A Final Word About Jack Nicklaus Golf Club

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We were given little reason to want to watch Jack Nicklaus Golf Club heading into the 2015 Presidents Cup. Whether it was the lack of information or the quality of the imagery shared prior to the event, there was little indication that the venue would be a key and welcome protaganist in the drama.

But as I wrote in Golf World, for those who stayed up late or watched the replays, it was hard to take your eyes off the place. Yes, it was overshaped and there were faux rocks, but the natural areas looked natural, the bunkers eye-catching and the number of risk-reward holes plentiful. Bunker placement looked different than the stock Nicklaus signature design, meaning that even with soft conditions, players were still asked to make decisions.

Folks who say the golf course doesn't matter in Cup events have great evidence with Jack Nicklaus Golf Club that design can add to the viewing pleaser.

It also helped that the crowds were so vocal in an endearing way. Then there was the cool juxtaposition of balls flying against high-rises, and even the clubhouse exuding a stylish vibe.

We talked about this on Morning Drive today.

And here is a press release on the clubhouse (for those of you curious about the design concept).

As golf fans turn their attention to this week’s President’s Cup golf match in South Korea, they may want to pay special attention to the Jack Nicklaus Golf Clubhouse – a space designed by Los Angeles-based Mehrdad Yazdani of the Yazdani Studio of CannonDesign.

The clubhouse is embedded amidst the 18-hole championship course on which the world’s best golfers – like Jordan Spieth and Jason Day – will compete to help their respective teams win the cup. The event is arguably the most notable international golf event in the South Korea’s history.

“It’s an honor to have designed the clubhouse for such a remarkable destination,” said Yazdani. “The selection of this venue to host the President’s Cup is a testament to the high level of excellence that defines the clubhouse, course and surrounding golf community.” The Jack Nicklaus Golf Club is setting a new standard for golf and lifestyle across Asia. The 50,000 sf clubhouse is uniquely designed to reveal itself over time – as sunlight passes through certain openings at different times of day, community members are greeted by freshly revealed details and vistas.

The building also takes cues from Asian architecture and feng shui, creating visual connections with the surrounding natural environment. Key design features like undulating roofs that echo rolling greens strengthen the connection to the golf course. The clubhouse and the community at large offer striking views of the surrounding nature preserve and nearby sea – creating an elegant, restful atmosphere for visitors.

The high level of programmatic needs for the clubhouse would have typically resulted in a large, imposing structure. However, the design strategy distributes public and program spaces across several connected, yet discrete pavilions. This strategy enables a remarkably elegant facility capable of highly efficient service.