Dr. Alister MacKenzie, the esteemed designer of Augusta National, Cypress Point, and Royal Melbourne, is being brought back to life, or at least one of his designs is in the South Carolina sandhills. The MacKenzie Course is inspired by his plans for El Boquerón, a bold concept he envisioned in 1930 for a wealthy Argentinian but was never built. Guided by extensive research and a deep respect for MacKenzie’s philosophy, 21 Golf Club aims to honor MacKenzie’s vision while thoughtfully adapting it to the natural beauty and challenges of its new home.
El Boquerón was one of MacKenzie’s boldest concepts – a layout for an estancia (ranch) in Argentina featuring nine massive double greens and a strategic routing designed to challenge players’ creativity and decision-making. While the plans for El Boquerón were shelved and thought lost for decades, their discovery about 15 years ago reignited interest among historians and architects alike.
Its creation has been guided by years of research, collaboration, and an unwavering respect for the game’s traditions. A dedicated team, including the MacKenzie Architectural Committee and talented architect Brian Zager, whose work includes The Lido at Sand Valley and projects with Tom Doak and the Keisers, has studied every available detail – MacKenzie’s original plans for El Boquerón, his writings, and the features of every course he designed.
The team is reinterpreting MacKenzie’s vision to reflect his timeless principles while embracing the unique characteristics of the South Carolina sandhills. With its shared greens and interconnected routing, the course will offer a sense of intimacy rarely found in modern golf. Players will be able to see multiple greens from nearly every location, fostering a sense of camaraderie and connection that MacKenzie championed in his designs.
With the opening of several notable golf clubs in the last couple of years, the South Carolina sandhills is fast becoming another must-visit destination with exceptional, rustic designs in the mode of Bandon Dunes, Sand Valley, and Streamsong. Farrell lives in Augusta, Ga., home to the good doctor’s most famous design, and wanted to create club of like-minded members who are passionate about the game, the architecture, and the camaraderie; members who want to help make a difference in the lives of people in the local community, especially kids and veterans. He was fortunate to find the perfect piece of land set on prehistoric rolling sand dunes, some reaching 150 feet in height, just minutes from his home.
“This is not just about building a golf course; it’s about building a great club for golf geeks who embody the values of the game; it’s about preserving a piece of golf’s history, exploring its possibilities, and sharing that journey with others,” he says. “We look forward to releasing a detailed analysis of our process and the thought behind this design in the coming months.”
Farrell also plans to build a second course designed by King Collins Dormer called The Hammer dedicated to match play. A collection of luxuriously appointed and member-owned entertainment cottages for extended visits by members and guests will surround a state-of-the-art practice center and fun short course.