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

[Kalen Braley]

I gotta agree with JK on this, a rare occurence I know.


Whats wrong with a few benches, especially at scenic spots to take it all in on a beautiful day.  I can think of a few courses I've played where I wouldn't have minded a bench to just chill and take it all in and let a few groups play thru...

[John Kavanaugh]

I'm also going to play tennis tonight and enjoy a bench between sets. While this may sound common place our court is the only one with benches because we are on court 1. Until today I have taken that for granted. In my youth I worked my ass of to get off the bench while now it is a reward for my small efforts to connect with the outside world. Viva la bench!!!

[JLahrman]

I play tennis and golf. I'm a diehard walker on the golf course, and still trying to play singles on the tennis court.


I never sit down during a round of golf or a tennis match. If I sit down I'm worried about trying to get back up.

[BHoover]

If we want to save significant money on maintenance costs, why stop with benches, ball washers, and trash cans. Why not eliminate tee boxes, fairways, and greens too? Just have an unmaintained field. Big time cost savings!

[John Mayhugh]

Good courses manage to survive the aesthetic horrors of benches, ball washers, and trash receptacles.  If the course is good, those things don't matter. If it's not good, eliminating them isn't going to make the courses better.

These are some examples of why the "clutter" doesn't really matter.
Morfontaine


Swinley Forest


Kingston Heath - club & ball wash (towel required), trash receptacle


Cypress Point


Shinnecock


National Golf Links - the second pic being one of the best sited benches in the world

[Ian Mackenzie]

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.

Well, this issue - as framed by the original poster - is (almost) uniquely a private club thing. Even more so at clubs (as detailed above) that have active caddy programs where carrying your bag or taking a cart are "prohibited" until later in the afternoon. (With the exception of junior golfers or seniors or if you are "injured".)


Eliminating visual distractions on a course is a theme that many GCAs and golf committees espouse lately. As an example, we have lowered all of our bridge railings and replaced metal rails that were 3 feet high with wooden blocks only 18" high.


As I previously stated, a sound course of action is to compromise between pragmatism and aesthetics. Unless, of course, you are a pure golf club with a "committee of one" and can do whatever you want. Members have needs. If you dont address them, then they may not vote for your new tree "remediation program" next year....;-)....or, as I like to call it: The "Trophy Tree Preservation Program".

[Julian Wise]

Wow--seems to be a topic that gets the passions rolling.  I agree that there is not a universal answer and it depends in many cases on whether there are caddies at the course (and especially if a caddie is required), whether it is a private club (rounds tend to be shorter and less waiting time on tee boxes), whether the course is particularly hilly, etc.  And no resolution based on the responses here will make everyone happy.  Seems like having a few benches at certain tee boxes would be the middle ground and would probably make nobody happy.  Appreciate all of the responses. 

[Kalen Braley]

John,


Thank you for posting those.  Benches done well can add charm, enchantment, and long lasting memories.

[John Kavanaugh]

Julian,


Not a single golfer at your club wants benches removed from yours or any course on the planet. I did a quick calculation and the savings, assuming an employee cost of $50/hr comes to 25 cents per round based on 20,000 rounds per year. Please, this is a non issue.

[Kalen Braley]

Unless your taking the ballyneal route with no tee markers....


The dude on the mower has to get off anyways...18 times.  Is it really adding much more to move a bench located on a half dozen holes around the course?

[Ian Mackenzie]

Julian,


Not a single golfer at your club wants benches removed from yours or any course on the planet. I did a quick calculation and the savings, assuming an employee cost of $50/hr comes to 25 cents per round based on 20,000 rounds per year. Please, this is a non issue.

You miss the point. And, no, you are incorrect.
Maintenance has nothing to do with it.


Let's then decorate the first tee with:


1. Black, blue, white, red and yellow "orb" tee markets
2. A bench
3. A trash can
4. A "Rolex clock"
5. A ball washer


It's a minimalist aesthetic vs. a free for all for everyone's need.


Compromise.

[Sean_A]

Good courses manage to survive the aesthetic horrors of benches, ball washers, and trash receptacles.  If the course is good, those things don't matter. If it's not good, eliminating them isn't going to make the courses better.

These are some examples of why the "clutter" doesn't really matter.
Morfontaine


Swinley Forest


Kingston Heath - club & ball wash (towel required), trash receptacle


Cypress Point


Shinnecock


National Golf Links - the second pic being one of the best sited benches in the world

At least two of these examples are cases where the junk should be removed...adds nothing to the setting thats for sure.  As I said before, if stuff is gonna be added, make it count aesthetically and functionally.  Its very easy to get carried away with so called amenties which are really just clutter.


Ciao

[John Kavanaugh]

A bench on the first tee is a wonderful place for an older golfer to catch up with friends and people who he can only guess he may have once known.

[Mike Sweeney]

A bench on the first tee is a wonderful place for an older golfer to catch up with friends and people who he can only guess he may have once known.

John Mayhugh's and John K's post are really great post.


Thanks

[jeffwarne]

Good courses manage to survive the aesthetic horrors of benches, ball washers, and trash receptacles.  If the course is good, those things don't matter. If it's not good, eliminating them isn't going to make the courses better.

These are some examples of why the "clutter" doesn't really matter.
Morfontaine


Swinley Forest


Kingston Heath - club & ball wash (towel required), trash receptacle


Cypress Point


Shinnecock


National Golf Links - the second pic being one of the best sited benches in the world

At least two of these examples are cases where the junk should be removed...adds nothing to the setting thats for sure.  As I said before, if stuff is gonna be added, make it count aesthetically and functionally.  Its very easy to get carried away with so called amenties which are really just clutter.


Ciao

One man's clutter is another man's treasure
to quote an old friend ...."seems like small beer to me"

[Jeff_Brauer]

BTW, my memory was slightly off, but close. In 2010, these were the costs, and I imagine they have gone up 20% with inflation since then:


 For 18 holes (range not part of project):

a. benches, washers, signs = $27,000 (now $32.5K)
b. sprinkler yardages = $10,000 (now $12K)
c. tee markers = $8,100 (now (almost 10K)
d. directional signs allowance = $6,000. (now $7.2K)

Total for a nice package (which can vary, of course) $60+K, plus outfitting the range., so maybe $3500 x 19 holes for a total package......that is, if anyone really cares......
 

[Garland Bayley]

Sprinkler yardages! Now that is real clutter we don't need.

[Sean_A]

One man's clutter is another man's treasure
to quote an old friend ...."seems like small beans to me"

Its definitely small beer, but since the man asked...

Ciao

[Mark Chaplin]

Having spent 45 minutes sitting on the bench at the rear of a very backed up 16th tee at Cypress Point, I can assure you a well placed bench is both welcome and in keeping with the surroundings. Fortunately there were no buggies to ruin the view.

[Jeff_Brauer]

I'm good with the seemingly requisite human need clutter around tees, except when they put advertising on benches or tee signs.

[Jon Wiggett]

I still like the traditional bench which had the sandbox, waste bin, bag stand, ball washer and hole information on it. Functional and simple.


Jon

[Pete_Pittock]

If the problem with the benches is groundskeepers getting off their high movers, putting the benches (etc.) on a small cement or gravel pad will take care of the problem.

[Mike Hendren]

John Mayhugh, nice work.  I'd like to think that's John Bernhardt sitting on the bench at NGLA whether it is or isn't.

Cheers.

[Ira Fishman]

Clutter around the tees strikes me as a classic First World problem.  Getting to play the greatest game in the world in nice to beautiful surroundings makes it hard to complain about some functional distractions.  Plus, at my age walking in the heat produces a profound gratitude for the occasional bench and water cooler.  And given the latter, a well and discretely placed bathroom is most welcome.


Ira

[Craig Sweet]

I was golfing at the Old Works one day and joined up with an elderly couple that played the course on a regular basis.  I had noticed there were no benches so I asked them if they knew why. The answer....Troon Golf (or whatever golf course management company was running the show at the time) had done a study and determined that benches ADDED 30 minutes to a round of golf.  So, to speed up play they removed them!