Historic Brookside Selects Forrest Richardson to Refine Reconfiguration Plans

PASADENA, Calif. - Sept. 25, 2023 - PRLog -- Golf Course Architect Forrest Richardson, ASGCA has been selected to develop approaches to adjust holes at the historic Brookside Golf Courses, a 36-hole facility originally designed by William Park Bell. The 94 year old courses are owned by the City of Pasadena, California and operated by the Rose Bowl Stadium, home to numerous annual events including concerts, festivals and the famous college football "Rose Bowl" game. The reconfiguration work will involve shifting a few golf holes to allow for new community amenities, including an expanded "entertainment-based" driving range and 36-holes of miniature golf. Both new features are aimed at attracting new and diverse people to the highly regarded public facility, commonly referred to as the Rose Bowl Arroyo Seco public recreation area.

"These new concepts will bring a new dimension to Brookside," said Forrest Richardson. "But at every turn we are taking great measures to uphold the legacy of Bell's work, and to make certain the courses remain true to the design hallmarks of his work here." Bell, affectionately known as "Billy Bell" throughout his career, later worked with his son, William "Billy" Francis Bell, who consulted on changes during the 1960s-70s.

Having grown up in nearby Burbank, Richardson's work is a homecoming of sorts. "The courses represent the best of public access golf, and they have always been familiar to me and my family and friends who play golf in the area," he notes. "The courses deserve to be preserved and improved, which is fundamental to our work adjusting holes for these new uses and players."

Brookside is multifaceted in terms of use, with portions of both 18-hole courses being creatively used for concerts and festivals throughout the year. Those uses include everything from parking to erection of band stages, festival tents and audience facilities. "One of the greatest benefits of public golf courses are their ability to also accommodate non-golfers," adds Richardson. "Much like The Old Course at St. Andrews, where we see families strolling across the course every Sunday, Brookside has taken the concept of a golf course serving as a park to the next level in its programming and community uses." Estimates are that more than a half million people use the Brookside facility every year, even though less than twenty-five percent are actually playing golf.

"We're looking to the future, while regarding the past," says Richardson. "We envision a Brookside that will delight golfers for the next 100 years, yet will also continue to expand its reach to include people who may not currently play the game, but will be given an opportunity to see what golf has to offer."

Implementation of changes to the courses will follow finalization of reports on the impacts of historical and environmental aspects. Work could begin as early as 2024, although there is no definitive schedule until Richardson and project administrators continue public outreach.