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Ash Towe

  • Karma: +0/-0
Wind and width of fairways
« on: January 05, 2006, 02:58:28 PM »
I played at Cape Kidnappers on Wednesday and there was 25-35 knot winds blowing.  I got to wondering if architects scientifically measure the wind over a period of time to help determine routing plus width, angle, and shape of fairway or do they rely on personal judgement and others local knowledge.
By the way CK is now playing much firmer and faster than it did when it first opened two years ago.

Jeff_Brauer

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Wind and width of fairways
« Reply #1 on: January 06, 2006, 11:10:14 AM »
Ash,

Great topic that deserves a response, given we can blather on about Finnish hockey for several posts!

I guess you would say I start with some scientific measurements, consider ingwind when creating fw width, but then finish the design intuitively.

I find out from historical weather data (now easily available on the internet) the average and gust wind speeds of a site, typical directions in different seasons, etc.  I consider a base fw width to be 30-40 yards, depending on the length of hole, and consider widening it for windy conditions.  If average crosswind speed is 17MPH, I might widen it 17%, if 36MPH, then maybe 36%. I don't know if there is specific correlation to how wind affects any given ball, but think this is generally a good start.

In general, if a hole normally plays in a crosswind, I add some width to what it might otherwise be.  If in a headwind, I add a smaller fraction, and if its downwind, I may narrow it. I also widen fairways if there is a substantial hazard like OB or water on one side, esp. if on the downwind side, or there is crossslope.

Of course, I also walk the hole after clearing to see if it really feels that windy, what the hole calls for, what trees or features to use/preserve, etc.  Open sites need this wind consideration more than ones with mature trees, which block wind, or sometimes make it swirl.

The goal is to avoid a fairway where typical conditions make it nearly impossible to hit with a reasonably good tee shot.  Now, I don't want all tee shots to come out about the same difficulty level, and don't mind a tough tee shot.  I narrow one long par 4 every course for difficulty, for example.  But, I don't want them to be impossible.

« Last Edit: January 06, 2006, 11:26:49 AM by Jeff_Brauer »
Jeff Brauer, ASGCA Director of Outreach

David Druzisky

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Wind and width of fairways
« Reply #2 on: January 06, 2006, 12:32:15 PM »
great response by Jeff.

While we concern ourselves with fwy width on windy sites we must also consider green surrounds and the approach shot.  This is where that 3rd dimension of the hole design can really be emphasized.

DbD

Ash Towe

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Wind and width of fairways
« Reply #3 on: January 07, 2006, 01:22:27 AM »
Jeff,
Thanks very much for your excellent and informative response.  Do other architects have similar methods and ideas?

Tyler Kearns

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Wind and width of fairways
« Reply #4 on: January 07, 2006, 01:51:22 AM »
Ash,

I think Jeff sums things up very nicely. When considering the width of a fairway, wind is one of many factors that influence that decision. A hole playing across a slope might demand a much wider fairway because in combination with a prevailing wind, the ball would easily get away into the rough. Enough width should be present so that a well executed golf shot can be kept within its limits.

TK

Tom_Doak

  • Karma: +2/-1
Re:Wind and width of fairways
« Reply #5 on: January 07, 2006, 08:53:56 AM »
I tend to build everything wide, and on windy sites, wider still.  However at Cape Kidnappers some of the widths were predetermined by a Maori god and all the fill in the world would not change them!  On other holes the fairway is 80 yards wide but the people who play down the inside edge still miss it!

On a couple of projects we have had clients put up wind gauges, however even studying a place for a year does not tell you the whole story, as the weather can vary from one year to the next.  During the whole of construction at Cape Kidnappers it was wetter and calmer than usual ... the locals told us it would be much drier, but they forgot to mention that it would also be much windier!

paul cowley

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Wind and width of fairways
« Reply #6 on: January 07, 2006, 10:17:54 AM »
I tend to agree with Tom ....I can't remember the last time I designed a hole where narrow was the strategy except at the green....I love width to play the ball.

I am at a new job in Cabo  that is on the Pacific side in the dunes....the owner had some concerns about the wind intially as he was told many times that the reason there is no golf on the Pacific side is because of windy conditions.....he was very used to the desert style  courses that abound on the Sea of Cortez  and felt that too much wind would make it too hard to play.
We suggested a trip to Bandon as he had never played a links style course and he became a believer.....in the interim there are now five other courses planned on the Pacific side...I guess the naysayers ran out of room to the east, so the future should be interesting.

I can assure you the in-season wind is nowheres like that on the west of Ireland.....a tad warmer too  ;D.

Its really just a design thing
« Last Edit: January 07, 2006, 10:19:56 AM by paul cowley »
paul cowley...golf course architect/asgca

Robert Thompson

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Wind and width of fairways
« Reply #7 on: January 07, 2006, 10:33:33 AM »
Isn't the tournament in Hawaii this week proof that narrow fairways and long rough aren't the only way to protect par? Kapalua is wide, and this week the trade winds are strong, making it fun to watch and giving the players lots of options. Seems to me the British Open could play this way, but the last time it was windy was when the tournament was played at Muirfield and Tiger shot 81....
I guess there's never any wind at Augusta, which is why the powers that be feel the only way they can protect the course is by narrowing fairways and adding trees.
Terrorizing Toronto Since 1997

Read me at Canadiangolfer.com

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