The shape of things to come: an interview with Dirk Bouts

A senior design associate in Nicklaus Design, Dirk Bouts is holding the conductor stick during the construction of Kilada Golf in Peloponnese as well as the reconstruction of Afandou Golf Course in Rodos. Golf Greece gets a glance inside his crystal sphere.

Dirk Bouts overlooking the progress of Hole #12 in Kilada

Golf Greece: Over the decades, the feeling of excitement has been no stranger to the greek golfing community. Time after time, conditions appear fertile for golfing in Greece to blossom. How do you evaluate the current circumstance of two premium new golfing developments complementing four signature courses in Messinia along with the older established courses? Could it be a good omen for this vision of Greece becoming a golfing destination to finally start materialising?

Dirk Bouts: Absolutely, Greece has all the ingredients to provide great golf courses. The amazing properties, landscape and vistas, the improvement in amenities, transportation, accessibility and with the tourism as a whole in Greece, Greece will definitely become a golf destination in the future and we at Nicklaus Design are proud to be part of this exciting process.

G.G.: Kindly share your impressions from both projects, which aspects you found worthy and which you tried to elevate through your design.

D.B.: Kilada Golf has been a project in progress and it is great to see it coming to completion. The golf course is very much a resort golf course and the design focused on creating the best possible golf holes within the given terrain, while taking advantage of the presence of existing ancient farmhouses, an ancient olive press, ancient walls, beautiful specimen trees, existing streams, etc. 
These features, along with the unique setting and views towards the Peloponnese Sea, creates for a very special experience for the golfers that will play this Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course.

Afandou is indeed an existing golf course that was established about 50 years ago.
With time taking its toll and the course not receiving the attention it should, it has now been acquired by a new owner who decided not only renovate the golf course, but also have it redesgined. 
The setting for the course is great as it is located along the beach, has corridors of trees that have established over the years and there are beautiful vistas from the higher located areas towards the beach and sea. This course too will be a resort golf course and will be the only one on the island of Rhodes, with hopefully more to come, turning Rhodes into a golf destination on its own.

Aerial view of hole #7 in Kilada under construction

G.G.: Both of the courses that you supervise will be resort golf courses. Is the design tailored to the clientele in such cases, in order to provide a play that accommodates novice & intermediate players?

D.B.: Indeed, while the course remains a challenge for the better players, the main focus is on making sure that all types of players will be able to enjoy the golf course and have fun playing them. This can be achieved through creating diverse and challenging golf holes.

G.G.: The typical description of Nicklaus Signature courses wants Jack Nicklaus to have an increased involvement in their development. To what extent does Mr. Nicklaus got involved in the designing process?

D.B.: In the case of Kilada, which is a Jack Nicklaus Signature Course, Jack is personally involved in the design of the golf course both in the field as well as from the office. Jack has visited Kilada various times to ensure the best possible golf course will be implemented on the property.

G.G.: How often do you as a designer typically have to perform field surveys in order to monitor the progress?

D.B.: When a golf course is being built under normal circumstances, I will typically make about 20 site-visits, while making sure that through proper communication with the client and the onsite consultants, the work can continue as needed and deadlines met.

G.G.: In Afandou the reconstruction of the golf course will supposedly include a reconstruction of the electrical and irrigation infrastructure and course improvements. Should we expect big differences in terms of course design and holes/greens or it will rather be a renovation of the current layout?

D.B.: In the case of Afandou, you can expect a completely new golf course. Certain existing corridors will be maintained, but apart from that, we will be optimizing the golf course design and the course will be completely re-built, while using the current highest and sustainable construction methods.

Afandou Golf Course in 2022

G.G.: What did the climatological conditions of Greece dictate in terms of grass type selection? Is it going to be Bermuda grass with Ryegrass topseeding in winter?

D.B.: In the case of Kilada, the irrigation system is hard line and the grass chosen for all playing surfaces is Seashore Paspalum, while using native grass blends for the outer rough areas.
In case this is required, the surfaces can be overseeded during the winter period. The type of grass to be used at Afandou is still to be determined, but it is very likely it will be similar.

G.G.: Sustainability is a term you hear everywhere nowadays. Golf courses have been long accused in the past for water usage, fertilising and pesticide usage. But in our era, reservoirs are used to optimally utilise water resources, reuse of the runoff is in some cases offered, and pesticide use is quite limited if not substituted by eco friendly procedures. Are there any sustainable practices part of these two developments?

D.B.: I could not have described it better. Of course, on both courses the same practices will be followed and a lot of attention will be given to the irrigation design, focusing on using hard line irrigation in order to limit and optimize the use of the irrigation water.

G.G.: While we understand this is a multi-aspect question: At least from where we stand today, what is the roadmap for the completion of both courses?

D.B.: The goal for Kilada is to have the golf course completed in 2023 and for Afandou we’re scheduled to start construction in 2023, in order to have it completed in 2024.

Kilada holes #8 and #9 around the main pond

G.G.: Which is your personal favourite course and for what reason?

D.B.: I would say Pebble Beach would be my favorite as it pretty much has it all. Different types of landscapes, amazing vistas, dramatic setting, history, challenging golf holes and it’s a place that makes you feel special.

G.G.: So if you got offered a wildcard with the absolute freedom to design your ideal course, what would you decide to build?

D.B.: A wildcard to create another Pebble Beach would be nice ☺