Benches, trash receptacles, ball washers and other clutter at tee boxes

[Julian Wise]

Some courses have benches, trash receptacles and ball washers at every tee, some have none and some have them scattered throughout the course.  I was able to get rid of the ball washers at my club (we require caddies to be taken before 3 pm and all carts have ball washers on them) and we are now down to 6 benches at the men's tees and 6 benches at the women's tees (they used to be at every tee for both men and women) but I would like to further reduce the amount of benches and am getting pushback from a segment of the membership who want the benches back and do not want a further reduction of benches. 

My reasoning is simple: reducing or eliminating benches at the tees will save a significant amount of money and labor for the maintenance staff (they do not have to move these items every day when they mow and there is no dead grass under the benches as a result of grass under the benches not getting water from sprinkler system).  The more important benefit though is the aesthetics of the golf course--the holes without the benches look more natural and cleaner.

The argument I hear back is people get tired on a course and want to rest.  Keep in mind that carts are available to all members.

Thoughts?

[Ulrich Mayring]

Benches are great for those slow moving rounds, so you can sit down and don't have to stand around waiting for the fairway to clear. Also, you can wait a little longer than necessary and let the group in front get a headstart.

Other than that benches are just as superfluous as carts. I think you could save a lot more money in maintenance by getting rid of carts, though

Ulrich

[John Kavanaugh]

So, maintenance workers need to get off their riding mowers to move benches. Give them push mowers and they will love a good bench as much as I do.

[David_Tepper]

Julian -

I am 99% sure there was a thread on this very topic here not more than 3-6 months ago. I think the consensus was the less "clutter," the better.

DT

[Julian Wise]

Julian -

I am 99% sure there was a thread on this very topic here not more than 3-6 months ago. I think the consensus was the less "clutter," the better.

DT

I saw a thread but it did not really go into clutter on the tee--it was more on red, white and blue yardage markers.  One would think the consensus was the less clutter the better.  Thx.

[Pete_Pittock]

Benches should be treated differently than the other clutter. Look at it from the perspective of someone who is nearing the cusp of transitioning from walking to riding.

[Ian Mackenzie]

Sorry, I'm laughing as I read this as we have lived this topic.


It starts with the new minimalist restoration/retained GCAs advocating "less visual clutter". That also includes: trees, mowing lines, tee box shapes, bridges, flowers...and, yes....ball washers, benches and trash cans.


That works well at GOLF CLUBS but falls short at country clubs....IMO.


Here's my $.02...:


1. Sure, you have caddies, but you need ball washers for juniors who carry their bags and for walkers after 3:00. Put 3-4 out there, put a towel over the top and, after a few days, see if the towels have moved. HORROR: if you have "Monday outings", you need them, too.


2. Benches: you have to have SOME. They are usually for couples golf where the ladies tee off well in front and they seek a bench to sit while their spouses hit from mens tees. Otherwise, people sitting on a course is pure BS.


3. Trash cans: You NEED them. You need them on the hole that follows where you get water, snacks, etc. Othwerwise, you need one on first tee where people dump their coffee cups and new golf ball sleeves. Need one near 10 tee after you get a drink to throw out your cup, etc.


It's a compromise between the purism of the new GCA dogma and the pragmatism of being a club that needs to cater to member needs. The needs of the maintenance staff is pure crap. If that was the case then they would be doing more "high cuts" on trees to trim the descending branches that bug the shit out of me...;-)...and interfere with my low, punch recovery shots.

[Sean_A]

I like benches at a few spots where it is possible for backups to happen...can't see the harm in it.  The rest of the stuff is really just clutter.  If there is a loo and or halfway house on the course put a basket and ball washer there.  Golfbags have pockets...people can put their crap in it for a few hours. 

Ciao

[James Brown]

Seems to me that dogma about benches is silly.  Put them where they make sense.  A few good benches along the way make for a great walk. 

[Garland Bayley]

 

[Adrian_Stiff]

Some courses have benches, trash receptacles and ball washers at every tee, some have none and some have them scattered throughout the course.  I was able to get rid of the ball washers at my club (we require caddies to be taken before 3 pm and all carts have ball washers on them) and we are now down to 6 benches at the men's tees and 6 benches at the women's tees (they used to be at every tee for both men and women) but I would like to further reduce the amount of benches and am getting pushback from a segment of the membership who want the benches back and do not want a further reduction of benches. 

My reasoning is simple: reducing or eliminating benches at the tees will save a significant amount of money and labor for the maintenance staff (they do not have to move these items every day when they mow and there is no dead grass under the benches as a result of grass under the benches not getting water from sprinkler system).  The more important benefit though is the aesthetics of the golf course--the holes without the benches look more natural and cleaner.

The argument I hear back is people get tired on a course and want to rest.  Keep in mind that carts are available to all members.

Thoughts?

All depends how begged out the course is, saves money but the things your eliminating are highly desired at the better clubs.

[Adam Lawrence]

I'm with Ulrich. Hard to see benches and ball washers as clutter if the place is overrun with golf carts.

[John Mayhugh]

I'm with Ulrich. Hard to see benches and ball washers as clutter if the place is overrun with golf carts.

At least visual clutter like benches and trash receptacles are on the periphery of the holes - unlike carts. 

[Tim Martin]

Benches should stay. The original post makes reference to carts for a place to sit down. What about if the group contains four walkers?

[Steve Lang]

   Julian,


Where is this course of yours?  Are you a benevolent dictator there or what?


This all seems rather micro-management, imposed aesthetics kind of a thing, almost snowflake territory. 


Would you get rid of nicely placed water coolers every 3 holes, which also serve as trash receptacles at a course along the 30th parallel and favor folks, especially walkers getting dehydrated in the summer?


I've found benches at par three tees at Bandon Trails and the Loop which I thought were perfectly placed...


Just wondering...

[Bruce Katona]

I pose a beta test for this dilemma at your course Julian:

Convince the membership; for a 2 week period in season where there is a typical amount of play; to have the Golf Course Super's staff remove all of these extra items about the teeing area that cause visual distraction and hand work by the maintenance staff and see the result.


if the beta test saves time and money great; if the members b$tch and moan about no place to sit, dirty golf balls, trash all over the place return all the teeing furniture.


Pretty simple.

[Jim Franklin]

Some courses have benches, trash receptacles and ball washers at every tee, some have none and some have them scattered throughout the course.  I was able to get rid of the ball washers at my club (we require caddies to be taken before 3 pm and all carts have ball washers on them) and we are now down to 6 benches at the men's tees and 6 benches at the women's tees (they used to be at every tee for both men and women) but I would like to further reduce the amount of benches and am getting pushback from a segment of the membership who want the benches back and do not want a further reduction of benches. 

My reasoning is simple: reducing or eliminating benches at the tees will save a significant amount of money and labor for the maintenance staff (they do not have to move these items every day when they mow and there is no dead grass under the benches as a result of grass under the benches not getting water from sprinkler system).  The more important benefit though is the aesthetics of the golf course--the holes without the benches look more natural and cleaner.

The argument I hear back is people get tired on a course and want to rest.  Keep in mind that carts are available to all members.

Thoughts?

Where are you a member?

As for trash receptacles, you can bury them in the ground and have them open when you step on handle. Out of site. Benches are needed if you have a hilly course. Ball washers, never use them myself.

[Bret Lawrence]

I think benches and water coolers are the tipping point for the declutter argument.  Once you start to take away accessories people view as necessary, then you have perhaps gone too far.


I have always felt a bench in a parkland setting fits right into the landscape and doesn't jar my senses. 


I'm glad to see there is some pushback from the members on the benches.  They are probably worried if they let you take out the benches, the flags and cups would be next. 


Any clubs considering decluttering their course should offer some of these golf accessories to your local municipal course.  I'm sure they would be happy to receive some newer benches and ball washers. 

[Jeff_Brauer]

More and more, trash cans are buried to remove clutter, a great compromise solution.


I don't mind benches, and if moving them to mow is a problem, simply tear out the turf and add decomposed granite.  Being in a shady area reduces the visual impact, but oh, wait, benches should be put in shady areas.


As to water coolers, they seem to be fewer and far between since that case of water contamination several years back, not to mention, most courses would prefer to sell you a bottle of water rather than give it to you for free.

[Mike Schott]

More and more, trash cans are buried to remove clutter, a great compromise solution.


I don't mind benches, and if moving them to mow is a problem, simply tear out the turf and add decomposed granite.  Being in a shady area reduces the visual impact, but oh, wait, benches should be put in shady areas.


As to water coolers, they seem to be fewer and far between since that case of water contamination several years back, not to mention, most courses would prefer to sell you a bottle of water rather than give it to you for free.

I bring my own water bottles to the course (public) because there are rarely enough coolers. Most newer water coolers are the newer designs that eliminate the contamination problem by the way.

[John Kavanaugh]

Benches have been disappearing from tee boxes for years as a cost saving measure. Probably doesn't help that the guys who put them up for the winter are the same guys who have to get out of their motorized vehicles to move them. The other item which improves the golfers experience that have been missing lately are the combination ball washer/club cleaner on carts. I now carry one in my truck and install it on my cart for play. My friend has one also...funny, it's nice having clean clubs.


A legitimate question: Has anything that saves the maintenance crew time made the golfing experience better? Not to mention filling in bunkers that is.

[Rob Marshall]

I don't understand any private club that requires a Caddy. I think that's ridiculous. Talk about golf being too expensive already, adding $80-$100 to every round of golf? Resort course I can understand.



Eliminating ball washers I get. Benches come on. We were late putting ours out this year and it sucked not having a place to sit down when there was a back up during afternoon rounds.

[Ulrich Mayring]

Maybe we can get a specific number on how much the members' dues would decrease, if benches were removed? Or what other area those cost savings would be put into? Then the members could decide which way they want to have it.

Ulrich

[Jeff_Brauer]

There are a few national companies selling golf course benches, ball washers, sand for filling divot containers, etc.


The last time I spec'd out a complete package, the minimum was about $45K, using plastic. Probably minimum $50K now.  If you go real teak instead of simulated wood, the price went up 2 or 3X.  It was real easy to double the minimum package.  Sort of like wrought iron fencing, where the base price might be a reasonable $10-12 per LF, but add any do dads, to make it look like something other than a utilitarian fence, and it doubles quickly.


Standard Golf is the basic models for the most part. https://www.standardgolf.com/


Companies like Prestwick offer slightly more upscale accessories, probably more suited at a club level. https://www.prestwickgolfgroup.com/  The $45K was from this company.

[John Kavanaugh]

I'm sitting on a bench right now enjoying a cigar watching golfers start their day. Sad thing is that it is one of seven benches that used to be out on this nine hole course. I'd enjoy a piece written on the role of the forgotten golf course bench.