Our Roots: the Vineyard Golf Club

The Larkin Group grew from the success of the revolutionary Vineyard Golf Club on the island of Martha’s Vineyard off the coast of Massachusetts. Since 2002 this beautiful 18-hole course has been managed with one of the most restrictive protocols in the United States; using no fungicides or herbicides, and only a handful of organic pesticides.

Owen Larkin was managing partner of Martha’s Vineyard Golf Partners, the entity that designed, built, and led in the initial stages of this cutting edge course. Larkin also led the project through the very challenging permitting process on Martha’s VIneyard. MVGP built all facilities for the project, including a beautiful clubhouse, turf building, and staff housing.

Internationally-known golf architect Gil Hanse completed a major renovation of the Vineyard course in 2015, increasing its playability but staying true to its organic roots. The Vineyard Golf Club continues to stand as a model of sustainability, garnering great interest in the world of golf.

Olympic Golf Course - Rio de Janeiro

In 2011 Owen Larkin and Gil Hanse formed a partnership in order to pursue the commission to build the much-sought after new golf course for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. This came about after the international Olympic committee reached out to Larkin and asked him to form a team to replicate what he had achieved on the island of Martha’s Vineyard in terms of sustainability management protocols. The Larkin Group’s primary responsibility was to create and define a plan of sustainability management practices that would appeal to the jury making the selection.

Each of the eight finalist teams had 45 minutes to make their presentation to the selection committee in Brazil. Larkin delivered the 15 minute portion covering sustainability. Competing against a field of competitors that included a who’s who in the world of golf, the Hanse, Amy Alcott, Larkin team was chosen to build the course for the return of golf to the Olympics after a 100 year absence.

Renuart & Larkin - Mixed Use Master Planning

In 2012 the Larkin Group formed a partnership with General Gene Renuart, creating Renuart & Larkin, (R&L) a project management firm that specializes in the infrastructure of US Air Force installations. R&L concentrates on water security for mission needs, base redevelopment, and infrastructure issues for the overall installation.

General Gene Renuart (Ret), president of Renuart & Larkin, is a retired United States Air Force Four-Star General. After almost 40 years of service, his career culminated as the Commander of  NORAD (North American Aerospace Defense Command) and United States Northern Command.

R&L projects involved military bases looking to reformulate their land use or maximize economic potential on bases such as:
USAF RFI - Three Course proposal -2013
Response & Proposal

Cape Canaveral Air Force Station - Florida -2015
Maximize cargo capabilities by constructing a 16-mile rail extension, to run from the Kennedy Space Center to Port Canaveral
White paper

Peterson AFB in Colorado Springs, Colorado - 2016
Move the existing golf course off base and build one-and-a-half million square feet of new office space inside the base’ secure perimeter for Space Force Headquarters.
Response & Proposal

Vandenberg Air Force Base (now Space Force Base) California- 2019
Build a high-end golf resort open to the public with 3.5-5 golf courses, lodging, clubhouses, and restaurants
Project description

The Larkin Group Water Division

In 2021 the Larkin Group started a separate water division to seek out sources of water that did not rely on diminishing groundwater resources. This action was taken as a result of the United States Air Force rescinding its offer to sell us water for our proposed golf course operations on Vandenberg Air Force Base because of drought. It was the only way the Vandenberg project or future golf projects in the state of California would be permitted – if they were dependent on water sources that did not compete with the community, and specifically agricultural interests. We began our search for impaired water sources that we could capture, clean, and reuse for beneficial purposes.

Reclaimed Water Project Management

In 2023 the Larkin Group formed a teaming agreement with Global Water Innovations (GWI) for project management for reclaimed water projects. This was the culmination of two years of research and collaboration with multiple private companies as well as university research centers. GWI has sought out and assembled the most advanced technologies that were the foundation of their various treatment trains. Additionally, GWI brings to market some of the companies and technologies they've been working with on an incubator basis, in affiliation with the National Alliance for Water Innovation (NAWI). NAWI is funded by the US Department of Energy and the California Water Resources Board, along with other major entities.

Global Water Innovations Merger

In 2026, the Larkin Group merged its water management division into Global Water Innovations(GWI). This merger was the result of dynamic collaboration and the successful completion of many lab tests, field operations, and ultimately, five pilot projects in five separate California locations. GWI will continue its work bringing new technologies to market and combining best in class approaches to address long-standing and newly-emerging water problems that hamper business and threaten communities. The CEO of Global Water Innovations, Clark Easter, has joined the Larkin Group as its Chief Technology Officer. Owen Larkin will serve as President of Global Water Innovations.