Pastoralism, nature and golf: in pursuit of the ‘Middle Landscape’ along the California coast

Dr Alister MacKenzie designed golf courses throughout Europe and the United States in the early twentieth century. As one of the sports early ‘golf architects,’ MacKenzie brought a particularly vivid interpretation of nature to his course designs. Using his writings, along with maps, diagrams and plans, this analysis focuses on his work at two courses along Monterey Bay: Cypress Point and Pasatiempo. Cypress Point represents MacKenzie’s view of nature that is something both constructed and preserved — with manicured lawns atop rugged cliffs and crashing ocean waves. Pasatiempo’s greens undulate around deep ravines and groves of redwoods. Both courses may be evaluated within the context of Leo Marx’s ‘Middle Landscape’ as spaces of nature, art, and leisure. While some elements of the physical environment were ‘preserved’ much of the design of these spaces was intent on portraying a landscape in which players could experience raw beauty while maintaining a sense of comfort and safety. As such, this analysis considers the extent to which course plans and photographs serve as notable examples of Marx’s ‘Middle Landscape’.