The Ghost Name in Golf Course Architecture

Joe Hancock may be the most-mentioned, least-seen name in modern golf course architecture.

In this episode of The Bag Drop: Untold Stories in Golf, host Matt Considine and cohost Dr. Kevin Moore sit down with Joe (@joeytheknows on Twitter), golf course shaper, designer, superintendent, operator, and longtime DeVries Design collaborator.

Joe has one of those golf lives that seem to run beneath the surface of the game and the grounds we play on. He grew up around golf in Michigan, worked as a superintendent, owned and operated a family golf course, helped build The Mines with Mike DeVries, and has since shaped and collaborated on projects with some of the most respected architects in the modern game.

The conversation dives into:

• Joe’s friendship and working relationship with Mike DeVries, from childhood summers on Crystal Lake to shaping The Mines in Grand Rapids
• Why being a former superintendent and golf course operator changed the way Joe thinks about clients, budgets, maintenance, and the people who actually play the course
• The quiet art of shaping, including how a shaper learns when to execute, when to suggest, and when to let the land do most of the work
• Broomsedge, Candy Root, and the design decisions that create charm, confusion, restraint, half-par holes, and shots that stay with you after the round
• The case for more accessible, affordable, interesting public golf — and why the future of the game needs more than expensive destination architecture

Connect with our guest

🚜 Joe Hancock — https://devriesdesigns.com/joe-hancock — 🐦 X/Twitter: https://x.com/JoeytheKnows

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🎙️ Matt Considine — 🐦 X/Twitter: https://x.com/consequential85 | 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/consequence18/ | 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-considine-103bb21/

📚 Dr. Kevin Moore ("The Professor") — 🐦 X/Twitter: https://x.com/kevcmoore | 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kevcmoore | 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-moore-177b30b3/

Chapters

00:00 Allergies, handkerchiefs, putting woes, and intentional practice

10:02 Titleist fitting, descent angle, and getting on to the show

12:08 Joe Hancock joins The Bag Drop

14:16 Growing up with Mike DeVries and finding golf course work

22:17 Building The Mines and discovering a life in shaping

26:45 What owning and operating a golf course taught Joe about service

32:13 Collaboration, humility, and getting inside an architect’s head

42:15 What the best architects have in common

44:25 Broom Sedge, challenge, charm, and half-par golf

47:39 How Joe ended up at Broom Sedge

56:04 The mystery and strategy of Broom Sedge’s 18th hole

01:06:38 Firm golf, color, turf, restraint, and maintenance expectations

01:13:06 Candy Root and doing less to the land

01:20:29 Public versus private golf and the future of access

01:31:26 What’s next for Joe Hancock

What is The Bag Drop?

The Bag Drop features weekly stories from the culture, community, and characters shaping golf today. Produced by NewClub Golf Society, each episode blends authenticity and expert insights for passionate golfers at all levels. Special guests from clubs, courses and every corner of the changing landscape join us for thoughtful, in-depth discussions on all things golf.

What is NewClub?

Founded in 2017, NewClub is the premier private golf society in the United States. It blends the community and access of a private club with the variety and affordability of public golf. Members enjoy thousands of reserved tee times, competitions and events at exceptional partner courses across our local chapters, as well as signature trips and exclusive perks. NewClub is revolutionizing golf membership, making the game more meaningful for those who love it.