The American Society of Golf Course Architects (ASGCA) welcomed Nathan Crace, Chad Goetz, and Thad Layton as new Associate members to its ranks at the group’s recent 69th Annual Meeting in La Jolla, California. Their elections increase the number of ASGCA members who practice around the world to nearly 180.
- Crace was a senior design associate with Maxwell Golf before forming Watermark Golf/Nathan Crace Design in 2002. His representative courses include; Copper Mill Golf Club, Zachary, Louisiana; Caroline Golf Club, Madison, Mississippi; Brookhaven Country Club, Brookhaven, Mississippi (10 holes new, 8 holes major remodel); Ole Miss Golf Club, Oxford, Mississippi (remodel); and Hattieburg Country Club, Hattiesburg, Mississippi (remodel).
- Goetz has worked for Nicklaus Design since 1999. He lists representative courses worldwide, including: La Terrazas de la Torre (now Los Saurines de la Torre), Torre Pacheco, Spain; Mar Menor II, Torre Pacheco, Spain; El Valle Golf Resort, Torre Pacheco, Spain; Hacienda Riquelme Golf Resort, Sucina, Spain; and Royal Palm Yacht & Country Club, Boca Raton, Florida.
- Layton has worked for Arnold Palmer Design Company since 2000. His list of representative courses includes: Beijing Cascades, Beijing, China; Zhailjau Golf Resort, Almaty, Kazakhstan; Las Piedras, Punta Del Este, Uruguay; Fazenda Boa Vista, Porto Feliz, Brazil; and Disney Palm Course, Orlando, Florida (remodel).
Candidates for Associate membership in ASGCA complete a rigorous, multi-phase application process that includes peer review of four completed courses, discussions with project owners and a personal interview to assess the candidate’s professional capabilities. This process typically takes two years for an applicant to complete.