Thoughts on using artificial tee boxes for water/maintenance conversation?

[Jeff Schley]

Here in KSA we have 1 of 4 grass courses in the entire country, at my oil company on the compound. We also have 3 sand courses (not a fan btw).  There is a discussion that is somewhat ongoing and being brought up seriously to take out our grass tee boxes and replace them with artificial turf tee boxes. The sand courses all use the old astroturf / range mats btw, so there is a precedent.

The innovator says these won't be mats, but an area of the present tee box would be layed with some sort of artificial turf.  Water is a scarce resource here, obviously and this is seen as a cost saving idea for not only the water, but maintenance.  I have no idea of the economics as I'm not on the grounds committee, but I was told it is significant if the useful life of the turf is as advertised.

Any thoughts on this from a sustainability perspective?  Less water/maintenance is good certainly.

What about playability?  How will this be affected.  I'm thinking maybe on par 4/5, but keep par 3's grass?

I have no idea of the innovation in this space, although as a former football coach the PR/Sales people for the present Fieldturf product carpeting all HS/Colleges/Pro fields are doing a phenomenal job making traditionally tight entities, write million dollar checks.  I have hit off driving range mats, but I'm told this product is significantly better.  Not sure what it is.

Thoughts or experiences?

[Tom_Doak]

I have played off artificial tees on high-end courses a handful of times, when they wanted to put a tee somewhere that was pretty inaccessible for maintenance equipment or irrigation.  The sixth at New South Wales was artificial turf before they widened the bridge; the 16th at La Quinta (Mountain) was another; and then there's the Over-the-Top hole in Queenstown.


In all these instances, my only issue was if the tee was too small and you felt in danger of falling after an off-balance swing.  The artificial turf didn't matter to me at all, since you could stick a normal tee into it and swing away.


In someplace like Saudi Arabia, I would favor the idea of artificial tees throughout the course.  No reason to water any more grass than you need to over there.

[Thomas Dai]

Modern ones seem fine to play off but usually are far too small so playing angles are limited.
Any maintenance issues?
Atb

[Jon Wiggett]

Would back up the previous posters in that the modern artificial stuff is pretty good and does not detract from the golfing experience but make sure the tee is big enough. On another point you raise, I think the club has a moral duty to change from an environmental point.

[Joe Hancock]

Practicality aside, I don’t know how the whole “environmental” issue really works out. Water does recycle, but these synthetic products do have a shelf life, need to be disposed of when finished, need to be manufactured, need to be transported, etc., etc....and repeat the cycle every so often. UV rays and plastics are not friendly towards each other.

[Greg Chambers]

Would back up the previous posters in that the modern artificial stuff is pretty good and does not detract from the golfing experience but make sure the tee is big enough. On another point you raise, I think the club has a moral duty to change from an environmental point.

A moral duty to change to plastic from an environmental point?  LMAO!!!

[Jon Wiggett]

Greg,


yes, much plastic is a recyclable product so not usually a bad choice environmentally. And yes a moral responsibility is certainly there for businesses to conserve/reduce water usage in an area where there is a lack of water. SIUB!!!


Joe,


yes water does recycle but if you are living in an area with a lack of water to start with then the most sensible course of action is to reduce the water usage where practical, reduce wastage where possible and finally of course recycle. I agree plastic has its drawbacks but probably less than grass in this particular case. 

[Thomas Dai]

UV rays and plastics are not friendly towards each other.

Valid point, and temperature as well, given that the original post referenced Saudi Arabia.
Artificial tees with carport style roofs high enough to allow for a tee shots trajectory as played by the tallest of upright swingers!?
As to maintenance/replacement, presumably more needed on par-3’s as a downward strike with an iron does more damage to the tee than a swept away shot from a high tee peg.
Atb

[Dan Kelly]

My only thought is that these things always cause a bit of conversation on the tee.


Oh . . .  you mean conservation?


That, too!


As long as we don't get to the point of artificial-turf fairways and greens, I'm OK with it.

[Joe Hancock]

My only thought is that these things always cause a bit of conversation on the tee.


Oh . . .  you mean conservation?


That, too!


As long as we don't get to the point of artificial-turf fairways and greens, I'm OK with it.

A conversion for conservation is the conversation.