American Society of Golf Course Architects (ASGCA) Past President Bill Amick, ASGCA Fellow, was awarded the ASGCA Distinguished Service Award at the recent 65th ASGCA Annual Meeting in Denver. Amick becomes just the fifth person to receive the honor, joining Past Presidents Robert Trent Jones, Jr., ASGCA Fellow; Jack Snyder, ASGCA Fellow; Larry Packard, ASGCA Fellow; and Ed Seay, ASGCA.
Amick, a Daytona Beach, Fla., resident, was at the forefront of designing affordable and sustainable courses. Dozens of writings and hundreds of presentations made during his career promoting affordable courses – long before they were in vogue – is just one example of his visionary role in the industry.
His list of representative courses includes Killearn Country Club, Tallahassee, Fla.; Halifax Plantation Golf Club, Ormond Beach, Fla.; and Gut Heckenhof Golf & Country Club, Eitorf, Germany.
2011 is the 52nd year for Amick’s architectural practice in Florida. His courses attract a wide range of golfers, especially juniors, beginners of all ages, lesser-skilled golfers, shorter hitters and handicapped persons. Amick’s more than 75 courses in the United States and internationally also speak to the positive impact he has had on golf, and will continue having for generations to come.
“Bill Diddel (one of ASGCA’s founders) first hired me as his assistant and allowed me to design bunkers and tees,” Amick said. “I watched him and saw he designed a golf course for people who would actually play it. He thought there should be smaller courses.
“Even today we need more smaller courses,” he continued. “They are easier to maintain, faster, less expensive and easier to play for beginners and families. This idea came home to me when I designed in Europe and watched people beginning on these small courses.”
Besides serving as ASGCA president in 1977-78, Amick has served ASGCA in other ways throughout his career, attending meetings, advising leaders, welcoming new members, serving on committees, writing or updating brochures and sharing his knowledge – always with an eye toward what is best for ASGCA and the game of golf.
ASGCA www.asgca.org
Bill Amick www.amickgca.com