Martin Hawtree
Profile
Son and grandson of golf course architects, Martin Hawtree has continued the family tradition and built an international architectural practice of considerable note and reputation.
Hawtree Junior is best known for renovation work at venerable classics such as Royal Birkdale, Royal Liverpool and Formby in England, Lahinch and Portmarnock in Ireland, Fontainebleau in France, Yarra Yarra in Australia and the Toronto Golf Club in Canada. His work at Lahinch was quite wide reaching, and involved restoring some lost MacKenzie design features as well as building a couple of new holes.
Martin Hawtree is an interesting architect. He clearly has great design pedigree and the quality of some of his renovation work is first-rate – such as Portmarnock, Lahinch and Toronto. He also did a good job building his father’s lost 12th hole at Royal Birkdale. There have been problems with some of his work in Australia, however, and very few truly world-class designs among his original creations. His best known course is at Trump International in Scotland, which certainly appeals to those who enjoy dramatic, difficult, big dunes golf.
Although Trump International is a very good course, it doesn't quite achieve the stated aim of the client, which was to build the best golf course in the world.
For an independent appraisal of Martin Hawtree’s design abilities contact the Global Golf Group.
