"A lot of the golf course plays along the lake. I think you can see the lake from 14 holes. It's windy. It's links style, not-so-British links, more American style."

"You've got to build a course people want to come back and play."

PGATour.com's Melanie Hauser had a chat with Justin Leonard about his latest venture -- designing The Old American Golf Club at The Tribute in Leonard's hometown of Dallas.

HAUSER: Is designing golf courses something you've been thinking about your whole career?

LEONARD: I've had my interest in being a design consultant for a few years, but waiting until the right design project with the right people came along. It's a combination of things. First and foremost being able to partner with Tripp Davis. I have a lot of respect for him. We have similar tastes and ideas, so there's not a lot of conflict as far as strategy. We both enjoy the same golf courses. So that was an easy fit. Being able to work with Matthews Southwest was a great factor as well as Wynne/Jackson -- to be able to partner up with some great firms. It's easy to see when times are good, it's all systems go. But in this economy, these guys are still pushing ahead. They're excited about the project. They haven't once come and said we're struggling, can we do without this or can we do this a little less expensively. Tripp is very good about managing costs and staying within budgets and maximizing the value of the golf course and what goes on around it.

HAUSER: How did you and Tripp decide to work together on the new course at The Colony?

LEONARD: Tripp designed The Tribute and already had his eye on doing a second golf course there. Then Tripp and I got together on a project in Colorado. During that, Matthews Southwest and Wynne/Jackson came to us and said we want to get started on the second course, and Tripp had the idea to bring me in.

HAUSER: It's got to be great working on a course so close to home.

LEONARD: To be able to do a course so close to Dallas means I can get there more often and not because I need to contractually, but because I take a real interest in the project and I can see the process and I can be more involved in it. I love the feel of the Tribute, the old course, and the yet to be named -- we'll call it the new course -- it's designed in the spirit of early American architecture. And to have so much lakeside property to build on ... exciting.

HAUSER: How would you describe the course?

LEONARD: An American links. A lot of the golf course plays along the lake. I think you can see the lake from 14 holes. It's windy. It's links style, not-so-British links, more American style.

HAUSER: Weren't you interested in architecture -- as in buildings -- as a major at one point?

LEONARD: I've always had an interest. Took an architecture class in high school, and I investigated a little bit in college, but I would have left college a 12-handicapper. Too much time, too many projects.

HAUSER: You've helped designed a couple of your own houses, now it's on to golf courses?

LEONARD: I think it's natural as a professional golfer to take an interest in golf course architecture. And it's interesting how my views of certain golf courses have changed. Being able to not just say I like this golf course or I don't like it. For the first time knowing why. And seeing things I would change on some golf courses. It's been a different education the last few years.

HAUSER: Any course or holes you'd like to change right now?

LEONARD: I think it's more like certain aspects I'd want to change. Like a certain tee shot that, for some reason, didn't fit my eye. I was able to figure out why and accept it better. You can't always figure out why an architect does something. Now I have more insight about why I like certain golf courses or certain holes. And I look and see how that could affect the way I look at the current project or a future project.

HAUSER: Did you go to anyone for advice before jumping into course architecture?

LEONARD: I more leaned on Tripp. Tripp did a golf course with Craig Stadler (Farrington Country in Colorado). I talked to him quite a bit of what he expected from me and what I should expect. I asked a lot of questions. If nothing, I lend a strategy because I play in a lot of pro-ams, and I play lot of golf with my parents. I think a lot of the new courses seem to have a lot of big features. Especially greens. Some have gotten so undulated, and the features so big, I don't see how a mid-to high handicapper could have fun playing those courses ... I think there are ways to where greens don't have to have 3- or 4-foot mounds in them to still be challenging. And another thing, when you build a high-end course like The Tribute, you've got to build a course people want to come back and play.

HAUSER: Your five favorite courses in no certain order?

LEONARD: Pinehurst No. 2, Friar's Head (on Long Island), Shinnecock Hills, Winged Foot, and Muirfield in Scotland.

HAUSER: How would you want someone to finish this sentence? A Justin Leonard golf course is . . .

LEONARD: Enjoyable. It doesn't have to be the most beautiful golf course. I don't want it to be the most difficult golf course. I want it to be enjoyable.

Click here to read more about Justin's golf course design projects.