Designing ways

As golf experiences its latest boom — more than 120 new courses are under development, renovation or transformation in the U.S. — there’s increasing pressure on the other 15,000 or so to up their game and attract their share of new players. Which means you might find yourself involved in a redo of your course, and that usually means working with a golf course architect.

I have nothing against architects as a rule. Their vision has helped propel the game forward and keep it interesting. But when brought in to “restore,” “reinvigorate” or “reimagine” an existing course, sometimes their personal biases can overwhelm what’s best for the property. That could mean trouble for you.

If/when you find yourself about to work with an architect, keep these key points in mind:

Fortunately, deciding to renovate or transform a golf course is not an overnight decision. Substantial planning is required to develop a budget, secure financing, verify the accuracy of estimates, acquire vendors, order supplies and equipment, and to communicate with stakeholders. This gives you plenty of time to plan and to forge a relationship with the architect, the builder and other contractors.

As soon as you learn management wants to bring in an architect — a decision you should be in on — start doing your research. Look into that person’s other renovations, particularly any in your neighborhood. Talk with other superintendents who’ve gone through renos: Find out what surprised them, what was easy and hard, and who to watch out for. And if you can find a fellow superintendent who worked with the same architect, pump them for details.

While you do all you can to protect yourself, here are some key areas on the golf course that need protecting. I spoke with a number of superintendents who’ve been involved with renovations lately. Of course, this is not a comprehensive list. Only you know where the trouble spots are on your course. But it’s a start.

Putting greens

Since they’re 50 percent of the game, they’re almost always a focus of a redo. Making them hard to play is easy; maintaining them is not.

Greens need a proper grass-growing environment, where sun and air cross the surface. They must be built to move water across the surfaces and into subsurface green drainage. Greens must be designed to spread out the traffic of golfers walking on and off, so make sure they are large enough for your audience. Also make sure each green has at least seven hole placement options — one for each day of the week.

The green’s perimeter edges should be clearly defined so there is no issue where the surface stops and collars begin. This is how shrinkage begins.

Greens that are too sloped or too mounded are difficult to maintain, leading to scalping or worse, turf loss. Designing greens requires imagination, but depends on drainage, drainage and more drainage … and the proper amount of space for fair hole locations.

Watch out for last-minute negligence, such as dragging “leftover” green mix to the edge of the green and leaving it there. That’s a surefire recipe for trouble.

Grassing lines

Here is where the superintendent and architect must be in sync from day one.

Can you fit their design into your corridors? Is your mowing equipment able to move easily around the corridors, or will it have to contend with bumps, humps, obstacles and crowded bunkers? The width of fairway mowers dictates maintenance and eventually, the look of the golf course.

Grassing lines need to be at a uniform width. Tell the architect what size and kind of equipment you use, as well as how the rough will be mowed so maintenance can avoid time-consuming hand mowing and weed eating.

Teeing ground space

The first and 10th tees, or anywhere that can become a congestion point (snack bar, clubhouse, photo ops, betting and wagers) needs to be large enough to handle a traffic jam. You know the patterns and can predict where the bottlenecks and wear will occur.

When defining these areas, also ensure there is ample space for riding mowers, and wide enough to make turns. Not every course can afford to hand-mow tees daily. Check the tees’ proximity to slopes as well.

Bunkers

If golfers think they hate bunkers, they should talk with us. Because what do bunkers mean to maintenance crews? Hand work. With the labor issues facing our industry, it behooves you to speak up before bunkering gets out of control.

There have to be some bunkers, of course, but you want the architect to avoid steep slopes. Maintenance should trump optics, and safety (of golfers and your crew) should prevail over all other considerations. Don’t let the “artist’s ego” top common sense.

The turf around bunkers needs to fit the region, temperatures and soils. I don’t understand this obsession with fine fescue around bunker edges as it wreaks havoc with maintenance and most golfers.

Other considerations

Cart paths

Make them wide enough — especially on bridges and at tight turns — to handle heavy maintenance equipment. The paths should put golfers near teeing grounds and around the putting greens.

Practice facilities

A renovation is a good opportunity to update the practice range. If available, add more tee space and plan for a row of artificial mats. Upgrade the short game practice area but avoid building fancy target greens with sand bunkering that must be maintained: Before you know it, instead of 18 holes, you’ll be caring for 24 or 27.

Tree removal

If you are closing the entire course, take the opportunity to cull the tree population, especially those that are not protected or essential to the design. Pinpoint those that have intruding roots, cast shade on putting surfaces or pose a safety hazard to golfers and staff.

Infrastructure updates

Again, use this as a chance to examine the lifespans of your vital operating items, from irrigation system to pump house, overall drainage, and fairway mowers to chemical storage. The Golf Course Builders Association of America has excellent resources for this purpose.

Agronomy

While the course is closed, fix agronomic problems, especially if they’re not already addressed in the renovation. You know where and what they are. Don’t let the designer add to them.

Post-construction labor and equipment

Once a project is done don’t think you’ll be able to maintain it with the same budget or equipment. A “new” course requires more inputs (fertilizer and chemicals) and possibly new or more equipment and crew.

Egos and turf (literally and figuratively) aside, transforming your golf course may be one of the most exciting projects you undertake. Just make sure it’s a win for you.

And remember this simple rule: If you see something, say something!