Material of paths on a links course

[Ally Mcintosh]

Strandhill has too many paths.


This is partly as a product of 40,000 rounds a year but still, they extend too far down the hole, they’re in the eyeline too often and they are made of poor material. (Note these are paths from green to tee to start of fairway, not full coverage).


We’ve started to reduce in areas where we are pulling the fairway forward and in the process we will re-route many out of the immediate eyeline.


So now we’re getting to the stage of looking at the finished material / surface.


I am torn so looking for opinions. (Note grass is not an option - no irrigation with too many rounds).


What tee to fairway path surface do people like to see on a links course?


Some options: rubber diamond mesh with grass through / hi-spec artificial turf / sandy coloured gravel among others...

[Ally Mcintosh]

N.B. Should have mentioned that I know the different maintenance and cost considerations.


I’m really just looking for opinions on aesthetics.


Thanks,
Ally

[Thomas Dai]

First choice appearance wise would be rubber diamond with grass growing through.
Atb

[Tom_Doak]

First choice appearance wise would be rubber diamond with grass growing through.
Atb

Ironically, tge first time I met Bill Coore, he had a path material like this on his first design in Texas, and when he showed it to me he said never to get talked into that, because it just looks like weeds up close.


Maybe they have better stuff now, but I wouldn't know because I followed Bill's advice to tge letter!

[Ally Mcintosh]

It is much better these days, Tom - quite a nice product.... But the risk remains that on a heavy traffic area with no irrigation, the grass doesn’t take and you can be left with uneven coverage which doesn’t look good at all. Feels good underfoot, mind.

[William_G]

wood chips

[Peter Pallotta]

Ally -
from my summer construction job years, it striking how well limestone screening compacts into place and does a decent job of mitigating weeds, and if it's finished off (or maybe even mixed with) some multi-toned greyish pea-gravel I think blends in nicely with all the rest, i.e. with grass and turf and earth/dirt and vegetation etc.
Peter   

[Luke Eipper]

Last summer I had the chance to play Noordwijkse in the Netherlands.
If I recall correctly, this links course had paths which were constructed of a fine crushed rock/gravel, sand and sea shells. It looked very natural and functioned perfectly.


David Davis will likely be able to confirm exactly what the paths were constructed of.


Cheers
Luke

[Ally Mcintosh]

Last summer I had the chance to play Noordwijkse in the Netherlands.
If I recall correctly, this links course had paths which were constructed of a fine crushed rock/gravel, sand and sea shells. It looked very natural and functioned perfectly.


David Davis will likely be able to confirm exactly what the paths were constructed of.


Cheers
Luke

Yes, this is one serious consideration and perhaps my favourite. It tends to work in with the natural sand and bunker sand colour.


The club are favouring high-spec artificial grass, despite the cost. It makes sense for maintenance purposes and you do get really authentic looking material these days. But I’m 50/50 on whether it would look ok. Any opinions on this or other courses it is used successfully?

[Robin_Hiseman]

Ally


I was impressed by these Huxley paths at Tandridge. I didn't realise it was artificial until I walked on it.





Nothing beats real grass paths though. The new ones at Ballybunion are lovely. You'll need irrigation and rye grass though.

[Thomas Dai]

Do you have any rabbit or other burrowing animal issues at Strandhill? I’ve seen a couple of artificial paths where critters have burrowed under them from the outside edges and the artificial paths previously level surface has suffered accordingly.
With gravel or formal artificial are there not issues with mower blade damage, not just to the blades themselves but also to the path edging plus there’s the infamous dovetail issue where paths end and fairways begin. These areas often suffer quite considerable damage.
Would it be feasible to have appropriately coloured artificial near the tees, where there is usually most wear from player foot fall and trolley etc manuoverings, tapering off at either end with grass growing through diamond mesh?
Atb

[Niall C]

It is much better these days, Tom - quite a nice product.... But the risk remains that on a heavy traffic area with no irrigation, the grass doesn’t take and you can be left with uneven coverage which doesn’t look good at all. Feels good underfoot, mind.

Ally/Tom,


I'm not sure the material is the issue, is not more what the spoil and the grass type is ? (Here's me pretending I know what I'm talking about with a couple of architects !)


The problem with wear and tear on links as I see it, is that paths can quickly crumble away and what you end up with is not so much worn grass but actual pot holes. At least the plastic mesh prevents that. I've seen it in a number of places and it works tolerably well. It's certainly better than red blaize.


Another surface which I find OK is small/fine grey chips which is almost like a binding material. That doesn't jump out at me which I think is the point you are getting at. However what really looks s***e is where the path is kerbed. You may as well go the whole hog  plant a flower garden beside it or put down a white picket fence.


Niall

[Jeff Schley]

Nothing beats real grass paths though. The new ones at Ballybunion are lovely. You'll need irrigation and rye grass though.

The grass paths at Ballybunion was something that stood out this June when I was there. It was so much more of an enjoyable walk as a result of the uniform grass paths.  Lahinch as well was very nice, but the Ballybunion paths had some cushion to them almost as it wasn't cut tight and the width of them made it comfortable to walk side by side your playing partner.

[Ben Malach]

Ally,


My favourite method for grass path are, the rubber turf mats they are honestly a god send for traffic management on fescue. [size=78%] [/size][/size]After the grass has established the paths require less cutting, look great and also have a great feeling under foot. The key is as you previously stated the only risk is improper insulation/grow-in. For paths that connect holes I think sunken wooden planks works well to define a direction of travel while limiting wear.  For paths that are going to be receiving lots of cart traffic a neutral limestone chips and dust as its easy to repair and wears well.  [size=78%]

[Ally Mcintosh]

Thanks for all the tips / opinions, folks.
I’ll see how it goes and let you know what we go with.


Ally

[jeffwarne]

Thanks for all the tips / opinions, folks.
I’ll see how it goes and let you know what we go with.


Ally

At Hayling they have paths made with (assuming) recycled rubber which are the exact shape and color of wood chips, but the comfort level of a rubber mat. Rubber mulch its called
By far the most natural looking artificial surface I've seen.


edit:maybe it wasn't Hayling
Hankley Common?

[Bruce Katona]

Archie Struthers used native sand/loam at Twisted Dune.  While this requires blading and leveling as it can rut and puddle (operations cost), its much less expensive than the synthetic alternatives.

[Michael Whitaker]

Ally - Did you reach a decision?

[Jeff Schley]

Nothing beats real grass paths though. The new ones at Ballybunion are lovely. You'll need irrigation and rye grass though.

I concur, as they are wide enough to walk side by side and you feel the flat uniform turn under your feet, even cut somewhat short as it looks phenomenal as well.  A small thing perhaps, but a big deal when you play it, kudos to BB.

[James Brown]

I really like crushed seashell type material for cart paths. I believe St. Andrews uses something like that for the access roads/paths.


BTW, the worst possible cart path material I have ever seen would be the faux rustic cart paths at the New Course at Grand Cypress in Orlando.  Makes me laugh every time.

[John Emerson]

I noticed ground up sea shells worked really well.  Also the rubber mats with grass growing in between looked good also

[Garland Bayley]

wood chips

I think Grey meant to say bark dust. I can't imagine anyone thinking wood chips are aesthetically pleasing.