As a golfnut and my engineering background I’d offer the following generic perspective/comments on the engineering role in any modern (including golf course course) development:
1) Engineers like a specified scope of work with defined tasks.
2) Engineering managers like meeting schedule and budget for the specified scope of work.
3) Every change or deviation from scope creates management and cost impacts and is disliked. As a result, there is an engineering approach called “Front End Loading”, wherein engineering is divided into conceptual, feasibility and definition phases of work. Each phase has assessment, technical, and execution deliverables. The goal is minimizing rework and being able to move forward under a clear and concise plan for detailed engineering and field construction. Permits are normally deliverables under the Definition phase.
4) Engineering and scientific resources are typically needed in modern permitting activities related to water pollution control. This is where consulting firm’s strengths lie, in being able to bring the right resources, as needed, to any development project. 120 hours for the Civil, 40 hours for the biologist, 160 hours for the hydrogeologist, 30 hours for the secretary, etc., etc..
5) Some clients like to have an engineering consultant on their payroll in a multi-faceted manager/interpreter/arbitrator/ombudsman role to keep a rein on project activities and costs and be proactive.
6) Point source pollution has largely been controlled over the last 30 years by the EPA and states under the Clean Water Act and state equivalents. A renewed focus is on non-point sources, primarily agriculture, but some are trying to point the finger at golf courses as well. Check out the website
http://www.epa.gov/owow/nps/facts/point1.htm.
7) The Coastal zones have some unique water pollution control issues that are driving more EPA involvement in setting best management practices/measures. This has now gone way beyond silt fences into:
* Preharvest planning
* Streamside management areas
* Road construction/reconstruction
* Road management
* Timber harvesting
* Site preparation and forest regeneration
* Fire management
* Revegetation of disturbed areas
* Forest chemical management
* Wetland forest management
My bottom line..
Engineering types may be needed more to keep "order" a realistic goal, than for their basic tech services.