Design Principles
Ten principles guided Stanley Thompson in his golf course design:
1. Select best property of 150 to 200 acres with
- Unforgettable views
- Natural features such as rivers/lakes, trees, good soil
- Environment
2. Clubhouse site overlooking terrain 
- Both nines start and return to clubhouse
- Adequate room for parking
- Practice and putting green
3. Walk, walk and re-walk the property
- Pick out spectacular par 3 sites
- Work natural par 4 and par 5 sites into layout
4. Easy aesthetic start, strong, long and difficult finish
- No par 3 before 4th or 5th hole
- Last par 3 on the 16th or 17th hole
- Finishing holes not into setting sun
- Route holes around perimeter and second nine inside - property dictates routing
5. Natural green sites
- Varied in shape and size at 6000 to 6500 square feet
- Contoured two to three putting areas, good drainage
- Blended into surrounding terrain
- Unique mounding
- Deeply faced bunkers with upswept sand and capes, Greenside bunkers
- Allow pitch and run shots
- Angled green to fairway
6. Bunkers
- Greenside
- Fairway at dog legs
- Protection
- Just off tees
- Target
7. Tees
- 3 elevated sets - size in proportion to par of hole
- Aiming to centre of fairway
- Greens, landing area, bunkers to be seen from tee
8. Fairways
- Strategic routes to green, 5000 to 6600 yards in length
- Mounds, spectacular and voluptuous bunkers at doglegs
- Mix dogleg left and right
- Target bunker
9. Par breakdown
- Five par 3's (145 yards to 245 yards S.T.'s favourites)
- Eight par 4's (340 yards to 445 yards)
- Five par 5's (460 yards to 590 yards)
10. Other course features
- Course designed to use every club in the bag.
- Short and long holes equally distributed.
- Difficult and easy holes equally distributed in sequence.
- Stanley Thompson always remembered more than 85% of golfers shoot 90 and over
- Course designed to test both low and high handicap golfers alike, insuring enjoyment for all.