Baldridge Golf Design

Consulting, Master Planning, Shaping, Design

Founder & Principle Designer

EVAN BALDRIDGE

Golf courses have always been a part of my life. As a child I dreamed about playing the courses in the Encyclopedia of Golf. As I grew older being a part of the making of great golf courses was the obvious career choice. That meant getting a Landscape Architecture degree and working on construction sites in the summer.

My Career

My first job in the construction was working for the contractor Landscapes Unlimited in Augusta, Georgia on a famous golf course, as well as some less famous golf courses in the area. There I learned the construction process, and what it would take to survive in the industry. The next summer I wanted to get into the design side of the industry, so I began as an intern for Renaissance Golf Design at the Lido and Sedge Valley. After two great summers working as an intern there, I started my own company in the summer of 2024, so I could continue to work with Renaissance as a contractor and take on my own clients. Since then, I have continued to work on a number of projects with Renaissance, as well as establish my own first client.

I have had the ability to collaborate with some of the most talented people in the industry. They certainly have made me better. I am certainly thankful for everyone from the Renaissance team who has guided me and given me opportunities early in my career.

Since 2020, I have traveled all over the United States, and parts of the Canada and GB&I to study hundreds of the best golf courses. I have learned so much from those experiences, about how the best courses are built and maintained, as well as what things do not work well. I will continue to travel and see golf courses for as long as I can, it is the best education in our business.

What Baldridge Golf Design BeLIEVES

Greatness

I have traveled all over the world studying golf courses, and in doing so I have learned that every golf course has the potential to be great at something, no matter their resources. Some of my favorite places in the game are maintained for next to nothing. Greatness can be attained by anyone, by embracing the constraints and finding ways to innovate with them.

Design means nothing without Execution

The design does not end when the plans are completed, it ends when it is built. I will always care more about the execution of the construction process than I will the beauty of the plans. For this reason, I will always be present during construction.

Handmade

The best golf courses have a craftsman, handmade quality to their bunkers, greens, tees, and features. Every feature that I design I will ensure is built the way I envision it, and often that means building it by hand. I will personally shape features. The buck always stops with me, if I am unhappy with the look of something with my name on it, it's only my fault.

Inspiration and Variety

I seek out inspiration. I have seen hundreds of good golf courses, designed by many architects from a wide range of time periods. I have seen courses with a wide variety of styles, and I enjoy experiencing different types of golf courses. In my work, I yearn to build golf that feels and look different. I never want to be typecast. I want the ability to build a myriad of different styles of golf.

Teamwork

A key part to the success of any project is great teamwork, whether that is with coworkers, clients or contractors. It is imperative to have good communication and be on the same page with everyone involved. I seek to keep everyone in the loop and rowing in the same direction.

Frugality

The most underrated ability in golf architecture is being frugal without compromising quality. It is my responsibility to the client to ensure they can afford to build and maintain what I design and build. I do not believe in expensive infrastructure that is only marginally better. I will always value the client's money as if it was my own.

Our Services

Shaping

Consultation

I learned golf design from shapers, and my perspective is one of a shaper. I am always happy to contribute to an exciting project as a shaper. That can mean small bunker or tee projects or entirely new golf courses, either way I am happy to contribute.

Consultation

Often a golf course needs someone to keep an eye on it. To make sure no work is done improperly or make small suggestions for improvement. These are long term relationships where trust is developed. While these may be small jobs, I really enjoy them.

Master Planning

When a course is looking to make improvements, often a long-term master plan is the best course of action. To plan out changes for years to come. To give direction to the course and any changes that need to me made.

Design

Master Planning

I studied design, and without great design it's always an uphill battle. If you are looking to build something new or change something entirely, I have a wealth of ideas to draw upon for inspiration. I yearn for the chance to design great golf.

My Projects

The Lido Club (2023)

Rome, WI

Summer 2022

Orginally Designed by C.B. MacDonald

Rebuilt by Tom Doak, Peter Flory, Brian Schneider, Brian Zager

Lead Assoicate: Brian Schneider

Contractor: Oliphant

My Roles: Bunker, Tee, Fairway Finish Shaping

Project Description: One of the most unique golf course construction projects ever undertaken. The rebuilding a golf course that had been defunct for 80 years, 1000 m

Napoleon Golf (1922)

Napoleon, OH

2024 - Present

Renovation Plan by Baldridge Golf Design

My Role: In 2024, I began devising a renovation plan for a 9 hole municipal course in the town of Napoleon. Construction starts this fall, and includes mounding, bunker reimagining and recontouring approaches.

Punta Brava Golf & Surf Club (2026)

La Bufadora, Mexico

Summer 2024 - Present

Lead Associate: Parker Anderson

Contractor Hataway

My Roles: Front end shaping, post sandcap shaping, green, bunker, tee, and fairway finish shaping.

Project Description: On maybe the most stunning end of the Earth, the course is built on cliffs on 3 sides and 8 holes on the coast. The ocean is in view fro

Sedge Valley (2024)

Rome, WI

Summer 2022/23

Lead Associate: Eric Iverson

Contractor: Oliphant

My Roles: Native tie ins; bunker, fairway finish shaping

Project Description: This 6200 yard, par 68 holds a special place in my heart. I hand finished over 100 bunker there, and really learned how to build golf courses. I think the contour of the ground is the perfect scale for golf, rollin

Crooked Stick Golf Club (1964)

Carmel, IN

Summer 2024

Restoration by Tom Doak

Lead Associate: Eric Iverson

Contractor: MacCurrach

My Roles: Green and Bunker Shaping

Project Description: We were tasked with restoring Pete Dye's greens as they installed vertical depth USGA greens. We also renovated bunker complexes, that Dye had rebuilt many times over.

High Pointe Golf Club (2024)

Traverse City, MI

Summer 2023

Lead Associate: Brian Slawnik

My Roles: Bunker shaping, finishing, and native tie ins

Project Description: The restoration and reinvigoration of Tom Doak's first golf course was a fun project to be a part of. 6 of the holes, and some of the best, were faithfully restored, and the rest were new holes on great land. It is the

Thoughts & Writing

Year In Review

2024 YIR

Travel Map and Golf Course Write Ups

Open map

Favorite Golf Books

The Anatomy of a Golf Course, by Tom Doak
Golf Between Two Wars, by Bernard Darwin
The Links, by Robert Hunter
Golf Architecture in America, by George Thomas
Getting to 18, by Tom Doak
The Confidential Guide to Golf Courses, by Tom Doak
To the Linksland, by Michael Bamburger
Bury me in a Pot Bunker, by Pete Dye

My Favorite Golf Courses

Royal St Georges
Pinehurst #2
Childress Hall - South
Oakland Hills - South
Sedge Valley
Rye
The Loop
Sunningdale - Old
Lido
Pennard

Contact

Free Consultation

Please feel free to reach out for a free consulting visit, plus travel expenses

Baldridge Golf Design

baldridgegolfdesign@gmail.com +1 (502) 762-5272 Instagram: baldridgegolf