Colin Montgomerie was one of the greatest players on the European Tour. He won the Ryder Cup with Europe six times as a player and once, in 2010, as the captain. Montgomerie, of Scotland, is also a renowned course designer, putting his stamp on courses in Britain, Europe, Africa, the Middle East and the Far East.
This month, after a three-year absence, the Turkish Airlines Open returns to one of his designs, the Montgomerie Maxx Royal in Belek on the south coast of Turkey, as the world’s leading players try to improve their chances in the season-ending Race to Dubai. The following interview has been edited and condensed.
What does it mean to you, and to the club itself, for the Montgomerie Maxx Royal to be holding the Turkish Open again this year?
It is a fantastic honor, having designed a course that I am very proud of and one that is hosting its fourth Rolex event, one of a number of premier European Tour events.
How would you describe the challenges presented by the Montgomerie Maxx Royal?
It can be played by all types of golfers. I particularly like the par 3s, which are very challenging. All the par 5s are risk-reward, which tests even the best European Tour pros. The green designs are such that the pin positions can be in some quite difficult and challenging positions. Therefore, hitting the fairways is a must, to allow the player to attack the pins. I particularly like the 12th hole. It is a very strong par 4, one where you have to hit the fairway, and then your second shot is very demanding, played into an undulating green. But really, I am very proud of all 18 holes.
Your game was built on accuracy, but so many players now hit the ball so far that many courses are struggling to cope. What particular challenges does the increase in power give a course designer? And what do you feel can be done to keep a balance between power and accuracy?
You can build more holes with dog legs, where it is impossible to clear the corner, which brings in accuracy and more shot making, as opposed to more power. You can build smaller, tighter greens with more challenging pin placements.
Tell us how you design a course. Do you speak to other players about your thoughts? Do you take advice from other designers? Is there someone whose designs influenced your own methods? And how much of what you come up with is determined by the way holes suit your eye, as opposed to trying to make them good enough to host big events?
There was no one particular person, but every course in the Melbourne Sandbelt area has had an influence on my design. Especially the way those courses are bunkered. They are the best. When it comes to the end product, it’s a bit of both, really. It has to suit my eye, first and foremost, but it also needs to be a challenge to the top players.
Victor Dubuisson, who won twice, and Brooks Koepka are previous winners of the Turkish Open at Montgomerie Maxx Royal. What do you remember most about the event in those years?
I played in the first two and was very impressed with the maintenance of the course and the whole infrastructure of the tournament.
Can you describe some of your favorite moments from the years that the Montgomerie Maxx Royal has staged the Turkish Open? Maybe the arrival of Tiger Woods in 2013 and his 63? What did his presence do for the event?
It is always an honor when Woods plays on a course you have designed. That is what designing a course is like. Leaving a legacy that not only Woods can play, but which players of all abilities can enjoy. Tiger’s 63 [which he shot in the second round that year] was a great score on a challenging course. But then again, he was the best in the world at the time.
How far has the Turkish Open come in the past six years?
To become one of the final Rolex events proves how far the Turkish Airlines Open has come. It makes me so proud to have that on a course that carries my name.
Have you had much feedback from players over the years? How gratifying is that, and what sort of things have they said?
I have had numerous positive comments from the players. And when Tiger Woods says it’s a well-thought-out course, it makes you very proud.
Your best major in terms of consistent results was the United States Open, where scoring is notoriously difficult. The scoring in the three years of the Turkish Open at Montgomerie Maxx Royal was very low. Should we expect the same this time?
The standards of golf around the world are constantly getting higher, and the golf is constantly getting better all the time.
Lower scores tend to reflect tougher courses. Pin positions have to be thought out to keep all courses and tournaments in Europe a challenge.
Source: Golf - nytimes.com
