Just what does it take to turn a parcel of land into an 18-hole golf course? That is the question posed to – and answered – by ASGCA President Greg Martin, ASGCA, (Martin Design) in an interview with “Blueprint” magazine.
“We have to focus on agronomics, turf science, grading and drainage, site use and infrastructure—it all comes into play,” Martin said.
The article continues:
To start, Martin explains, developers will wither come to him with a piece of land to see if a course can be created there, or they’ll share an idea with his team and ask for help finding a proper plot. Together, once they have the land and it’s ready for development, they’ll move on to the design phase. Will there be a clubhouse? Will it be a small hub or a large facility with restaurants, banquet rooms and outdoor space? Will the clubhouse offer guests sufficient views of the course? Will there be practice facilities? Where is the road access? All this and more contribute to the many design iterations and revisions that Martin’s team undergoes before ever breaking ground.
“It’s not like you can drop 18 holes onto a property and figure out how to connect them after the fact,” Martin says. Also, not only should the path be a continuous line, easily flowing from one hole to the next, but “a routing plan should provide a golfer with a very distinct tour of the landscape. The intent is to gently reveal the property using the game of golf as a method to do so.”
The complete “Blueprint” article can be seen here.
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