Architect Doug Carrick. Walking the property with Mr. Carrick and discussing the project was one of my greatest learning opportunities.

6 tee boxes were placed around the property from 45-105 yards in distance.

 

It was a dream location and ,at the time, was the largest golf green I had built to date.

I had built a few professional tee lines along the way

The iconic Red Barn and golf out in the Country

Construction of my first ever hand-built sod wall bunker – possibly the happiest I have ever been working! See Sod Wall Blog for more pictures and details. Same Red Barn site

A big one out in Chilliwack for Algra Bros. Construction and another Rob Spytz Landscape.

A breakthrough project at Sam Walker Park in North Vancouver, BC. Dave Turner, retired Parks Manager designs a golf green for public use. Hopefully this is the first of many “Golf Parks” to come. See Advocating for Golf in Parks, Golfs many Municipal Benefits, and Sam Walker Park – a breakthrough in golf for more on how we can bring golf to everyone!

 

Dave Turner, Green Designer and Park Section Manager with North Vancouver Mayor, at the time, Darrell Mussatto

 

This 3000 square foot golf green was inspirational. Nothing less than a World-Class landscape to be apart of.

 

A 6000 square foot masterpiece with tee boxes all over the property. Inspiration for synthetic “Short Courses” in otherwise hard to grow areas.

 

A 5000 square foot golf green overlooking the beautiful Fraser Valley in Abbotsford. Fire season unfortunately or you would see Mt Baker hanging out in the background.

Below is an 18 hole minigolf/putting course that I designed and built in Lac La Ronge, Saskatchewan. It was great to go back to the Province I was born and do something special. Lac La Ronge Indian Band will be finishing the course off with art displays and features representing their rich culture and heritage.

 

 

 

 

My own backyard was my little “retirement project” after selling my half of Precision Greens to my old business partner. No crew but plenty of time. It made me relive and appreciate the attention to detail required for a perfect installation – it took everything I had to produce this project, but I am very proud of it. And my daughters are happy about their new “dance stage”. I am particularly proud of the memorial bench for my parents, without whom, my life of building golf greens would have never been possible – Thank You Mom and Dad.

 

 

 

 

 

I learned a lot in those 18 years. I kept learning through the last project I completed and will continue to learn moving forward. Since selling Precision Greens I have spent much time doing research and development projects such as the synthetic turf sod wall bunker on my personal golf green. I have experimented building a Tee Line for a local driving range and have researched proper maintenance protocols on a project that is 13 years old – a 9 hole Par 3 course in Mission called Shiloh Hill (mentioned above).

Most of my reading is in the field of Golf Course Design. There are principles I have adopted in my learning, even since completing my own project in 2020. Now I look forward to using my knowledge and creativity to bring new and unique Golf Projects to Canada and the World. I feel like it is just the beginning.

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How North Vancouver set the precedence for fitting golf into their community at Sam Walker Park

One resident had the idea to bring golf to this small park in North Vancouver.  It was a space in the park that was seldom used because of the slope of the hill and the shade that it gets.  But, with the advantages of synthetic turf in a situation like this, it would be all too possible to create a golf green that fills the space in a way that would look like the park was designed around it.  The Mayor at the time, Darrell Mussatto, liked the idea.  The “said resident” had a petition signed by neighbors and took it to a council meeting some weeks later.  She made a harrowing case for golf in the community, the Council was all on board, they fast tracked the project, and away we go, we now have golf in a small park in North Vancouver.

Mr. Mussatto put his Section Parks Manager and student of golf course architecture, Dave Turner, on the job to lead the project.  This project was Mr. Turner’s as much as anyone as he knows what it means to kids to be able to try golf for the first time.  Golf can be a meaningful experience that has the capacity to change ones life, as it did his.  Mr. Turner did an excellent job of negotiating the sloping terrain with a living retaining wall, utilizing the City’s own resources to do the brunt of the base preparations and finally searching out and hiring the most qualified firm to be able to create what he envisioned for the project : )

The golf green turned out to be a great success.  As Mr. Turner, Mr. Mussatto and I have all witnessed, the golf green remains busy daily.  There will be mother and child relaxing, workers having a contest on their lunch break and even husband and wife settling disputes on the putting green.  That’s right, when I ran into one of the neighbors on a routine visit to the park, she told me that her whole family uses the golf green almost every day. She also mentioned that her and her husband settle their arguments in a good old-fashioned putt-off. Amazing!

The community members who were opposed at first are now on board and see the delight that has come from this simple park addition, the coffee shop across the street has set out a bin of putters and balls to be used by anyone at any time, and over 5 years after the installation, the green is still doing well.

And now, as we have seen the proof of concept first-hand, we can use this example as a spring board to inspire other communities to do the same.  For relatively low cost, and a very manageable maintenance practice, a golf green in your local park is the perfect addition.  If people, especially kids, can ride their bike to the park and try golf like they can with almost all other sports, well, I for one would think that is pretty special.

Golf is Canada’s most popular sport year over year.  Imagine what we can do with this game if we just find ways to scale it down for everyone to enjoy!

Please read more about the Sam Walker Park project in this British Columbia Golf Article (exerpt below)

“young kids through to seniors living nearby all love coming out to the green. Mussatto believes these types of projects work really well in high-density areas of the city where most people do not have backyards. People can come out of their apartments, have their own little putter and ball and go. These are things that don’t take up a lot of space, they have a high utility, and not a lot of cost. They check all the boxes of what you want to see in the community.“

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If you are interested in going down the rabbit hole of all things putting, The Major Series of Putting (MSOP) is a tell tale sign that putting is beginning to take on a life, and competitiveness, of its own.

MSOP

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Many of the elements below pertain to my work in putting course and naturally themed miniature golf course design. Whether it is a full-sized championship golf course or a small minigolf layout, the design is an intricate process that requires careful consideration of various factors to create an exceptional playing experience. From the strategic placement of hazards to the overall aesthetics, every element plays a significant role in shaping a golf course. In this blog, we will explore some of the important things to know about golf course design and how they contribute to the success in achieving my highest goals of scenic beauty, player happiness and community connection.

KEY DESIGN ELEMENTS TO CONSIDER

Natural Terrain and Landscape: One of the fundamental aspects of golf course design is working harmoniously with the existing natural terrain and landscape. Designers carefully study the topography, soil conditions, and vegetation to determine how to integrate these features into the layout. By leveraging the natural elements, such as hills, valleys, and water bodies, designers can create memorable holes that challenge golfers and provide breathtaking vistas.

Strategic Hole Design: A well-designed golf course should present a variety of strategic challenges for players of all skill levels. Each hole must offer a balance of risk and reward, demanding careful shot selection and tactical decision-making. Designers carefully consider the placement of hazards, such as bunkers, water hazards, and trees, to test players’ skills and strategic thinking. Furthermore, the length, shape, and orientation of each hole should be carefully planned to provide a diverse range of shot options.

Course Flow and Routing: This process brings me the most joy.  I feel there is an energy to how I route a course and there can be no “blocks” to that energy.  It has everything to do with moving forward, changing orientation and when possible, elevation.  It brings favorable views into play all while implementing the principles of strategic hole design. Golfers should be able to navigate the course seamlessly, with minimal congestion and interruption. The routing should consider the distance between holes, prevailing winds, sun orientation, and other environmental factors to ensure a comfortable playing experience.

Playability and Accessibility: A well-designed golf course should be accessible to players of all skill levels. While professionals and low-handicap players seek challenging holes, it’s equally important to cater to beginners and high-handicap golfers. With the right considerations it is all too possible to create a golf course, putting course or minigolf course that is fun for professionals and beginners alike.

Environmental Sustainability: My putting course and golf course design strategies are highly focused on a harmonious balance with the natural environment.  My putting courses concentrate a great deal on having gardens “spill out” onto the course.  The synthetic turf reduces water and chemical needs while the gardens create an intriguing space for golfers to explore.  With my golf course designs I focus on the teeing areas and the golf green complexes themselves while all else is left to nature to decide.  I love the look of dried out fescue and other long grasses to contrast in colour and texture with the golf surfaces. I cherish the idea that natural flora and fauna can thrive in an environment where low mown grass would typically exist.

Aesthetics and Visual Appeal: Aesthetics play a significant role in golf course design, enhancing the overall experience for players and visitors. Designers consider factors such as the arrangement of bunkers, the integration of water features, and the selection of vegetation to create a visually striking course. Thoughtful landscaping, synthetic turf product selection, and attractive landscaping contribute to the course’s visual appeal and overall ambience.

Golf course design is a meticulous process that combines artistry, strategic thinking, and environmental consciousness. A well-designed golf course considers the natural terrain, offers strategic challenges, promotes playability, and exhibits visual appeal. By integrating these key elements, golf course designers create memorable and enjoyable experiences for players of all skill levels while respecting the environment. Whether you’re a golfer or simply an admirer of the sport, understanding these important aspects of golf course design can deepen your appreciation for the game and its beautiful surroundings.  

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