Stairs........

[Sandman]

Does anyone belong to a course that uses stairs out on the course?  If so, are they in play, are they visible, are they safe to walk on even when wet(are they built properly), what types of materials were used, do you use them, do you like them and are they in style with the golf course?  Any pictures would be much appreciated as we are talking of adding stairs in specific areas on the golf course.  Thanks in advance for any help..................

[Tommy_Naccarato]

The Stairway to Heaven (#14) at Friar's Head. The entire hole is like a stairway. The most beautiful stairway ever built.

Stairs engineered and built by Bill Talmage. You can't tell it from this image, but they turn up the dune quite fashionably. Bill is the Coore & Crenshaw of stair-building!



Also, there are tons of stairways at Pac Dunes.

[Sandman]

Thomas,

Thanks for the reply and picture.  Having played Friar's Head many times, those were the first stairs that came to mind.  I feel they are more functional than attractive; however, they do  fit perfectly with the course and surrondings.  Because they do fit in they do not look out of place which is key.  Thanks again Thomas...................

[George Pazin]

From Ran's excellent writeup on Prairie Dunes:

[Steve Curry]

Stairway from Heaven, Boston Golf Club



Cheers,
Steve

[Bruce Katona]

The 10th at Yale has a set of stairs from the approach up to the green, made of railroad ties.  They are in play for a misplaced shot (speaking from experience), but really aren't for most.

[cary lichtenstein]

At Lakota Canyon, the 8th hole has about 70 stairs, but the equivalent of 100, as some steps are without stairs. I have to stop about 2/3 of the way up to catch my breath, and then when I get to the top, it takes about 2 min for the pain in my legs to subside and my heart rate to return to normal.

[Mike_Sweeney]

The 10th at Yale has a set of stairs from the approach up to the green, made of railroad ties.  They are in play for a misplaced shot (speaking from experience), but really aren't for most.

[Peter_Herreid]

Just encountered these for the first time this past weekend...

This is the view from the back right behind the 13th green at Bandon Trails.  Notice the deep strip bunker, which actually guards most of the right side of the green...

Look carefully at the picture at about the 10 o'clock position


Here they are a little better centered...


Wow--that's optimistic thinking that anyone would want to go retrieve a ball from down there!  Perhaps that's what the caddy is for!

Supposedly the area is quite a bit drier in the summer, so that recoveries can be attempted from way down there, but gadzooks!  Talk about pace of play potential!

[Mike Salinetti]

Sorry I don't have any good pics, but Pine Valley has stairs as well. I can remember they are coming off the back of #1 green and I personally was assigned to install a set coming out of the left side green bunker on #13. We built these out of railroad ties. I have done these type of stairs at other courses and yes, they can be slippery.

[Patrick_Mucci]

Carl Spackler,

I'd be curious to know which stairs were original and which were added after the course was built.

Gunga la gunga.