Let's just say that you were coaching a high school golf team and you learned that you had access to 80 acres of undeveloped land. Some of the land is cleared and is used for hay. Most of the land is at the top of a hill, so it drains really well. There is plenty of room to build a rudimentary par 3, 4 and 5. Without making a huge investment in irrigation, putting greens, etc., what is the best possible use of the property? A simple driving range? A short course with flags stuck in the ground for targets? Is it worth it to dig bunkers, or will they quickly fall into disrepair?
Below is the topo for the property, as well as two aerials. On the topo, the cleared strip to the east (the light green is the cleared land) is a comfortable 500 yards and could be stretched to 550. It is very flat and maybe 50 yards wide. The land to the northwest is at the top of a hill. It has some cool rolls as it moves south. To the southwest, the clearing falls away sharply. The center of the property is also very high and it falls away to the east.
It would be very easy to just mow a few teeing areas and split up the golf team (a small number of kids) so some are hitting driver on the eastern strip and others are hitting irons on the west side. This is in New England, so it would give us a great spot to practice in the early spring as we wait for courses to open.
The team is very excited (and ambitious) to do more with it. I share their enthusiasm, but also want to be realistic. I thought some on here might have some advice for the pros and cons of actually trying to put in a little course. If nothing else, it has been awesome to watch a group of teenagers (boys and girls) take a stab at routing a course. I should add that there is a path through the woods on the northern end of the land, so it is possible to get from one clearing to the next without going around.
Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
Below: Topo
Below: Aerial looking north
Below: Aerial looking south