Interview With Paul Albanese Principal Albanese & Lutzke

Below is an interview with Paul Albanese, the Principal at Albanese & Lutzke. The following are a few traditional and non traditional golf centric questions that I love to ask influential people in the golf industry.

Can you provide our readers a brief biography?
Golf course architect for over 20 years; Member of the American Society of Golf Course Architects; Director of Golf Course Architecture at the Edinburgh College of Art in Scotland;

When did you start golfing and who introduced you do the game?
Started in golf world as a caddy at 13 years old; Introduced by my father -- we played a lot together. Captain of the Cornell Men's Golf Team.

What is your current home course?
Living in S.E Michigan -- I play many great tracks in the area.

To date, what is your proudest golf accomplishment?
Having designed many courses of which my clients are proud, and golfers enjoy playing. (Picking a favorite is like picking a favorite child -- not really possible.)

What is your biggest golf pet peeve on or off the course?
SLOW PLAY!!!!! It is really hurting the game. Visit Scotland and one will understand the speed with which the game should be played.

What is your favorite club in your bag and why?
7 iron -- I could play most courses with just this only club and do OK.

What is your favorite golf destination?
Scotland

What course is on your bucket list that you have not played yet?
Augusta and Pine Valley

If you woke up tomorrow and could play one course you played before, where would you play?
St. Andrews

If you could change one aspect, rule or thing about golf, what would it be and why?
Out of bounds -- the penalty is way too harsh. In fact, I would simply the rules a lot to make it more beginner player friendly.

Dream foursome (living)?
Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Tiger Woods and myself.

Dream foursome (living or dead)?
Donald Ross, Alister MacKenzie, C.B MacDonald and myself

18 Rapid Fire, Off The Cuff Questions

1) Hitting Long Drive OR Sinking Long Putt?
Long Putt

2) Having Round of Life OR Hole in One?
Hole in One

3) Golfing at the crack of dawn OR twilight?
Twilight

4) Hit a power fade OR power draw?
Draw

5) Beverage cart OR halfway house?
Beverage Cart

6) Bathroom OR bushes?
Plead the 5th

7) Hot dog OR wrap?
Diggity Dog!

8) Around the green, being in sand OR thick rough?
Sand

9) Walking OR riding?
WALKING!!!!

10) Do you carry traditional 3 iron OR hybrid?
Hybrid

11) Do you prefer long par 3 OR long par 5?
Par 3

12) Pants OR Shorts?
shorts

13) Palmer OR Nicklaus?
Both

14) Beatles OR Elvis?
Beatles

15) Play for fun OR play for money?
Something on the line -- no necessarily money

16) Bump and run OR flop shot?
Bump and run

17) Lay up OR gamble?
Gamble

18) 18 holes OR 36?
36 -- depending on the beverage cart and diggity dogs