David Russell
Profile
David 'DJ' Russell is a former European Tour Professional turned golf course designer, who partnered with Ian Woosnam to create RAW Golf Course Design.
Like many golf professionals and good players, Russell apparently prefers his golf to be rational and somewhat clear-cut, and one of his contentious projects is the redesign of the very quirky and unconventional Machrie Links on the Scottish Island of Islay.
While no doubt Russell's work improved some of the newer Donald Steel holes through the middle of the course, the loss of character and blindness through the heavier dunes will upset Machrie's fans. Changes to charmers like the 3rd, 6th, 7th and 9th holes seem hard to justify on any other basis than the removal of blindness. The old 9th, in particular, was an almost perfectly strategic par four along a natural fairway spine, that was only blind on the approach if your drive was too timid. Though difficult and dramatic, the newer hole is all in front of the golfer and far less complicated to figure out. As with a few other changes here, the hole seems more likely to please the elite golfer able to judge their approach shots precisely.
Other work in the RAW Golf Course Design and DJ Russell portfolio includes the two courses, Fidra Links and Dirleton Links, at the beautiful Archerfield Estate in East Lothian.
For information on this company, or independent advice on your golf course project, please contact Global Golf Group.
