NATIONAL CLUB GOLFER - GRAND DESIGNS
START AT THE GREEN
We believe the designed strategy of any golf hole starts with the location of the all important green.
First and foremost, we would carefully select the best green site from a multitude of routing options which offers up the best opportunity for golfing theatre. At this point, the creative process begins and the conceptual design of the green is considered such as the size, shape, height and flow of the surface. Once decided, we use these important design criteria to finalise the rest of the golf hole strategy by working in reverse backwards to the tee.
The design of the green and its bunkering dictate the perfect approach shot location from the fairway, as well as shot length and shape which in-turn dictates the location of the tees, the type of tee-shot required and the optimal length to achieve off the tees of the day.
If you decide to design the course from Tees to Green then I believe the green becomes of secondary importance and the architectural process is weakened.
GREEN AND FAIRWAY DESIGN
There seems to be a trend at present of designing complicated greens and I do not know where it’s come from?
The greens I gain most inspiration from are the subtle heath land examples in SW London which glide and sweep endlessly. Invariably, the new courses I visit are requesting their greens to be softened as many of them are almost unputtable due to over-designed contours.
If you design a complicated green then you are negating almost every strategic decision you set up at the beginning from the tee.
I think architects don’t look at fairway strategy potential enough in the earthworks. It’s not just about bunkering! There are great examples of simple yet effective fairway features such as ‘The kitchen’ on the 1st at Royal St George’s, which is a hollow, 250 yards carry off the tee. The hollow causes player indecision and that’s the architect’s sole intention.
FAIRWAY BUNKERING
A common question asked by golf clubs is ‘How far should a bunker be off the tee to catch all levels of player’?
Architects turning points can vary from 200-280 yards dependant on the type of course we are designing. I will always concentrate on bunkering the ‘medal’ tee strategy for the competition player. If we locate the bunker at 275 yards, we are will test the Sunday best shot.
As the tees of the day move forwards, the same bunker(s) should now come into play at around 200-225-250. In order to satisfy all abilities of golfer
If budget allows, you can always put in a collection of bunkers at various lengths or on a diagonal but that brings maintenance into sharp focus.
The fairway bunker will always be a signpost, dictating the line of play and explaining to the golfer where they should position their ball, hence why they should never be blind!
I’m not a great believer in retaining bunkers either to catch a wayward drive.
DRAINAGE AND OBSTACLES
Never underestimate the importance of drainage potential and the natural location for ditches and ponds.
On the 1st hole at Leatherhead GC, used to lie a closed piped ditch in the exact place where there should be drainage outfall leading to a water body. The simple decision to reopen this ditch repays itself in no time, when the wet areas disappear for good. We always start every project by looking at the site, its soil and the drainage required controlling water across the site.
By opening up the ditch, we have restored a strategic carry feature for the par 5 opener and a drainage outfall for three fairways.
As much as I enjoy walking through modern heath-lands with silver birches, they are not my favourite trees on a golf course. With that being said, I have more of a problem with fir trees as they have been seemingly planted as preventative features, counties over, to block out golf, light, noise and people