Matt Schiffer, of Greengrass Golf Design, and Cees van Nieuwenhuizen, of Q Golf Services, are collaborating on the design and construction of a new 9-hole golf “training and practice center” in the heart of Azerbaijan’s capital city.
“This new facility on the infield of the Bina Racetrack will feature nine golf holes of widely varying length, in addition to a full-length driving range with teaching facilities plus practice chipping and putting greens. The concept is that each hole will present a different challenge, with some greens best approached through the air and others on the ground. One of the holes will simulate a long bunker shot. It will be maintained almost entirely as ‘fast and firm’ fairway with very little rough, giving golfers the opportunity to practice practically every club in the bag from any angle and lie imaginable,” said Schiffer.
“Azerbaijan is one of the newest and strongest developing golf markets,” said van Nieuwenhuizen. “This practice and training facility will not only give novice golfers an opportunity to develop all of the golf skills necessary for success, it will also give experienced golfers a great place to practice and play without having to leave the city center.”
Illustrating the country’s growing demand for golf, this is van Nieuwenhuizen’s third consecutive project in and around Baku. He’s currently also working as a project manager for the construction of a nearby 18-hole Dye Designs course. Van Nieuwenhuizen and Schiffer previously worked together on the development of another 9-hole course in Baku that was designed by Dutch architect Alan Rijks.
“Developing golf markets need facilities like this to give golfers the basic skills and confidence to test themselves on longer courses. It’s the only way to grow the game in a new market. Fortunately, the owner of this project has the foresight to understand this,” added Schiffer.
The Azerbaijan Racetrack Golf Training & Practice Center will be located on nearly 31- acres (12.5 hectares) within the infield of an existing horse racing track. This is a model that is seen most frequently in the United Kingdom and is a good way for racetracks to generate revenue on land that is infrequently used when the races aren’t running.
Construction is currently underway, with completion and opening anticipated in 2015.
Schiffer and van Nieuwenhuizen are both Associate Members of the European Institute of Golf Course Architects, having met in 2003 while earning their MSc of Golf Course Architecture degrees in an education program sponsored by the EIGCA.
Schiffer previously worked as a Design Associate for the American golf architecture firm Golfplan, giving him extensive design experience on projects worldwide. He founded both Greengrass Golf Design and Greengrass Engineering in 2012, offering creative original golf course design in addition to freelance design, production and engineering services for other golf course architects.
van Nieuwenhuizen has 28 years of experience in the golf industry and can provide support in overseeing the design, construction and project management process including project planning, developing preliminary cost estimates and schedules. Before starting Q Golf services, van Nieuwenhuizen worked as a Design Coordinator for Nicklaus Design.
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