The SOCIETY Newsletter #68

The MacKenzie Story: Part 2

In our last Newsletter we discussed Alister MacKenzie‘s Utilitarian Era of golf design which included the designs of Augusta National, Bayside and El Boqueron. 

In today’s newsletter we dive into the future and the resurrection of his most ambitious design. 

THE MACKENZIE: Inspired by the Long Lost Design of El Boqueron 

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Alister MacKenzie, one of the foremost golf course architects of the early 20th century, is celebrated for iconic designs like Augusta National, Royal Melbourne, and Cypress Point. However, among his lesser-known works lies El Boquerón—a course that, despite MacKenzie‘s visionary design, was never built, leaving his masterpiece unrealized. In recent years, the idea of bringing this course to life has sparked the imagination of golf enthusiasts and architects alike. With modern advancements in course design and a growing focus on sustainability, El Boquerón’s small footprint now seems more relevant than ever.

The prospect of resurrecting MacKenzie‘s lost golf design is both ambitious and thrilling. The hero of this story is owner, Wes Farrell who’s drive, passion and love for the game and its history is making this dream a reality. 

Wes leads a dedicated team of architects, historians, and MacKenzie experts who have meticulously examined his plans, studied his other courses, and delved into historical archives to piece together the full vision for The MacKenzie. This careful research aims to restore not just the design, but the essence of what MacKenzie intended.

Building the MacKenzie is not about mimicking El Boqueron, but about reviving it’s guiding principles. MacKenzie was renowned for designing courses that harmonized with the natural landscape, embracing the land’s contours, and prioritizing strategic play over sheer power. The course being constructed today in Jackson, SC is being built on these ideals will also offer a golf experience that feels timeless—true to the original spirit of El Boquerón and the philosophy that made MacKenzie‘s designs so revered.

An Intimate Layout that is Environmentally Friendly 

With many courses today stretching out over 200 and sometimes 300 acres, the MacKenzie course will be an intimate golf experience, nestled on less than 100 acres offering a uniquely personal and engaging golf experience. 

With its compact design, every hole is thoughtfully crafted to maximize the use of land while maintaining a sense of variety and challenge. The smaller footprint allows for a more intimate layout, encouraging a quicker pace of play. The course emphasizes strategy over distance, with creative risk-reward holes that demand precision and shot-making rather than sheer power. Surrounded by natural beauty, the intimacy of the course fosters a deeper connection between the golfer and the landscape, making each round feel like a private escape from the ordinary.

MacKenzie‘s utilitarian design of El Boquerón—and now The MacKenzie—creates one of the most sustainable golf courses, built on principles that minimize the strain on natural resources while simultaneously reducing maintenance costs. This thoughtful approach emphasizes efficiency and environmental responsibility, ensuring the course remains both eco-friendly and cost-effective over the long term. By using a more compact design with overlapping fairways and greens, the MacKenzie can reduce the total amount of land required for play. This helps preserve natural habitats, reduces the need for large-scale land clearing, and minimizes the disruption to surrounding ecosystems. With fewer overall acres in play, the Mackenzie can also maintain a healthier balance of native vegetation, promoting biodiversity and limiting the use of water, fertilizers, and pesticides. Additionally, shared fairways and greens often encourage a more natural, less manicured aesthetic, reducing the need for extensive turf maintenance and lessening the environmental footprint of course upkeep. Ultimately, this design approach can make golf courses more sustainable while still providing a challenging and enjoyable experience for players.

Tribute to the Old Course 

Dr. Alister MacKenzie‘s profound admiration for the Old Course at St Andrews is well-documented, famously encapsulated in his seminal book The Spirit of St Andrews. Many, if not all, of MacKenzie‘s design principles were drawn from the timeless brilliance of St Andrews, particularly its strategic, utilitarian layout. MacKenzie‘s love for the Old Course inspired his original design for El Boquerón, where he introduced the innovative concept of nine shared greens. Now, nearly 95 years later, The MacKenzie course seeks to bring his vision full circle. With nine shared greens and dynamic, sloping putting surfaces that have become synonymous with Mackenzie’s design philosophy, The MacKenzie course will serve as a fitting tribute to the architect’s legacy and his enduring respect for the Old Course’s simplicity and strategic depth.

The MacKenzie 

95 years later MacKenzie’s vision is becoming a reality. Roughly one year from today the 21 Golf Club will open up for member play and the world will finally have a course that has been lost for nearly a century. 

If you are interested in learning more about the 21 Golf Club please check out their website by clicking the link below:

www.21golfclub.com

Thank you!

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Yours in Golf History,

Connor T.