Maybe OT - Hole Signs

[MClutterbuck]

Last year I saw somewhere here a picture of a hole sign, very minimalistic on rustic wood, I believe a very light colored wood naturally aged. I thought it might have been Rock Creek Cattle but I am not finding this picture in those threads. Can anybody point me to this picture?


Does Rock Creek just has the name of the hole?


What is the minimum amount of information you believe a course should have if the holes have no name?


Would "8 Par 5 540 yards" be enough?

Or should 8 Par 5 and 5 colored circles with yardage for each tee be a minimum courtesy to all players?

Thanks

[JJShanley]

At Warren we have a sign on each tee, typically the whites, noting hole, par, and donor.  The nature of the course probably demands such visibility.  We also have a circular marker on each tee with the yardage.  I'd prefer all details on the latter. 

[PCCraig]

Why do you need hole signs at all? In particular at a private course?


Maybe just a simple plate in the ground noting the hole number and yardage from that point?


Such as:


#8
412

[MClutterbuck]

Why do you need hole signs at all? In particular at a private course?


Maybe just a simple plate in the ground noting the hole number and yardage from that point?


Such as:


#8
412

We are allowing some outside play, particularly from foreign visitors. We also expect to have a small boutique hotel and for some homes to be rented out for a week at a time.


#1 and #3 greens and #2 and #4 tees are all next to each other. We feel one simple sign per hole is necessary. 


A plate with just a number for yardage on each tee as well.

[MClutterbuck]

At Warren we have a sign on each tee, typically the whites, noting hole, par, and donor.  The nature of the course probably demands such visibility.  We also have a circular marker on each tee with the yardage.  I'd prefer all details on the latter.

Thanks, I believe a small circular marker on each tee with just a number for yards is very useful and that is contemplated.

[Jeff Shelman]

My club has signs like these attached to the post of the ball washer on each tee.


http://www.onlinesports.com/individual-hole-number-plaques-2.html?srcid=sas&utm_source=shareasale&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=PAR-530-0X&cm_mmc=ShareASale-_-Products-_-PPC-_-PAR-530-0X


In addition, there are plates in each tee box with the distance from that site marked.


It's very simple, but does the trick.

[David Wuthrich]

If the course is routed well, there should be no doubt where the next hole tee is.  Half the fun of playing a new course is finding the next tee!!

[Keith OHalloran]

I like small signs that have the hole number, yardage, name if there is one and handicap. It can be placed at the middle tee with yardage for the middle tee only.

[Andrew Simpson]

Why do you need hole signs at all? In particular at a private course?


Maybe just a simple plate in the ground noting the hole number and yardage from that point?


Such as:


#8
412

If you are trying to be minimalist why post anything?
I like the hole #, yardage and SI because even as a member why should I have to commit to memory the hole basics. That said I like something rustic and to the point.

[Steve Lang]

     Its great for those shotgun outings on the day the course is closed to members... helps those tourney players find the right hole.

[MClutterbuck]

If the course is routed well, there should be no doubt where the next hole tee is.  Half the fun of playing a new course is finding the next tee!!

Delays are no fun. I would also argue some great routings have close enough tees that guests could get confused.

[John Mayhugh]

I've seen a large variety.  A few that come to mind:
Prairie Dunes


Blue Mound puts signs on benches.


Shinnecock


Alwoodley's are quite functional.


There are a lot of variations on this type from Saint Germain


Flamborough Head


Simple can also have a lot of information.
Ganton


Mildenhall


RMW



Hope this helps.

[Keith OHalloran]

Thanks for the pics John, Shinnecock was exactly what I had in mind.

[MClutterbuck]

I've seen a large variety.  A few that come to mind:


Hope this helps.

Thanks John!

[John Mayhugh]

Thanks for the pics John, Shinnecock was exactly what I had in mind.

You don't think all that visual clutter cheapens the experience?   

[Michael Graham]

John,

Excellent collection. Personally I like the minimalist style of Mildenhall and Ganton. So many modern resort/pay and play courses inundate you with information on the tee marker. I don't need to see a layout of the hole with hazard placements. I can either see for myself or if it is a blind hole I'll find out for myself.

[Tommy Williamsen]

I can't find the scorecard from Ganton, but as I remember 18 can be played as either a par four or a par three.  Is that correct?

[Dave Doxey]

Tell me the hole number and the yardage.


Golf holes don't need cute names.  Advertisements or sponsor names have no place on a golf course.

[Keith OHalloran]

Tell me the hole number and the yardage.


Golf holes don't need cute names.  Advertisements or sponsor names have no place on a golf course.

Dave, what if the names for the holes aren't cute? Can we use them then? Like Redan that comes from an idea about fortifying troops during war. Nothing cute about that! 

[John Mayhugh]

Tell me the hole number and the yardage.

Golf holes don't need cute names.  Advertisements or sponsor names have no place on a golf course.

Dave, what if the names for the holes aren't cute? Can we use them then? Like Redan that comes from an idea about fortifying troops during war. Nothing cute about that! 

How about Biarritz reminding us of a NLE course in France?

And then there is the Flamborough Head example shown above.  The course overlooks the spot of one of the best known naval battles in the Revolutionary War.  A hole along the coast is aptly named Paul Jones. 

I can also understand some aversion to naming holes.  Check out a Valhalla scorecard if you don't understand what can go wrong with this.

[Jon Wiggett]

I can't find the scorecard from Ganton, but as I remember 18 can be played as either a par four or a par three.  Is that correct?

Tommy,

its the 17th you are thinking of.

Jon

[Carl Johnson]

Why do you need hole signs at all? In particular at a private course? . . .

You don't -- we don't.  Took them out eight years ago.

However, our course is compact and open.  If you don't know the sequence, there are a number of places you could go wrong.  For outsider tournaments and outings we used to spray some sort of disappearing "paint" next to the tee boxes to indicate hole numbers.  Recently I think we've gone to very small (like 8" x 10") white cardboard signs stuck in the ground for the day.  The only thing on these signs is the hole number.  For the occasional unaccompanied visitor(s) we have little course maps we can give them.  Hole yardage is on our score cards.

Several years ago we had a state golf association tournament and they brought in put up their own large hole signs with the association logo and typical assorted information on them.  The signs were heavy duty with nice graphics.  However, the overall look was ugly and really made me appreciate the clean no-sign look.

By the way we, don't have ball washers at the tee boxes either.  We took them out around 8 years ago (at the same time we removed our old tee area signs).  Some folks complained at the time, but I don't hear any regrets now.

[JJShanley]

What do people have against ball washers?  Clutter?  Unnecessary expense?

[Jon Wiggett]

What do people have against ball washers?  Clutter?  Unnecessary expense?

Spit and a good bag towel

[JJShanley]

If you think I'm doing that to my custom made, power-logo, cashmere golf towel, then you've a surprise in store.