Nature’s Course: Ken Alperstein’s Platinum Standard Project

In December 2004, WaterShapes introduced ‘The Platinum Standard,’ a registry of projects that embodies watershaping at its finest. Now, as part of our celebration of the magazine’s 100th Issue, Eric Herman offers ‘The Platinum Standard II,’ a fresh set of 20 projects that have graced the pages of the magazine in the past three-and-a-half years – projects that demonstrate clearly that watershaping has become an art form in its own right.

Ken Alperstein
Pinnacle Design
Palm Desert, Calif.

Created under rigorous environmental restrictions, this golf course in Shady Canyon, Calif., has to be one of the most beautiful intersections of beauty and functionality ever crafted by landscape and watershape professionals. Working through complex sets of wildlife easements and schedules designed to minimize disturbances to the flora and fauna of a precariously scenic coastal canyon, the team at Pinnacle Design has created a stunning sports venue that blends effortlessly into its surroundings mySpace