Bill Coore is a big name in golf-course architecture. But he wasn’t always destined for a life in design. In college at Wake Forest, he studied the classics. Not Golden Age layouts. Actual classics. The history and literature of ancient Greece. He planned on becoming a university professor.
But you know how it goes. Plans are like tee shots. They take surprising turns. Sometimes they wind up in delightful places.
We mention that as inspiration, but also as a lead in to an opportunity: a chance to try your hand at golf-course design
It’s scheduled for March at Pinehurst Resort, where the American Society of Golf Course Architects (ASGCA) will hold its second annual Design Boot Camp. The inaugural edition, held at Erin Hills, in Wisconsin, in 2024, was such a success, the ASGCA decided to run it back.
Like the first boot camp, this year’s four-day, immersive program will provide aspiring course designers and architecture buffs a mix of classroom study and hands-on training, under the tutelage of noted architects on a special site. Following lectures and discussions on the foundations and principles of the trade, participants will head out for field work at Pinehurst Sandmines, adjacent to Pinehurst No. 10, where they’ll get a chance to route a layout and design holes that suit the landscape.
Along with work, there will be play, with rounds on Pinehurst No. 2 and the Cradle in the company of boot camp instructors.
Those instructors — Jan Bel Jan, Jeff Blume, Jeff Brauer, Bruce Charlton, Steve Forrest, Mike Hurdzan, Tom Marzolf and Damian Pascuzzo — all are past ASGCA presidents who have collectively designed hundreds of courses around the world. Consider this a buddies’ trip for architecture junkies, with ample time to talk shop with prominent figures in the field.
As a bonus, the curriculum will include a special guest appearance by former classics major Bill Coore, who will lead participants on a site tour of his project at Pinehurst No. 11, which is currently under construction in the Sandmines and slated to open in late 2027.
The camp will run from March 9-13, 2026. The cost is $20,000 per person, with $15,000 qualifying for a charitable tax deduction to the ASGCA Foundation, which supports projects and organizations that enhance municipal courses, as well as programs aimed at developing the next generation of industry leaders. The enrollment fee covers materials and supplies; lodging at the Holly Inn in the Village of Pinehurst; food and beverage; caddies; gratuities; special gifts and mementos. Participation is limited to 16 enrollees.
For more information, visit Design Boot Camp 2026.
