Harrison Minchew Golf Course Architecture

Heading to the Irish Open being played at Kildare Hotel & CC this week outside of Dublin. Rory McIlroy won 2016 the last time the Irish Open was played there-Rory is playing this week along with Shane Lowry and Seamus Power
I designed both courses, Palmer South and North. The North course hosted the 2006 Ryder Cup. 

https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.legacy.com_us_obituaries_legacyremembers_ronald-2Dkirby-2Dobituary-3Fid-3D52721161&d=DwMFaQ&c=euGZstcaTDllvimEN8b7jXrwqOf-v5A_CdpgnVfiiMM&r=2YL6nrG9P1bqq0D3Tte0lWpU9ul_zFgmaV51ZTCfNeA&m=Nra45QZanCEbpahwPu7BHXkWZ1mocDmQ3qvZeP1HlLm8vHzpB4qXXi_zLrE5TWXs&s=l34tq9uf1xPfZApJbmvMMBYh1siMTmEUUL0kLH1SGdE&e=

Ronald Kirby Obituary (1932 - 2023) - Legacy Remembers View Ronald Paul Kirby's obituary, send flowers and sign the guestbook.

Ron Kirby
October 1,1932-August 17, 2023

Ron was the happiest man in golf! A very talented golf architect and an extraordinarily wonderful fun loving man!

His design firm, Kirby Player and Associates in 1978, gave me my first job in golf architecture. Drafting plans for Ron, Dennis Griffiths and Rodney Wright in Norcross Georgia was a dream internship! The typical day ended about 3 when the daily nickel carry over golf match began on the back yard golf course! Was especially fun when Ron was there between world travels- he usually fleeced us of a quarter or two…but with beer flowing and Ron’s fun chatter in picking the next hole I was absolutely hooked on a career in golf architecture!

Even though after 3 stints in his office I was not hired but the relationship I made with his good friend John Singleton opened doors for me. John introduced me to Ed Seay who hired me to work with he and Arnold Palmer for 26 years.

Ron and I became members of the American Society of Golf Course Architects in 1984…way early for me and long over due for him.

For years at the annual ASGCA meetings, Ron and his past partner Dennis Griffiths organized the golf. He made the golf so much fun, especially the awards party at the end of the meetings.
Sally, his better half, was always with him at ASGCA meetings. I loved hearing her ‘stories’ after playing with some of the ASGCA members problematic wives!

Ron and I both were introduced to Ireland in the late 80’s during his work at Mount Juliet and mine at Kildare Hotel & CC. While working at Killdare, I visited the Old Head site with my boss, Ed Seay… We were not hired and several years later, Ron lead the design of The Old Head which is stunning and world famous!! If in Ireland, it’s a must play!

Outside the US, Ireland was Ron’s and is my Favorite country. His outgoing, fun, enthusiastic demeanor, endeared him to the Irish. The first person I contacted after hearing Ron‘s passing was Irishmen, Gerry Byrne. The sad news had quickly made their rounds in Ireland… probably slightly quicker than here!

Ron was a beacon of light every where he went… an absolute blast to be around and to play golf with… always full of energy bringing smiles to everyone he met!

I was so blessed to have known Ron Kirby, and absolutely know that he and Sally are having a wonderful time up there in Heaven…Ron a life well lived🏌️‍♂️🙏🏼🏌️‍♂️🙏🏼

Fred Funk and I watched all four days of the Colorado Amateur played at RainDance National Golf Club This past Thursday through Sunday.  Dillon Stewart A senior on The Oklahoma State golf team won the event at 4 under.
The course conditions were firm and fast and the guys played the course at about 7800 yards. We received wonderful comments from the players who thought the course was, was fair yet tough  and required thought on every shot.  It really rewarded good ball, striking.
We ‘courted’ The Colorado Golf Association from the early days of the course construction with the hope of hosting regional tournaments.  The goal is for RainDance to host other CGA events, and further down the road, even some professional events. 

Former junior phenom Dillon Stewart finishes strong to win CGA Amateur and end victory drought; 2-time champ Colin Prater, UNC golfers place 2nd; RainDance a big hit among competitors. https://coloradogolf.org/feeling-right-at-home-3-article/

Cheers to one year! Fred Funk and I are so proud to have designed a course on such a spectacular piece of land. It’s been amazing to watch the maturity of such a wonderful golf course, not only the course itself, but the wonderful professional
staff in the most fun and unique temporary clubhouse we’ve seen.
We wrote a little something for the anniversary-check it out here:
https://tinyurl.com/firstanniversaryletter

About a decade ago, Augusta National Golf Club announced the Drive Chip and Putt Contest for junior golfers that ANGC hosts the finals the Sunday before the Masters Tournament. Several years later, they announced the Augusta National Women’s Invitational with the final round played at ANGC the Saturday before the Drive Chip Putt Contest. Both have really had a wonderful impact on growing the game of golf! Both events are wonderful TV prior to the week of the Masters Tournament.

During the annual Masters press conference, ANGC made another big announcement that impacts the grass roots of golf. Chairman Fred Ridley announced an initiative to ensure affordable pathway to anyone who wants to play the game of golf. As a pilot program of this initiative, ANGC will provide funding and guidance to upgrade and preserve the historic Augusta Municipal Course built 1928, fondly known as ‘The Cabbage Patch’. Plans include to link together, for the first time, the adjacent Augusta First Tee Facility. The combination of the two courses will not only enhance public golf but give a tremendous boost to First Tee - Augusta programming that bring children into golf. The goal of the plans to provide a workable sustainable golf facility therefore Augusta Tech’s Golf Management Program will be moved to ‘The Patch’ to provide a living classroom to train the golf work force of a future generation.



Augusta National has and continues to make a profound and positive influence on the growth of the game. Growing up playing golf in Augusta and now in the golf design business, I have so much pride in how ANGC continues to impact golf in such a forward-thinking way!



I was the golf architect for Arnold Palmer at the Augusta First Tee which opened in April 2000. This was one of the very first chapters. With assistance from AGNGC, Paul Simon (pictured w/ Arnold Palmer and myself) lead the development of this wonderful 6 hole-golf learning facility. In 2014 Paul asked me to develop plans to combine the two courses because he knew it would benefit both courses by making them economically viable. I am so pleased that his idea will finally be implemented.



Last summer at Augusta First Tee, I was a part of a greens renovation with upgrades to the irrigation system and the addition of a large putting course. I look forward to seeing how both facilities will be combined. Hats off to ANGC for ensuring the historic viable public golf in Augusta will be available for decades to come!!!

If you tuned in Wednesday and Thursday for the Augusta National Women's Amateur , you'll see the most prominent women's amateur event being played at Champions Retreat Golf Club -a course where I designed the Island 9, or "Palmer 9".
Now after Rose Zhang 13 under with a 5 shot lead from 36 holes at Champions Retreat the field the ladies are moving on moving on to final 18 at Augusta National Golf Club on Saturday after a practice round at ANGC.

Being from Augusta, I'm most proud of being involved in the history Augusta National is making in women's golf. Now thanks to Augusta National, women’s golf in Augusta has gone full circle.

A little more history: Augusta has a history of prominent women's events. The Title Holders was founded in 1937 and was played at Augusta Country Club. The dream of Augusta resident Dorothy Jean Manice, the Titleholders made the city the center of women's golf for nearly three decades. The women golfers' low scores stunned golf fans decades ago!!!!! and the Augusta tournament helped the players grow the sport and form the Ladies Professional Golf Association in 1950.

We are stunned again at the talent of the fine ladies are displaying this week at ANWA. Many are destined for greatness in professional women’s golf.

To win the Augusta National Women's Amateur, first you've got to get past the 'other' course Augusta National receives the glory, but getting there is a challenge with Champions Retreat standing the way.

34th Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard this week at Arnold Palmer's Arnold Palmer's Bay Hill Club & Lodge. Golf Digest wrote an article about history of Bay Hill that Dick Wilson designed in the mid 60’s. Arnold leased the course in 1970 and purchased it in 1976. Held 1st Invitational in 1979 and while with Palmer Course Design Company, we started tinkering with the course.
First, I remember was in 1983 when Ed Seay, AP’s design partner and shapers changed the 1st and 2nd greens. Ed Seay and I had made a construction site visit to Adios ( mentioned in GD article below) and then drove to Bay Hill to assist in remodel #1 & #2 greens.
While Ed was on a tractor, I was given a rake and in charge of fetching Budweiser from the local Seven Eleven.
Was a wonderful ride with PCDC, attended every Bay Hill from 1982-2007. AP was wonderful to work with and we had loads of fun mucking it up on site visits. Obviously, AP didn’t put pen to paper much at all and his PCDC golf architects led by Ed Seay produced and inspected construction on all designs.

The joke we had with people and the press during AP visits and grand openings when asked, “What part of the course did you design…with AP in earshot..I did the parts you like!”
Courses in the Golf Digest article below, Erik Larsen and I were AP’s architects in charge of complete design on 7 of them. Ed Seay designed Tralee and Adios along with Old Tabby Links on Spring Island SC with Vicki Martz, other than Bay Hill, probably the best of the bunch.

I designed Tradition Golf Club, Aviara Golf Club, Balsam Mountain Preserve and remodeled Adios Golf Club and a bit on Tralee Golf Links. Erik designed Arbor Links, Musgrove Mill, Dakota Dunes, and Lonnie Poole at NC State. Erik convinced AP and led the last remodel of Bay Hill. All wonderful changes.

Arnold Palmer's best golf courses Because Arnold Palmer's contributions to the game are so substantial, The King might be under-appreciated as a course designer

Keep them coming!

We're going to need a bigger trophy case! 🏆

RainDance National was selected as the Staff Pick - Best Front Range Course and the Third Best Overall Hole for No.8 in the 2023 Colorado AvidGolfer CAGGY Awards!

View the awards here: https://coloradoavidgolfer.com/and-the-winners-are-caggy-awards-2023/

Very proud that my latest design RainDance National Resort & Golf is runner up in public Golf course category of Golf Digest's 2022 Best New Golf Courses:
https://www.golfdigest.com/story/americas-best-new-courses
Fred Funk, owner Martin Lind, Randal Pichan-Eagle Golf Construction and the entire RainDance Team are enormously proud of what was created on a spectacular and uniquely beautifully piece of land. Being on site most everyday was a dream come true. The shapers Rocky Cordova, Steve Crotty and Theron Knapp are all superstars they really showed their decades of talent.!! Daniel Zambudio’s and brothers finish work on the greens and bunkers is something special. Fred’s numerous visits and his enthusiasm for golf course architecture inspired us all!

Jeff Orr and Kaelen Waters the greens superintendents have the course in wonderful condition. RainDance will host the Colorado Amateur this July and confident that other major amateur and professional events will follow. There will be other ratings for years to come, and the course will always be a must play for golfers. With its location in the Denver metropolitan area, a wonderful Northern Colorado vibe, a spectacular clubhouse and resort hotel in final design, an additional 27 holes at nearby Pelican Lakes will keep RainDance in the forefront of resort golf.

Fred Funk and I can’t wait for the upcoming season and plan to play RainDance many times.

David Droschak wrote a great article for Sports Illustrated on my latest design RainDance in Colorado. Collaborated with Fred Funk who gave fantastic input during a myriad of visits.

North America's Longest Golf Course is 8,463 Yards, But It's No Gimmick One of the shortest hitters on the PGA Tour helped design North America's longest golf course. Get to know RainDance, one hour north of Denver.

I was the architect for RainDance National Golf Club in Windsor Colorado and collaborated with PGA Tour member, Fred Funk. I’ve been involved in the design of nearly 200 courses and the RainDance site is the best site I have ever worked on. The place was so beautiful that I moved to Colorado to be on site for the 15 month construction period. Fred made a ton of visits, spending days inspecting the work. Randal Pichan (owner of Eagle Golf Construction) personally supervised his excellent team. Owner Martin Lind gave us total control of the course design.

We all knew RainDance was very special and great to see many others are taking notice. Fred and I are thrilled it has been rated #9 in the Top 10 best courses in Colorado after being open less than 1 year.
The course will host the 2023 Colorado Amateur!

RainDance National made GOLF.com's 10 Best Courses in Colorado this year 🎉

Hard to believe our course opened only a few months ago, and we are honored to be recognized on the state level!

https://golf.com/travel/10-best-golf-courses-colorado-2022-2023/?amp=1

Check out this wonderful feature from By Design!

Thank you Martin Lind and Fred Funk for including me in your th*****me at RainDance National Resort & Golf!
I was able to to use all of my skills developed working with Ed Seay and Arnold Palmer.

"By Design" visits "The Steep End"...Not every golf course site is the gently undulating land considered ideal for golf. But when a golf course architect is presented with extreme elevation change, how do they approach the design? Brian Curley, Harrison Minchew, Kevin Atkinson and Bill Bergin chime in. https://tinyurl.com/aenhebyt

Great write up on RainDance National Resort & Golf from Golf Course Architecture!
I've heard July is a great time for golf in Colorado. ⛳

New 8,463-yard course at RainDance National will open in July Golf course architect Harrison Minchew and former PGA Tour professional Fred Funk’s new RainDance National golf course in Windsor, Colorado, will open for play on 12 July. The course is located near the front range of the Rocky Mountains and is part of a development, led by Windsor-based Water Val...

Great write up about Raindance in LINKS Magazine. Check it out here:
https://www.linksmagazine.com/new-golf-course-raindance-national-longest/

Thanks Erik!
..

New Golf Course “RainDance National” to Be North America’s Longest at Almost 8,500 Yards At an elevation just under 5,000 feet, RainDance National will be the longest course measuring 8,475 yards from the back tees.

Harrison Minchew Golf Course Architecture updated their business hours.