Golf Course Design
The exact services provided vary from project to project to meet the specific needs of each individual course. The following is an outline of some of the services MacBean & MacBean, Golf Course Architects, would typically provide for during the re-design and renovation of an existing golf course facility.

Initial Studies
Objectives and criteria for the project are determined, as well as any noted deficiencies or problem areas throughout the course.


Client Meeting (course representatives):

During this meeting, the course representatives inform us of any relevant design-specific problems, both widespread and hole-specific; or construction history; general make-up of customer base; as well as any targeted budget or schedule. Identifying the course character and golf market are the first conversations with new clients. This concerns the type of golf course the course representatives are looking for, the type of golfers that will play this particular course, the condition of the local golf market, what local, state or national tournaments the client may want to host and what this course needs to position itself in that market place.


Site Tour:

Understanding of the reasoning behind the project, we would then take a preliminary, hole-by-hole tour of the entire golf course. MacBean & MacBean would visit the facility, more than once as we strive to learn as much as possible before recommending any changes to the golf course. Gathering site information early in the process for preliminary designs, we use whatever site data we can find such as county tax maps, United States Geological Survey quadrangle maps, aerial photos and county soil surveys and aerial maps are retrieved from the Internet. This information is compiled into one or more plans to form the base information for the preliminary design. Later, we use accurate boundary, topographic and wetland surveys for the final designs (only). We ground truth the paper site data we have acquired comparing it to the real landscape, studying the vegetation, land features, site limitations as well as assets such as natural features to incorporate into the design.


Base Material:

MacBean & MacBean will desire from the course representatives, depending on the scope of the project and the local regulations, at least an aerial photograph, a boundary survey (if applicable) and perhaps a topographic map. This material will be used to produce an Existing Facilities Plan, which shows the entire facility, and would serve as our basis for the preparation of a Master Plan. The following may be required at a later date: wetlands survey, archaeology investigation/report, endangered species investigation report (if required by permitting agencies), environmental audit (if required by lending institutions).


Renovation Problems:

Renovation and restoration projects extend over several years. A master plan will help organize and phase the improvements so that play will be disrupted as little as possible. Full consideration of all the work needed to attain the goal of the plan will mean the project can be done efficiently and without needing to disturb a previously renovated area. Staff involvement should focus on the excitement from the results of a re-design; clientele can be made patient, and perhaps even eager to come back to see the progress. In the pro shop, keep the attitude positive with good communication and progress photos, plans or sketches and the architect’s "thoughts on the design."

Reconnaissance
With the aforementioned meeting, tour and base material in-hand, we would then begin our thorough reconnaissance of the golf course. The scope of our research is based on the specific needs and objectives for the project, as determined in the meetings with course representatives; however, we typically look at all aspects of the golf course.


Attraction Value:

Factors in Choosing a Golf Facility

Percentage of golfers who rated these factors "extremely" or "very" important.*

Design and Construction Time Scedules:

Of real importance in the time schedules are items that are beyond your control, such as the length of permitting activities, and the planting season for the grasses the course will use. If the grassing season is missed, this usually means a whole year is added to the schedule.

The time schedules for design and construction are developed so that all members of the design team know the timing for the entire project and how their portion of the work relates to the rest of the team. MacBean & MacBean time schedules use the Critical Path Method of planning since it will show which tasks relate to others and which tasks have to be completed before others can begin.


Routing:

Routing Plan is the layout of the holes on the site. First a base map of all of the site features is developed so decisions where each hole is located can be made. The routing plan is the most important part of golf course design. This is where all of the factors influencing the design must be considered and incorporated in the plan


Solar orientation:

The best solar orientation for a driving range is due North. The worst is East or West or slightly South of East and West, due South is workable; poor designs orient starting golf holes into the rising morning sun in the East nor finish holes toward the West. In addition, the practice range is best aligned to the north to avoid the low sun angles in late fall, winter and early spring.


Topography:

This information is invaluable in making sure the golf holes drain well naturally or need improvements so that they will when complete.


Soils:

The soil survey informs the design as to the type of soil the architect must work with, if it drains well and if rock is present in the upper six feet. This information helps the architect decide if the soil is good enough to drain well and grow grass well.


Wind:

Predominant wind should be considered because it affects the distance that a golf ball travels. At some site locations, the predominant wind direction may change some with the season of the year.


Natural hazards:

Locate where site based trouble occurs on each hole and the perceived difficulty at this point, to give some idea of how balanced the course is and how it might need added hazards to configure the course for the intended golf market.


Utilities:

Water, sewer, power and telephone need to be located as to where they run to the clubhouse and maintenance areas.


Golf Car Paths:

Golf car paths will be studied and recommendations made for improvements, safety, maintenance or relocation and additional paths. Minimize road crossings to 2 per nine holes, any more is not considered safe design; and keep the distance from the green to the next tee as short as safety will allow (this will save on cart and path costs and encourage walking).


Tees:

Tee complex will be studied and recommendations made to provide more course diversity and improved safety, maintenance and playability by increasing tee square footage. Multiple tees are the norm today due to the differing abilities of players. It is not uncommon for tees (four and five, in many cases) to cover 5,000 to 7,000 square-feet in area on the modern course. Championship tees play from 6700 to over 7000 yards. The Blue tees play from 6400 to 6500 yards. The regular tee plays from between 6000 and 6300 yards. The advanced lady's tee or senior's tee is usually in the range of 5600 to 5800 yards, and the forward tee would measure approximately 4800 to 5200 yards in length.


 Fairways:

Fairways will be studied for safety, proper widths, playability, etc. Recommendations will be made for improvements as to provide better definition and appearance, plantscaping for each fairway; also, many fairway areas may be reduced to allow for multiple tees, reshaping of mounds, bunkers, lakes or ponds.

Avoid blind shots (this is a safety issue), which is defined as not being able to see the point where your ball is supposed to land. Major grade work may be required to eliminate blind shots or to soften severe terrain.

The regulation length 18 hole golf course would play to a par of 70 - 72 and have a length of from 6200 yards to 6600 yards from the middle tees. A course of these lengths would then likely be 6600 to 7000 yards long from the rear tees. Longer than this will make the course too difficult for most players, while shorter than 6300 yards means that the course will not test the players' skill in using all his clubs and shot-making abilities; and there is also a general range of length that most players seek out when selecting a place to play. Shorter than regulation courses, such as an executive length, can be an interesting course, because it offers even more flexibility in hole lengths and composition than a regulation length course.

According to the National Golf Foundation, an executive course has a total par of less than 67 and a length under 5,200 yards. The number of acres can range from 80 acres to as many as 120 acres or more depending upon the physical character of the land and the shape of the land parcel. A Par 3 course has all par 3 holes, but can have holes of many different lengths and character. An 18 hole par 3 course would, of course be a par 54, and less than 4,000 yards in length. Usually, an 18 hole par 3 course can be sited on as little 60 acres, but again can require much more, depending upon the same issues as above. Under the United States Golf Associates Rules, there are no minimums for Par 3's, but there are minimum yardage’s by which par is established for both men and women on Par 5 & 4. On Par 5's the minimum for men is 472 yards, for women 401 yards. On Par 4's the minimum for men is 270 yards, and for women 230 yards. When designing Par 4 and Par 5 holes, understand the golfer has difficulty hitting the ball far enough to reach the dogleg, especially on long difficult golf holes, and therefore is penalized on the sharper dogleg angles. Macbean & MacBean will design to keep the angle at the turning point or dogleg to less than 45 degrees from the initial line of play. The greater the angle of the dogleg, the shorter the hole.

If the course has a Par 3 or Par 5 within the first four holes, then make sure that the Par 3 is short, not more than 160-165 yards and the Par 5 is at least 530 yards, because long Par 3's and reachable Par 5's slow play and do not get the golfers off to a good start. The design should not have more than two par 4s in a row, breaking the sequence with a par 3 or par 5. Golfers do not like to play 3 or more par 4s in a row.


Bunkering:

Bunkering will be studied for proper placement, safety, play strategy, maintenance and aesthetics. If appropriate, re-designed and new sand and/or grass bunkers may be recommended so as to provide additional definition of target areas, and increased challenge for the better players. MacBean & MacBean recommends milder contours and strategically-placed bunkers, and more gentle rise from the bottom of the bunker to the top edge. Gentler contours eliminate hand mowing, reducing labor expense; however, hand raking of sand bunkers remains highly recommended.


Green Complexes:

Green complex will be studied for proper size and configuration of the putting surface, diversity of pin placement areas and ease of maintenance. If necessary, after determining the appropriate strategy and challenge for each green, recommendations will be made for the design of new greens and any re-design of existing greens and/or adjustment of their locations. The shape, size and protecting features of each green should be in direct relation to the approach shot. The green should be designed, if possible, to drain in more than one direction. It is possible to enlarge a green, but the best way is to reconstruct it entirely. It is less a task to install additional drainage than is supposed. Critical areas can be retiled and back-filled, and the sod replaced within one day. Although larger than those of earlier eras, a good, average size is 6,500 square-feet; modern greens should offer variety. More and variable flagstick placements are possible with larger greens and alleviate problems caused by heavy play. Gentle undulations permit the use of triplex mowers and reduce the risk of scalping.


 Lakes:

Water Hazards will be studied to enhance function and visual impact. Ponding offers a stimulating challenge if it is strategically placed. It also can serve as a valuable water retention source for irrigation and allied real estate use. The excavated material often can be used to rebuild bunkers and mounds.


Irrigation System:

Irrigation systems will be studied and cannot be overemphasized. Completely automated systems and irrigation in general is a relatively simple issue. An 18-hole single low-row system can be installed in a minimum of 60 days and is disruptive, but, not as much as most installers suggest, if planned for by the architect in the master plan. An automatic system conserves water, reduces labor expenses and allows watering during early morning hours.


 Drainage:

Drainage overall of the golf course will be studied and recommendations made to help alleviate any existing problem areas.


Permitting:

Regardless of the permitting scenario, there is no substitute for a sound design process which we will recommend, our plans will demonstrate familiarity with the site and what makes it special; a thorough analysis of alternatives, and a realistic proposed action that reflects what was learned through the testing of alternatives. This type of process is required in Corps of Engineers procedures for wetland disturbance, and is the basis for the nation’s original environmental law, the National Environmental Protection Act of 1969. Lowlands of the golf course will be studied and recommendations made, as permitting for wetland impacts may lose 25% of the site to wetland restrictions. How concentrated the wetlands are, whether they are clearly confined and in large areas rather than in small ones scattered around the site, is an important factor as well. Regardless, for new construction, start with at least 5%-10% more acres than needed for the project, or more, depending upon the physical character of the land and the shape of the land parcel.

Federally-mandated permits include wetland disturbance, and stormwater management and erosion control measures. If you can keep wetland disturbance to under 1 acre, the process with the Corps of Engineers as administered in some cases by the state government should be relatively simple. However, if your site has a significant amount of wetland disturbance, or if the wetlands are closely connected to rivers or lakes, the process could be much more cumbersome. The federal stormwater management and erosion control planning is gradually becoming a commonplace requirement. This is not a complicated process, but from the onset the project design must recognize the ramifications it will present. A landscape architect/civil engineer is usually required to make an assessment of the watershed in pre- and post- development conditions, and then to mitigate the changes to stormwater run-off conditions and sedimentation through the design of various holding structures, usually constructed of earth or relatively inexpensive materials. Some states have had this requirement for several years, while other communities require a Soil Conservation Service or District review and approval. Local review administered by the State is little more than an informational review by the community, to see if there are serious local issues. However, local review can be very demanding as local authorities (who are often non-scientists on appointed or elected boards) send you through a series of regulatory requirements.


Plantscaping:

Recommended species and varieties of plant material will be provided as part of the plan, and areas which are to receive additional plantscaping in order to improve maintenance, safety and/or aesthetics will be shown on the plan. Also, existing trees and areas of trees which require reduction (thinned or trimmed) will be located.


Course Shelters and Club Area:

Building area recommendations will be made as it relates to the operation, safety and/or aesthetics of the golf course and the clubhouse should have ample space for parking and circulation. Locate the first and tenth tees and finishing greens so that both nines loop out and return to the clubhouse in convenient locations. However, this normally requires that the clubhouse be in a more central location. Also, if it applies, utilize nine hole loops in different rotations (clockwise/counter clockwise); this helps balance the quantity of dogleg left and dogleg right holes.

Starting tees and the practice range tee should be in close proximity to each other and within visibility from the golf pro shop. It is less important that the finishing greens be visible from the clubhouse, but should be in convenient locations.

Golf course maintenance should be located away from the environmentally sensitive areas at an area either at the end of the practice range or as close to the starting holes as possible since greens mowing equipment is slow moving and needs to get out early in the morning to mow the greens and stay ahead of the golfers.


Strategy:

Brief description of each hole that describes the strategy and the different options for how the hole could be played; thumbnail sketches in plan view and in perspective view of different holes to visualize the strategy. Once this is done for each hole, re-evaluation of course layout is done and then the strategy plan is used as part of the basis for the preparation of a master plan for the golf course.

Preliminary Construction Hole Designs

Preliminary Hole Design:

At this point, it is necessary to have very good site information because this is when the detailed planning and design starts. Drawings of the hole usually at a scale of 1 inch = 50 feet are made. Design study of each hole in detail is made taking into account all of the decisions made in the strategy plan. The golf features are drawn to scale and a preliminary grading and drainage design is prepared. Cart paths, bridges, retaining walls and other design elements in more detail are developed.

After this process is done for each hole, the sizes of the earth features, design of bridges and length of drainage pipes are determined to calculate the volume of earthwork being moved. This information is used to update the construction budget for review and approval with the course representatives.


Hole Construction Plans:

Once the preliminary design and construction budget are approved, the final construction plans for each golf hole are prepared. The golf course will be constructed from these plans so it is very important to refine the design and grading information. The greens and bunkers are designed on plans at a larger scale to enable more detail, then reduced down to the same scale as the fairways. The drainage information from the consultant is added to the plans as well as any environmental details and notes. Each hole is finalized, and all of the design elements and earthwork quantities are measured to develop another cost estimate. Any final adjustments to the quantities are completed and the final design is delivered to the other consultants for their portion of the work. Occasionally, the consultant’s work requires adjustments to the final designs.

Irrigation Plans
Irrigation plans are prepared by a professional irrigation designer using MacBean & MacBean final design of the golf course. These plans will show the location of all sprinkler heads, valves and control equipment as well as the route of all pipe and wire. Special software calculates the sizes of pipes and wires. The consultant also prepares a cost estimate of the final design.



Turf Plans
Turf plans are prepared which show the location and extent of each type of grass planned for the project. Sometimes specialty plantings, such as ornamental grasses and other plantings are also shown on the turf plans. The square footage or acreage of each type of grass is measured and added to the cost estimate.


Masterplanning
Proposed improvements based upon the aforementioned reconnaissance for all aspects of the golf course will be compiled to produce a Golf Course Master Plan. The plan will first be prepared in preliminary form and submitted to course representatives for review and discussion. If requested, representatives from MacBean & Macbean can also make a formal presentation of the plan to the appropriate board, panel, or membership.


Golf Course Architects Report:

Based upon the finalized Master Plan, a Report will be prepared which addresses the following:
Explanation of the design philosophy and strategy behind the re-design. Description of the recommended improvements for the golf course and why they are needed. A cost estimate will be provided for all of the recommended improvements so as to enable advanced budgeting of each phase. A breakdown of all improvements which places them into priorities, so that they can be implemented in an efficient manner over a period of years.

Recommendations as to which improvements should be accomplished 'in-house' by the golf course superintendent and which should be accomplished by a golf course contractor.
Long term plan management oversight, MacBean & Macbean will remain as consultants to the course representatives regarding all aspects of the golf course facility.

Development
For each phase of the master plan’s execution, the following services can be provided:


Design Documents:

For the design process, the following services can be provided:

Prepare all necessary construction drawings, green construction details (if needed), golf course architectural details, and specifications necessary for the client to obtain one or several comparable bids for the work from golf course contractors. The final construction details and written specifications and details which show specialty construction items such as the green and bunker construction details, bridges and retaining walls. Written specifications outline more of the details of construction as well as particular project requirements and/ or procedures. The final plans, details and specification make up what is known as the Construction Documents, which form part of the contract for construction.


Bid Process:

For the bidding process, the following services can be provided:

Recommend and invite several qualified golf course builders, and hold a Pre-Bid Conference to help answer any questions that the builders might have and to minimize the potential for discrepancies between bids, and provide bid forms to ensure that all prospective builders submit comparable bids. Assist the course representatives in analyzing bids received and provide a sample 'Owner/Builder' Contract. The project is then let out to bid or a price is negotiated with golf course contractors. If the price is satisfactory to the course representatives, a Contract for Construction is prepared and signed by the contractor and owner.


Project Administration:

For the project management process, the following services can be provided:

Make periodic observation visits, coordinated to coincide with key phases of the work and provide forms for contractor to use for payment requests, and approve or adjust those requests at the time of that visit. Provide a detailed report (to course representatives and builder) subsequent to each visit.


Consultants:

For the construction process, the following services can be provided:

Recommend and invite qualified architectural/engineering firms; but typically, it is the responsibility of the course representatives to obtain all official approvals, permits, zoning, etc. as may be applicable for any construction work. Also, it may be necessary for the course representatives to retain the services of a Registered Landscape Architect to provide any necessary, final design or engineering of bridges, dams, storm water and erosion control features, as well as to process construction drawings, etc., submitted by the golf course architect so as to conform to any applicable laws and regulations. MacBean & MacBean works closely with the consultants, providing them basic design criteria, to ensure they are properly incorporated into the golf course development on the ground.


Civil Engineers

Surveyors

Wetland Scientists

Archaeologists


Biologists

Architects


Landscape Architects


Environmentalists