Geology and GCA

[Dan Herrmann]

When designing a course, how much of a factor, if any, is geology?

I see that Mr. Robert Price has written a book, "Scotland's Golf Courses", which includes a section that includes, "an analysis of the golf course geology including links, parkland and how these were created".

Has the impact of geology diminished with the advent of tools like the bulldozer?  If so, has anything been lost?  Has minimalism re-increased the importance of geology

Here's a geological map of Pennsylvania:

[Philippe Binette]

Huge...

there's a reason there a bunch of great course in Melbourne, Long Island, Bandon...

SOIL, sandy soil

[Mark Bourgeois]

There's great golf associated with terminal moraine lines in Ohio (Columbus area), NYC, and Long Island.

[Bruce Katona]

Using you PA Map, the courses in the Blue Mt. region will be hilly and expensive to construct due to the geology and exposed rock formations, resulting in blasting being required to construct a course.

[Michael Dugger]

John Kirk.....white courtesy phone please...

[Norbert P]

Feature Interview with Robert Price . . .

http://www.golfclubatlas.com/interviewprice.html


"When designing a course, how much of a factor, if any, is geology?"  Dan Herrmann

The more one becomes familiar with a site geologically, the more confidently and efficiently one can design an honest golf course upon it. 

[RJ_Daley]

The more one becomes familiar with a site geologically, the more confidently and efficiently one can design an honest golf course upon it.

Norby, I get the confident and efficient part, but how do you interpret the 'honest' part?  I guess it could mean an honest course is a more natural or least impactful to the general natural geographic or geologic region.  Also, should we consider the soil science part more geography and agronomy than geology?

[Norbert P]

A. ... how do you interpret the 'honest' part? 

B.     Also, should we consider the soil science part more geography and agronomy than geology?

A. IMHO  ,   An honest course is a more natural or least impactful to the general natural geographic or geologic region.  (It keeps in character with the surrounding theme of land and environment.)

B. They all weigh in together.

Dick, you've compiled a prospectus before so you know how much research goes into the land before investors will get involved with their money.

[RJ_Daley]

Norby, to be 'honest'  , in our case the investors that did buy a subscription share on average spent no time investigating the geology, soil characteristics (which were stated in the prospectus).  In a marketing deal like that, it seems to me to be strictly a deal of marketing herd mentality, where the cool kids go with their money and social clubbing.  Even golf seemed to take a back seat to that.  'honestly' 

But, rest assured, we as original investors and offerers of the prospectus did a serious job of investigating the soil science and drainage/perc rates and I'd say more geography than geology aspects, except for the geologic-hydrology aspects of tertiary water table known depths for high cap well impacts. 

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