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24 Questions with Brett Hochstein

May 20, 2026 · 1 hr 53 min · 10 segments

!https://feedtheball.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/LM13-1024x722.jpeg Brett Hochstein is one of the most prominent shapers and collaborators in contemporary…

!https://feedtheball.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/LM13-1024x722.jpeg Brett Hochstein is one of the most prominent shapers and collaborators in contemporary golf course design having worked closely with Tom Doak, Gil Hanse, Todd Eckenrode and many other designers. Most recently he was instrumental in the reconstruction of the bunkers and greens at Pasatiempo with Jim Urbina while simultaneously building a roster of his own unique clients. Brett sits down with Derek to discuss the replication process at Pasatiempo using photography from 1929 and 1930, the possibility of re-establishing the greens at one of Alister MacKenzie’s last course designs in Sacramento, the importance of knowing when to keep your mouth shut, the current state of Himalayas putting greens, the nebulous route to becoming an architect and how mowing adjustments can enhance the playability of even simple municipal courses. Photos: Cover page, Pasatiempo, hole 8 (courtesy of the club). Above, Lake Merced (Derek Duncan). See Derek narrate “Every Hole at Aronimink” here. **Subscribe to Feed the Ball on Apple Podcasts and** Spotify. **Twitter: @feedtheball** **Instagram: @feedtheball** The post 24 Questions with Brett Hochstein appeared first on Feed The Ball.

!https://feedtheball.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/LM13-1024x722.jpeg Brett Hochstein is one of the most prominent shapers and collaborators in contemporary…

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Speakers: Brett HochsteinGuestDerek DuncanHost

Show signals: BiasNot politicalAudience≈7k followers

Brett’s Background & Reputation1:57 – 8:04

D

Derek DuncanHost

1:57

[upbeat music] All right, Brett, thanks for joining 24 Questions.

D

Derek DuncanHost

2:02

Uh, first off, how old are you, and what year did you start Hochstein Design?

B

Brett HochsteinGuest

2:09

Uh, I am 40.

B

Brett HochsteinGuest

2:10

Just turned it, uh, start of the year.

B

Brett HochsteinGuest

2:12

Uh, I started my own company in 2014, uh, while I was still actually working with, uh, Tom Doak in Renaissance, but, uh, kinda soon ended up, uh, you know, working with, uh, a lot of other guys, uh, especially more regionally out in California after that.

B

Brett HochsteinGuest

2:31

Um, but yeah, 2014, so 12 years.

D

Derek DuncanHost

2:34

Okay.

D

Derek DuncanHost

2:35

And you're in California.

D

Derek DuncanHost

2:35

Whereabouts in California did you say?

B

Brett HochsteinGuest

2:38

Uh, Lafayette, East Bay, so just on the other side of the hills from, uh, Oakland and Berkeley.

D

Derek DuncanHost

2:44

Okay.

D

Derek DuncanHost

2:44

And where did you grow up?

B

Brett HochsteinGuest

2:47

Uh, I grew up in, uh, the suburbs of Detroit, Michigan.

B

Brett HochsteinGuest

2:51

Yeah.

D

Derek DuncanHost

2:51

Yeah.

D

Derek DuncanHost

2:53

California working for you, that's a, a little bit different climate, different, uh, type of citizen in California than in, uh, Southeastern Michigan.

B

Brett HochsteinGuest

3:04

Yeah, a little bit different.

B

Brett HochsteinGuest

3:05

Uh, uh, it's, it's been good.

B

Brett HochsteinGuest

3:07

I've been out here for, uh, almost 16 years now.

B

Brett HochsteinGuest

3:10

Uh, my wife is from here.

B

Brett HochsteinGuest

3:12

I met her in college, so, uh, chased her out.

B

Brett HochsteinGuest

3:15

That's, that's how I ended up here.

B

Brett HochsteinGuest

3:17

Um, but yeah, I, I, I really like it a lot.

B

Brett HochsteinGuest

3:19

I still love Michigan a lot, uh, love going back.

B

Brett HochsteinGuest

3:23

And, um, yeah, I mean, the- lot, lot of public golf in Michigan.

Golf Course DesignSports > Golf
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Brett’s Background & Reputation1:57 – 8:04

D

Derek DuncanHost

1:57

[upbeat music] All right, Brett, thanks for joining 24 Questions.

D

Derek DuncanHost

2:02

Uh, first off, how old are you, and what year did you start Hochstein Design?

B

Brett HochsteinGuest

2:09

Uh, I am 40.

B

Brett HochsteinGuest

2:10

Just turned it, uh, start of the year.

B

Brett HochsteinGuest

2:12

Uh, I started my own company in 2014, uh, while I was still actually working with, uh, Tom Doak in Renaissance, but, uh, kinda soon ended up, uh, you know, working with, uh, a lot of other guys, uh, especially more regionally out in California after that.

B

Brett HochsteinGuest

2:31

Um, but yeah, 2014, so 12 years.

D

Derek DuncanHost

2:34

Okay.

D

Derek DuncanHost

2:35

And you're in California.

D

Derek DuncanHost

2:35

Whereabouts in California did you say?

B

Brett HochsteinGuest

2:38

Uh, Lafayette, East Bay, so just on the other side of the hills from, uh, Oakland and Berkeley.

D

Derek DuncanHost

2:44

Okay.

D

Derek DuncanHost

2:44

And where did you grow up?

B

Brett HochsteinGuest

2:47

Uh, I grew up in, uh, the suburbs of Detroit, Michigan.

B

Brett HochsteinGuest

2:51

Yeah.

D

Derek DuncanHost

2:51

Yeah.

D

Derek DuncanHost

2:53

California working for you, that's a, a little bit different climate, different, uh, type of citizen in California than in, uh, Southeastern Michigan.

B

Brett HochsteinGuest

3:04

Yeah, a little bit different.

B

Brett HochsteinGuest

3:05

Uh, uh, it's, it's been good.

B

Brett HochsteinGuest

3:07

I've been out here for, uh, almost 16 years now.

B

Brett HochsteinGuest

3:10

Uh, my wife is from here.

B

Brett HochsteinGuest

3:12

I met her in college, so, uh, chased her out.

B

Brett HochsteinGuest

3:15

That's, that's how I ended up here.

B

Brett HochsteinGuest

3:17

Um, but yeah, I, I, I really like it a lot.

B

Brett HochsteinGuest

3:19

I still love Michigan a lot, uh, love going back.

B

Brett HochsteinGuest

3:23

And, um, yeah, I mean, the- lot, lot of public golf in Michigan.

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