Construction questions for GCA's and Supers

[A.G._Crockett]

I have two questions for experts who might have been thru the construction process.  I'm interested in ballpark guesses about reasonable time frames.  I realize that every piece of ground is different, and that there are ALWAYS surprises and delays; I'm just looking for guesstimates.


1. Assuming good weather and no crazy surprises, what is a reasonable time frame to build a new green on raw land?  Assume a green of "average" size and contours, with greenside bunkering, and eventually sprigged with Champion Bermuda.  The land does not have to be cleared of trees, but has not been a green before.

2. Also assuming good weather and no crazy surprises, what is a reasonable time frame for the construction of a new hole, tee to green, including sodding it in and ready for play?  The land would have to be cleared of trees.

If it helps with the imagining/estimating process, the project would involve three new greens and two new holes, one a par three thru heavily wooded land, and one a par four with the tee area and the green site in timber, but the fairway area already clear. 


(If you're wondering why three new greens only need two new holes, it's because one of the greens will be used to convert an existing par 5 into a par 4 and a par 3, with the par 3 using the existing green of the par 5, and the par 4 would have one of the new greens.  Hope that makes sense...)

Thanks in advance!

[Don Mahaffey]

Hate to state the obvious, but it depends.
Water is available? If so, big time saver.
Does the topography drain well and support good golf without significant earthmoving? Another big time saver.
In sandy soil with good topography for golf the building of a green could take a week to 10 days with a lot of that being install of supporting infrastructure like irrigation and drainage.


An entire hole is the same. You’ll spend way more time mobilizing, clearing, draining and irrigating than shaping if you’ve got the right team. 2-3 weeks for a new hole is easily achievable. 


Grow in will take longer than construction in both cases.

[A.G._Crockett]

Don, thanks for taking the time to write that; I think you hit every yzhing I was wondering, plus stuff I hadn’t thought of.




It’s not a property that drains well overall, so that’s an issue for sure, but I’m guessing both new holes will have a hazard, so maybe that helps overall?  Beyond that, there’s probably relative little shaping necessary.