Course Design & Restoration

Shape

William fforde first designed courses over the rumples of his eiderdown, as a teenager. Some 20 years later he was introduced to Greg Turner, discovered they had both read the same books about golf course architecture and its history. It all went from there.

Alongside photographing and writing about golf courses, William has spent three decades working as a part-time golf course designer and restorer — often working alongside NZ Greg Turner and Scott Macpherson.

His first design report was for St George's Hill Golf Club in 1995, in partnership with Greg Turner, the former New Zealand tournament player turned course designer. His main body of design work has been at Menaggio & Cadenabbia, spanning some eighteen years — including, together with golf course architect Scott Macpherson, a reworking of the 12th and 18th greens.

Other clients include: Afandou Golf Course, Rhodes (redesign masterplan, with Greg Turner and Frank Whitaker); Marbella Golf & Country Club (now Higueron) — major re-routing after a boundary dispute; Tandridge GC (strategic advice); Ella srl (masterplan for a combined golf, hotel and villas project, Bolgheri, Tuscany); Valderrama GC (fine-tuning the design of several holes).

Reshaping a bunker at Menaggio & Cadenabbia Golf Club

Shaping new bunkers at 12th hole — Menaggio & Cadenabbia

One Year On

Menaggio's 12th and 18th, as completed

Menaggio & Cadenabbia, September 2020 — a year after the reshaping work with Scott Macpherson, the greens settled and grown in.

Menaggio & Cadenabbia, 12th hole, completed reshaping

Hole 12 — new greensite and bunkering

Menaggio & Cadenabbia, 18th hole, completed reshaping

Hole 18 — new greensite and bunkering

Selected Work

Reports, restorations and masterplans

1995

St George's Hill Golf Club

Surrey, England — William's first course design report, in partnership with Greg Turner.

1996

Afandou Golf Course

Rhodes, Greece — redesign masterplan, together with Greg Turner and the New Zealand architect Frank Whitaker.

2008–2025

Menaggio & Cadenabbia Golf Club

Lake Como, Italy — ongoing course design consultancy (several holes redesigned with Greg Turner & Scott Macpherson, 12th and 18th greens and approaches completely rebuilt with Scott Macpherson, video & photographic support, Player's View promotional book and reciprocal match programmes from 2008 to the club's sale in 2025).

2009

Valderrama Golf Club

Spain — fine-tuning the design of several holes.

2022–

Bolgheri

Tuscany, Italy — for Ella srl, an ongoing masterplan for a combined golf, hotel and villas project.

Sketch masterplan for a new course near Bolgheri, Tuscany — July 2023

Enquire

Considering a restoration, a masterplan, or a design report?

William works both independently and in partnership with Greg Turner and/or Scott Macpherson, on projects ranging from a single green to a full course masterplan.

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