Architecture and Maintenance: Help!

[Richard Pennell]

Hello all

With Ran's blessing, I'm making a shameless request for help with my college work. I'm studying HNC Sportsturf part-time, and have been allowed to tailor one of my dissertations to my own interests: architecture, obviously!

Still at the very early stages of thinking about this, but I had in mind a general talk about the effect that these 2 professions can have on each other. There are many factors in the architect's work that will influence management and either eradicate or create problems for subsequent turf managers, and likewise the degree to which the ideas and strategies behind the architect's design remain intact are subject to the influence of those who look after the course, and of course the committee who run the club. I'm thinking about things like turf conditioning and the management of surrounding trees from the greenkeeper's side, and perhaps issues like the spacing and placing of irrigation heads or the proximity of bunkers to putting greens from the architect's planning. Maybe wear and tear is a big issue in some places, too, which might have been avoided. That kind of thing.

I know there is a wealth of information behind most of the contributors on this board - anything that might stimulate further discussion or any suggestions of specific articles or courses I ought to consider would be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks in advance

Richard

PS I know everyone loves a nice photo so here's a few:

[Tom_Doak]

Richard:

Is the second photo Hankley Common?

From my own history, the one thing I didn't insist on strongly enough on some of my early courses was removing trees that would obviously cause turf problems near greens and tees.  

It is simply far too easy to be a wuss about it and say that the owner or superintendent can take them out later if it's a problem.  Well, the owner never wants to take them down, and the superintendent can't or he might be fired.  We have to get them down when we can, or they will be a problem forevermore.

The way to do this is simply to get them out in the clearing phase before anyone becomes attached to them -- or, if you really want to save the tree, don't put the green or tee quite so close to it!!

[Brian Phillips]

Tom,

That 2nd photo is Hankley Common.  I have a photo of how it used to look as well...


Before

After

[Ryan Crago]

wow... the heather at Hankley is amazing even now, but it looks that much denser then.  what year is that photo brian, do you know?

[Brian Phillips]

Ryan,

Here is another photo.  This was taken about 3 years ago.  The Head Greenkeeper showed us this area at the back of the course!!  There is enough heather there for about 10 golf courses!!  All owned by the Ministry of Defence though...

I think the photo was taken around 1895-1900 when the course just opened.

[A_Clay_Man]

Here's an anecdote that might be helpful.

A new nine holer, ordered by a municipality, buit on an old dump, had some seriously steep containment mounds, on the very periphery of the course. These things were way out of play. Only the worst of the worse shots could find them. In thier infinite wisdom, after the first season, the higher ups in the city government didn't like the weeds that had grown-up on these mounds. It just so happens the archies firm had the maintenance contract too. Well, the archie sent one of his guys out there with a riding mower only to have the guy injured (luckily not killed) as the riding mower tumbled over sideways down the even steeper back side of the mounds. The archie himself went to retrieve his expensive mower only to have the ridiculousness repeated.

Don't know if that was helpful, but certainly subtlety wins out, if only for liability's sake.

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