SHAPER’S NOTES: Brian Slawnik
Brian Slawnik has worked everywhere you dream about playing. We don’t mean that half heartedly. Brian has worked with Tom Doak at Renaissance Golf since forever. Translation: He has put his touches on some of the most incredible golf holes / courses in the world. Those brushstrokes in the landscape that catch the light at the right times and help put a course on the Top 10 list? Some of those came right from this guy. We’ve been following these boys since before Bandon was a thing, and he is one of our favorite people in golf.
How did you get started shaping earth into golf holes?
When I first thought about getting into golf design and before I knew anything about it I originally thought I just wanted to be a designer. I remember even telling people that I didn't want to do construction at all, haha. But once I started my internship with Renaissance Golf, got my hands dirty for the first time and saw the way they worked I was hooked. It was during my second project with RGD that I came across Eric Iverson. Watching him work, I realized that if I was going to be any good at this I needed to learn how to do all the things he could do. I'm getting there...
What’s your favorite part of the process?
I like the beginning and the end. I started out doing finish work so that is still where my heart is but I really enjoy the early days of a project when the style and the tone of the golf course first starts to evolve.
What is your shaping philosophy?
Playing good golf is about rhythm and balance and harmony and golf courses should be the same. They should present challenges and throw you occasionally off balance but their overall presentation should be in balance, in harmony, in rhythm with the surroundings so that the player isn't distracted by the golf course but inspired. So I would say my philosophy for shaping is to listen. To listen to the ground, what it does, how it moves, how the dirt reacts to being moved. To listen to the vegetation that surrounds, and to listen to what my fellow shapers and designers are doing so that we are all playing the same song.
It's different when I'm running a job versus just shaping or a guest on someone else's project. When I'm running a job I try to help set the tone and the beat and vibe for what we are doing and trust that the other guys will pick it up and carry it. When I am shaping on someone else's project its important for me to pay attention to what they've done already and to listen to the rhythms that they are putting down and try to fit into the groove.
How many golf courses have you worked on and which ones are your personal favorites?
I've been involved in the design and construction of over 20 new courses. It's hard to impossible to pick favorites because they are all so different and the experience of the places and the people involved in each different project are such a big part of my overall sense of the place. That said, Pacific Dunes will always be special to me since it was my first real full on shaping opportunity. The recently opened Tara Iti Golf Club in New Zealand is special to me as well since it's easily the project I have been able to put the most of myself into. In addition to the new stuff I have been involved in renovation and/or restoration work at nearly 20 established courses where I have been able to study and learn from the greats and draw inspiration for our original work.
Where are you headed next?
Good question. Anyone who is married to a shaper/golf designer would laugh at the notion of anyone getting a straight answer to that one. We have potential projects bubbling up all over the world right now but it's hard to know which one will push the go button next.
(photos by Aaron Eckels @eighteenphoto)