Lawrence Golf Design

How Lawrence Golf Design guides clubs from first conversation to final grow-in — with clarity, collaboration, and craftsmanship.

Every successful renovation follows a rhythm — not just of construction, but of communication and decision-making. At Lawrence Golf Design, that rhythm is built into a five-phase process designed to align every stakeholder, from greens committee to superintendent, around a shared vision.

Whether the project is a bunker renovation, a green redesign, or a comprehensive master plan, each phase ensures clarity, precision, and accountability.

The process begins with an initial meeting between Lawrence Golf Design and the club’s leadership. The goal isn’t to sell a design — it’s to listen.

Objectives of this phase:

• Understand the goals and priorities of the club: playability, maintenance, aesthetics, budget.
• Discuss long-term vision — whether the club seeks historical restoration, modernization, or strategic rebalancing.
• Introduce the Lawrence Golf Design philosophy, which emphasizes thoughtful strategy, efficient maintenance, and timeless presentation.
• Host an open Q&A for board, membership, and maintenance leaders.

By the end of the introduction, both sides have a clear understanding of each other’s expectations and communication style — the foundation for a successful collaboration.

Once objectives are understood, Lawrence Golf Design develops a tailored proposal.

Each proposal is rooted in real project experience and detailed field analysis, not templates.

Deliverables include:

• A defined scope of work based on the club’s specific needs (greens, bunkers, tees, routing, or infrastructure).
• Initial design thoughts and an overarching vision narrative — outlining how the course can evolve while respecting its heritage.
• Timeline and cost considerations tied to construction sequencing, phasing, and turf grow-in realities.
• Ownership decision support: helping the club finalize architect selection based on clear, comparative data.

Once the club or owner makes the final selection, Lawrence Golf Design and the client formalize the proposal into an agreement and begin scheduling property evaluation visits.

This is the most collaborative phase. Lawrence Golf Design conducts multiple site visits to walk the course, study its infrastructure, and identify design and maintenance opportunities. Topography, drainage, turf performance, and member play patterns all inform the evolving plan.

Typical activities:

• Comprehensive course study: bunkers, greens, irrigation, drainage, and tree conditions.
• Detailed mapping and analysis: capturing grades, flow lines, and spatial relationships.
• Concept sketches and master planning: visualizing routing refinements and aesthetic updates.
• Vision presentation: sharing preliminary concepts with the committee, members, or ownership for feedback.

This phase ensures that every recommendation — from drainage realignment to green contours — grows from data and field observation, not theory.

With the design concept approved, the focus shifts to converting it into actionable plans. Planning involves:

• Finalized plan documents — detailed construction drawings, grading plans, and specifications for materials and methods.
• Project scheduling: mapping construction phases to agronomic and operational calendars.
• Budget development and validation — ensuring that estimates match real contractor pricing and quantities.
• Bidding process: distributing bid packages, answering contractor questions, and reviewing submissions.
• Contractor selection: identifying the builder whose experience, pricing, and availability best fit the project.

By the end of this phase, the project has a confirmed scope, a clear schedule, and a vetted construction partner — setting the stage for a controlled execution.

The final phase transforms paper into playability. Lawrence Golf Design remains hands-on throughout construction, ensuring design integrity and budget alignment.

Key aspects:

• On-site supervision: Jeff Lawrence and the Lawrence Golf Design team are actively involved during construction, confirming shaping, drainage installation, bunker detailing, and grassing accuracy.
• Schedule and budget monitoring: coordination between architect, contractor, and superintendent to keep the project on track.
• Quality control: verifying that materials, slopes, and finishes meet specifications.
• Client communication: progress updates, photo documentation, and responsive issue resolution.
• Completion and grow-in support: guiding the club through the transition from construction to playability, ensuring agronomic success.

When the last bunker is edged and the greens are cut in, the work isn’t “done” — it’s handed back to the club in a state designed to perform for decades.

This five-phase framework reflects Lawrence Golf Design’s belief that great design doesn’t begin with a drawing — it begins with understanding.

Every renovation is both an architectural challenge and a partnership.

Through structure, communication, and detail-driven fieldwork, Lawrence Golf Design helps clubs move confidently from first meeting to final mow.