Architect’s Time On-Site

During Construction

100% 0 to 6%
Tony Ristola Typical
LEADERSHIP DRIVEN GOLF COURSE ARCHITECTURE

TONY RISTOLA
PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND

Since 1995 I have been designing and supervising the

construction of my Personal Designs. They have been
shaped by my experiences throughout the golf industry;
tournament professional, teaching professional, golf course
maintenance and golf course construction.

CONSTRUCTION

Before designing and constructing my own Personal Designs

using Leadership Driven Architecture, I worked building Dye
Designs, Nicklaus Design and Kosti Kuronen golf courses, as
well as being involved with redesign work. These projects
took me from just south of the Arctic Circle, to the Tropic of
Cancer; not only a wide variety of climates, but a broad
array of landscapes too: urban flood control, bedrock, and
clay farmland, Baltic and desert coastlines. Together it
represents a vast mix of experiences and extremes. Total
project budgets varied from a few million dollars to $50
million.

Having built courses, I can operate heavy equipment,

rough-out concepts if need be, understand the limitations of
machines, can choose the best for the intended task, and
can communicate with equipment operators. This and my
daily involvement helps builders understand and achieve the
intended result.

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GOLF UNDERSTANDING

I have played golf for 31 years with 23 as a member of the

Professional Golfers Association (PGA), which I am still a
member.

Several pro’s I competed against as a professional have

gone on to play on Ryder Cup and President’s Cup teams
and win major championships.

This lifelong association with golf provides a solid foundation

of knowledge. I understand the game clearly, the physical
skill and psychology of golfers, male and female, young and
old, beginner to tournament professional, and apply this
knowledge to my designs.

As a PGA member, I also understand the operations side of

the business, and have followed the challenges and fortunes
of new and existing clubs. The golf course architect is the
individual most responsible for the success or failure of the
club. He sets the foundation for potential. All golf courses
will face competition, and regardless of how well run or how
nice the individuals at a club, if the golf course does not
provide challenge, beauty, and fun it will struggle to
survive. This basic concept applies to golf courses in every
region of the world.

ARTIST

My grandfather, an artist, influenced my life greatly. Since

the ripe age of seven, I’d planned a career as an artist and
as professional athlete. Today, the trained eye of the artist,
my artistic skills, are used to conceptualize and illustrate
during planning, communicate and refine these concepts
during my daily involvement during construction.

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GOLF COURSE MAINTENANCE

I have worked in golf course maintenance in perhaps the

most extreme climate and soil combination in the world;
south/coastal Finland.

Unlike construction, maintenance is an annual expense, and

poor designs can add millions to the costs of an operation
over the years. Understanding the relationship between
design, construction and maintenance is critical for
designing features which do not break the bank, yet are
exceptionally beautiful; even highly unique!

SUMMARY

Design, construction, maintenance, golf operations, art, and

understanding how the masses attack the game, provides me
with a package of knowledge which is useful to current owners,
clubs or investors seeking to develop or improve a golf course.

In addition:

• I can assist with hiring the club’s professional and

superintendent.

• My artistic background, and having visited hundreds of

golf courses around the world, I can assist with logo
creation, club names, and crafting a unique setting and
theme for the golf course; marketing.

• Because I lead the construction effort daily, I can provide

a story of the club’s creation. Something no designer busy
with scores of courses simultaneously can do.

agolfarchitect.com
Leadership Driven Architecture
...Because Vision and Leadership are Inseparable
Tony Ristola
agolfarchitect.com
agolfarchitect@yahoo.com
+1 909.581.0080
Design and construction are not separate jobs, but different parts of the same job

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