Mark Mungeam: Architecture, Public Golf & a 40-Year Career - Ep 35

In this episode of The Greenprint, Leighton Walker is joined by Mark Mungeam of Mungeam Golf Design, and current President of the ASGCA, to explore a career spanning almost four decades in golf course architecture, and his particular passion for improving public and municipal golf courses. From his early days working in golf course construction to spending 20 years with Cornish & Silva and eventually establishing his own practice, Mark reflects on the experiences and influences that have shaped his approach to golf course design.

A major theme of the conversation is Mark's work on public golf courses, particularly across the north-eastern United States. Having made a conscious decision to limit the amount of international travel in order to spend more time with his family, Mark built a practice around working with municipal and publicly owned facilities. He explains why this work can be challenging, with tighter budgets, formal procurement processes and fewer contractors willing to bid on smaller projects, but also why helping these courses improve their facilities, increase revenue and provide better experiences for golfers can be particularly rewarding.

Mark and Leighton also discuss the practical realities of renovating golf courses with limited resources. Careful planning, accurate cost estimates and clear tender documentation are essential, while relatively simple design decisions can make a significant difference to both playability and maintenance. Mark talks about using local materials, simplifying bunker construction, improving drainage and circulation, expanding and reconfiguring tee areas, opening up overgrown areas and reducing unnecessary obstacles around greens. The aim is not simply to make a course easier, but to make it more enjoyable, efficient to maintain and accessible to a wider range of golfers.

The conversation then turns to two of Mark's most significant projects: Boston's George Wright Golf Course and William J. Devine Golf Course at Franklin Park, both Donald Ross designs. Mark explains the challenges of working with historic courses that now accommodate tens of thousands of rounds and extensive cart traffic, while still respecting their original character. At George Wright, the availability of original plans and historic imagery has allowed a sympathetic restoration, while at Franklin Park the absence of original Ross plans has required a different approach. The projects demonstrate how historic public courses can be carefully improved without turning them into museum pieces, while still responding to modern safety, access, maintenance and playability requirements.

Finally, Mark and Leighton look at the future of municipal golf and the wider role that public courses can play in their communities. With golf course closures becoming increasingly common in areas such as Massachusetts, Mark worries about the pressure this places on remaining facilities, potentially leading to higher prices, greater difficulty securing tee times and longer rounds. He believes the answer may partly lie in making golf facilities more community-oriented, incorporating walking, food, entertainment and other recreational activities alongside golf. The discussion also considers the potential for alternative formats and mixed-use facilities to help keep golf accessible and relevant. As current President of the American Society of Golf Course Architects, Mark explains why promoting and recognising public and municipal golf has become an important part of his work. His central message is simple: public courses are where the majority of golfers play, and their future matters enormously to the future of the game.

A big thanks to Mark for giving up his time!

Check out the American Society of Golf Course Architects website here:

ASGCA

Mungeam Golf Design:

Mungeam Golf Design

Find out more here about George Wright Golf Course in Boston through these NLU and Fried Egg videos:

No Laying Up

The Fried Egg

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