Golf course planning principles are required when you are considering construction of new golf course or expanding the existing one.
General planning of the golf course
When constructing a new course or adding to an existing golf course, priority should be placed on playing conditions. The conditions should be user friendly and should safely accommodate a large number of rounds of golf. It should be easily maintained and attractive. The course should be designed with wide landing areas and gentle green surrounds making it more user friendly to mid and high handicappers who comprise the majority. It should also provide challenging opportunities to low handicappers. The design should also acknowledge the tendency of the majority of golfers slicing the ball or playing to the right of their intended target. Lay out for New golf course should incorporate a creative routing which is environmentally sensitive. Greens and tees should be in close proximity to one another to allow golfers to walk the course and accelerate play. All slopes around greens, tees, bunkers, and mounds should not be greater than 5:1.
Planning of hole length
· The golf course length for regulation 18 hole par 72 should range in length from 7,000 yards from championship to 5,500 yards from forward tees.
· 18 hole course should include four par 5 holes, four par 3 holes and ten par 4 holes.
· The first and tenth hole should be easy holes to expedite play off the opening tees.
· Holes should become increasingly difficult to play as the rounds proceeds and finish with easier holes.
· Holes with like par should vary in direction and length.
· Holes 1, 9, 10 and 18 should not be par holes while consecutive par 5 or 3 holes should be avoided.
Golf greens
· Golf greens form the heart of the golf course and the shape may depend on the strategy of the golf design.
· The shape should be such that it should allow proper drainage in two or more directions.
· A number and variety of pin placements should accommodate to minimize wear and maintenance of the greens.
· Golf greens should follow USGA guidelines. The percolation rate of the final soil mixture should be at least 5 inch per hour.
Fairways and roughs on golf course
· Fairway landing areas should be 60-70 yards wide.
· Fairways should have minor undulations and should not be flat in appearance to provide visual interest and facilitate drainage.
· There should be at least 6 inches of top soil in fairways and 12-14 inches around features like bunkers, aprons, etc.
· Select trees that require less maintenance and increase the beauty of the course.
Bunkers
· Bunkers should be placed judiciously and should be visible from tees.
· They should be drained properly to prevent ponding.
· Bunkers should not be constructed below the elevation of fairway
· Bunkers that are long iron shot from green should be shallow with minimal lips and vice versa.
In a nutshell, it can be said that the course should be designed to provide good turf and playing conditions with a minimum of maintenance and safety of golfers with regard to avoiding errant shots should be considered at the top most priority.
