On course stairs, steps and walk paths

[Stephen Britton]

Gentlemen,

My club is looking into installing some stairs or steps up various steep slopes to tee boxes and some walk paths between holes this winter.

We are looking for a fairly low key/natural look.

Any photo examples you guys have come across that you could post would be much appreciated.

Thanks.

[Melvyn Morrow]

For the club who care for its Members




Melvyn

[Howard Riefs]

For the club who care for its Members




Melvyn

Melvyn,

I thought you were against the use of all motorized carts... 

[Melvyn Morrow]

Howard

Only if you do not need them, but if your mobility is that you do need them, fine. If you can walk, you should, well that is if your intentions are to play golf.  If you want to play cart ball then that's down to you, but golf is a walking game its not meant to be a ride in the park/countryside.

Melvyn

[Kalen Braley]

Stephen,

Even though I can't find any specific examples, I've seen tons of steep faced bunkers that have wooden stairs built right into the grass face of them.  I'm guessing this would be the way to go for something that looks natural and un-obtrusive.  You may even be able to use Trex products to construct them so you won't have to worry about maintaining them against the elements.

As for walking paths between holes..I've always liked the ones that are tanbark or some other natural material that's put down on the ground

[Bill_McBride]

Stephen, hopefully you can zoom in a bit.   These are the wooden steps that go from the back of the 14th green at Friars Head, up to the 15th tee.

[Howard Riefs]

Many holes on The Ocean Course at Kiawah feature wooden steps from that lead from the waste bunkers to the fairway. As an example, here's the first hole from the vantage point of the tee box (albeit not the best photo).



Mike Vegis from Kiawah Resort is on GCA and may be able to provide you with specific product information.

[Jon Wiggett]

Stephen,

small, fine mesh gabions make great steps. Solid, self draining and non slip. Best of all, depending on the stone you use they blend in quite well.

Jon

[Joe Bausch]

Many holes on The Ocean Course at Kiawah feature wooden steps from that lead from the waste bunkers to the fairway. As an example, here's the first hole from the vantage point of the tee box (albeit not the best photo).



Mike Vegis from Kiawah Resort is on GCA and may be able to provide you with specific product information.

Here's a little larger photo of those steps to get to the fw on the first hole at Kiawah OC:

[D_Malley]

avoid steps whenever possible.  more steps equals more lawsuits.

[Joe Bausch]

avoid steps whenever possible.  more steps equals more lawsuits.

Interesting.  I would have almost thought the opposite.  Steeper inclines with no steps when slippery....

[cary lichtenstein]

For the club who care for its Members




Melvyn

Great Response

[Mike Viscusi]

There are a number of different sets of steps at Applebrook GC in Malvern, PA.  They use very understated wooden steps that are built into hillsides, without railings.  Very natural looking and fits the design well.  Here are some links from the Bausch Collection:

7 Tee: http://darwin.chem.villanova.edu/~bausch/images/Applebrook/pages/page_67.html?
8 Green/9 Tee: http://darwin.chem.villanova.edu/~bausch/images/Applebrook/pages/page_81.html?
11 Green: http://darwin.chem.villanova.edu/~bausch/images/Applebrook/pages/page_112.html?
17 Green: http://darwin.chem.villanova.edu/~bausch/images/Applebrook/pages/page_173.html?

[Tom Kelly]

Not to everyone's taste but I quite liked the steps and other touches they used at Castle Stuart;

[Eric Smith]

[Wade Whitehead]

There are some nice stairways at Caledonia.



WW

[Kyle Harris]

avoid steps whenever possible.  more steps equals more lawsuits.

Interesting.  I would have almost thought the opposite.  Steeper inclines with no steps when slippery....

It's not the slipping that makes a suit winnable - it's the ability of the player to determine what is and is not safe.

If steps are built in some form that resemble considerate construction (i.e. a rock placed as a step can still be assessed if it is loose or not as it does not resemble an actual stair case) than the golfer is not assuming the risk.

In general, check what defines construction in your local municipality and be sure everything matches code. Some municipalities allow for staircases to be built without railings which is preferable because the minute a railing is built, that too, must meet code.

The less you build, the less liable you are.

[Melvyn Morrow]

All cart paths should be made this way



Out of view from the course and fairways, hiding their shame if able bodied proving once and for all that they are riding and not indulging in the great & honourable game of Golf.

Melvyn

[Stephen Britton]

There are a number of different sets of steps at Applebrook GC in Malvern, PA.  They use very understated wooden steps that are built into hillsides, without railings.  Very natural looking and fits the design well.  Here are some links from the Bausch Collection:

7 Tee: http://darwin.chem.villanova.edu/~bausch/images/Applebrook/pages/page_67.html?
8 Green/9 Tee: http://darwin.chem.villanova.edu/~bausch/images/Applebrook/pages/page_81.html?
11 Green: http://darwin.chem.villanova.edu/~bausch/images/Applebrook/pages/page_112.html?
17 Green: http://darwin.chem.villanova.edu/~bausch/images/Applebrook/pages/page_173.html?

Mike, thanks for the pics... Applebrook looks very similar to our course and those steps fit in really well...

[Stephen Britton]

Not to everyone's taste but I quite liked the steps and other touches they used at Castle Stuart;

Sorry about orientation of the photo...photobucket doesn't seem to like my portrait photos.

Thomas, thanks for the pic... This whole tee complex looks pretty awesome!

[Mike Viscusi]

There are a number of different sets of steps at Applebrook GC in Malvern, PA.  They use very understated wooden steps that are built into hillsides, without railings.  Very natural looking and fits the design well.  Here are some links from the Bausch Collection:

7 Tee: http://darwin.chem.villanova.edu/~bausch/images/Applebrook/pages/page_67.html?
8 Green/9 Tee: http://darwin.chem.villanova.edu/~bausch/images/Applebrook/pages/page_81.html?
11 Green: http://darwin.chem.villanova.edu/~bausch/images/Applebrook/pages/page_112.html?
17 Green: http://darwin.chem.villanova.edu/~bausch/images/Applebrook/pages/page_173.html?

Mike, thanks for the pics... Applebrook looks very similar to our course and those steps fit in really well...

My pleasure Stephen. What course do you belong to?

[Eric Smith]

Elvyn,
That is a walk path over a wetland.

[Pete_Pittock]

A problem with wood is wet wood+soft spikes.

[Melvyn Morrow]

Thank you Eric, however I did understand what it was, just expressing my sense of humour. 

We are not that ignorant or naive on this side of the pond that our eyes cannot apprehend what we see before us – perhaps it has much to do with using our eyes to observe the GCA and comprehend distances at a glance. Nevertheless thank you for explaining that it is ‘a walkway over wetlands’

Melvyn

PS If it was a cart path your carts would have to be very narrow single seaters. 

[Stephen Britton]

My pleasure Stephen. What course do you belong to?

I'm the Superintendent at TPC Potomac.