Gil Hanse’s latest gig? Refining one of the world’s ‘most consequential’ courses

Pressure to perform. Golfers feel it. Golf course architects do the same.

“If I haven’t, then I’m in the wrong job.” Gil Hanse he said the other day. “That means I don’t care enough.”

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His comments came during a conversation with Simon Holt. Target Golf Podcast recorded at the clubhouse in North Berwick in late November. The famous Scottish club is Holt’s home ground and Hanse’s latest high-profile commission.

Listen to Gil Hanse on the Destinatrio Golf podcast Here.

Hanse and long-time design partner Jim Wagner’s commitment to North Berwick hit headlines last month during a particularly eventful time for architecture obsessives. GOLF Magazine had just completed its newest ranking The 100 Best Courses in the WorldNorth Berwick was one of the biggest climbers, jumping five places to 25th. Not bad for a track that was largely overlooked just a generation ago.

So much for anonymity. In recent years North Berwick has become widely known for what it really is, a living museum whose DNA is made up of stencil holes threaded through designs from around the world. As his fame grew, so did the feeling that the course was in safe hands with Clyde Johnson and Chris Haspell as advisors. This is partly why the club’s decision to hire Hanse and Wagner has caught the attention of the industry. What exactly could possibly change in a club that clearly does so many things?

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As North Berwick’s board made clear in its announcement, the purpose of the appointment is not to reinvent. It’s about polishing and protecting. Parts of the property are threatened by coastal erosion—the green at Perfection, such as the famous par-4 14th, is just steps away from the cliffs. Hanse and Wagner’s task is not to redraw what is there, but to help preserve and improve it.

Hanse described this as a welcome pressure. Not the pressure of fear of failure, but the pressure that comes with the chance to do something important right. He and Wagner gained credence in this arena with their acclaimed work on The Country Club. Los Angeles CCSeminole and more. However, as Hanse tells Holt, North Berwick is an animal unto itself. “You could argue that this is the most important piece of golf course architecture in the world,” he says.

You can listen to the full episode to find out more about Hanse’s approach to the wonders of North Berwick and restoration work on storied trails. Here.

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