Where would a first timer go wrong?

[Matt_Cohn]

This is a question that architects can answer best, maybe, but non-architects can have a lot to say as well.

Assume that one of us non-architects had a chance to design a golf course. We'd have some help - someone to make sure we stayed legal, someone to advise us on drainage, etc. But the actual design of course features was ours alone.

What mistakes would we be most likely to make? What would stop knowlegable golfers with no design experience from creating a great golf course on their first try? Where is a first timer most likely to go wrong?

[Jeff_Brauer]

Matt,

You would probably:

- vastly underestimate the space features take to build correctly

-underestimate the importance of circulation through the course in the design

- suffer from trying to put every idea you ever had on golf design into one course, or in some cases, one hole, especially if you figured you might never be able to design another one

- try too hard to put in a "pet hole" often at the expense of the other 17.

[BCrosby]

I'll defer to the real architects on this question, but what would scare me most about me designing a golf course is drainage.

I am confident that I could screw up drainage in every way possible. And in some ways that aren't.

Bob

[Bruce Katona]

Drainage issues can be solved in the field....design 101 states "water will always run downhill unless pumped".  It may not always be aesthetically pleasing or cost efficient, but drainage can work.

Jeff  hit the nail on the head.  proper circulation (routing, spacing of corridors, proper spacing from tee to green to insure safety and area  required to actualy construct holes are all challenges.

If you can get all of the above , you can start to develop the flesh of the design including tee and green complexes, features construction, proper placement of the practice facility, location of the clubhouse and parking area and maintenance faciltiy.

[Jeff_Brauer]

Bob,

At least you know enough to know what you don't know.  Even vets can get fooled by drainage.  As an example, we have started a project here in Texas during the recent drought. Some of the field guys think the site drains well, but I saw it under the previous owner and know that it can get much sloppier.  

There is a time and place for working out drainage, and not all of it is in the field - some calculations need to be done in the office re pipe sizing, seeing what comes in from off site, total watersheds, how those may be affected by future surrounding development, etc.  One good rule of thumb is to never underestimate the power of water.......

[Matt_Cohn]

bump

[cary lichtenstein]

My question to you is:

Why do you think you are qualified over all the talent out there?

[tonyt]

Me?

Unable to match concept with viable construction?

Unable to evaluate the way a good archie can know how something will play. So many one offs would put something in place for x reason, make sure a good team builds it so it drains and turf health and all will work, and then find out after opening it doesn't play like you thought it would.

[Matt_Cohn]

Cary,

Was that question to me? The short answer is I think I'd be better than most of the general public, only some on this site, and probably not as good as any of the real architects out there. I can elaborate more if you want?

If that question wasn't to me then kindly disregard my answer.

~Matt