| Planning | |
| Step | Description |
| Assemble Team | The team should include, but not be limited to, a golf course architect, golf course superintendent, clubhouse architect, irrigation engineer, environmental engineer, energy analyst, economic consultant, civil engineer, soil scientist, golf course builder, biologirst or ecologist, and a legal team. For new golf courses, a licensed golf course designer is required by law to guide the site analysis process. |
| Define Objectives | Identify realistic goals, formulate a timeline, etc. |
| Conduct a Feasibility Study | Evaluate finances, environmental issues, water availability and sources, and energy, materials, and labor needs. Identify applicable government regulations. |
| Select and Analyze Site | Site should meet project goals and expectations. Identify all strengths and weakness of each potential site. During site selection, any site constraints, such as the presence of listed species, valuable habitat, or invasive species should be identified. New York State requires that a licensed golf course designer guide the site analysis process to ensure regulatory compliance. |
| Design | |
| Retain a Project Manager/Superintendent | This person is responsible for integrating sustainable practices in the development, maintenance, and operation of the course. |
| Design the Course | Existing native landscapes should remain intact as much as possible. Consider supplemental native vegetation to enhance existing vegetation alongside lengthy fairways and out-of-play areas. Nuisance, invasive, and exotic plants should be removed and replaced with native species adapted to the area. |
| Structural BMPs: Incorporate structural BMPs into the design plan, identifying opportunities to detain stormwater and to improve water quality through stormwater volume reduction, filtering, and biological and chemical processes. | |
| Greens: Should have plenty of sunlight and be well drained. Greens should be big enough to have several hole locations that can handle expected traffic. Root zone material should be selected with United States Golf Association (USGA) specifications in mind, as published in A Guide to Constructing The USGA Putting Green. Physical testing of these sands by an accredited laboratory prior to use is recommended. | |
| Grass Selection: Species should be selected based on climate, environmental, and site conditions and species adaptability to those conditions, including disease resistance, drought tolerance, spring greenup, and traffic tolerance. | |
| Bunkers: The number and size of bunkers depend on considerations, such as the resources available for daily maintenance. For each bunker consider: • The need for drainage • Entry/exit points and how these will affect wear-and-tear patterns • The proper color, size and shape of bunker sands to meet needs | |
| Vegetative Filters: Vegetative filters (conservation buffers, vegetated filter strips, swales, etc.) can be used throughout the golf course to act as natural biofilters to reduce stormwater flow and pollutant load. Turf areas are also effective filters. |
| Planning | |
| Step | Description |
Assemble Team The team should include, but not be limited to, a golf course architect, golf course superintendent, clubhouse architect, irrigation
engineer, environmental engineer, energy analyst, economic consultant, civil engineer, soil scientist, golf course builder, biologirst or
ecologist, and a legal team. For new golf courses, a licensed golf course designer is required by law to guide the site analysis
process.
Define Objectives Identify realistic goals, formulate a timeline, etc.
Conduct a
Feasibility Study
Evaluate finances, environmental issues, water availability and sources, and energy, materials, and labor needs. Identify applicable
government regulations.
Select and Analyze Site Site should meet project goals and expectations. Identify all strengths and weakness of each potential site. During site selection, any
site constraints, such as the presence of listed species, valuable habitat, or invasive species should be identified. New York State
requires that a licensed golf course designer guide the site analysis process to ensure regulatory compliance.
Design
Retain a Project
Manager/Superintendent
This person is responsible for integrating sustainable practices in the development, maintenance, and operation of the course.
Design the Course Existing native landscapes should remain intact as much as possible. Consider supplemental native vegetation to enhance existing
vegetation alongside lengthy fairways and out-of-play areas. Nuisance, invasive, and exotic plants should be removed and replaced
with native species adapted to the area.
Structural BMPs: Incorporate structural BMPs into the design plan, identifying opportunities to detain stormwater and to improve
water quality through stormwater volume reduction, filtering, and biological and chemical processes.
Greens: Should have plenty of sunlight and be well drained. Greens should be big enough to have several hole locations that can
handle expected traffic.
Root zone material should be selected with United States Golf Association (USGA) specifications in mind, as published in A Guide
to Constructing The USGA Putting Green. Physical testing of these sands by an accredited laboratory prior to use is recommended.
Grass Selection: Species should be selected based on climate, environmental, and site conditions and species adaptability to
those conditions, including disease resistance, drought tolerance, spring greenup, and traffic tolerance.
Bunkers: The number and size of bunkers depend on considerations, such as the resources available for daily maintenance. For
each bunker consider:
• The need for drainage
• Entry/exit points and how these will affect wear-and-tear patterns
• The proper color, size and shape of bunker sands to meet needs
Vegetative Filters: Vegetative filters (conservation buffers, vegetated filter strips, swales, etc.) can be used throughout the golf
course to act as natural biofilters to reduce stormwater flow and pollutant load. Turf areas are also effective filters.
Best Management Practices for New York State Golf Courses – 2nd Edition
15
Design Irrigation
System
Hire a professional irrigation architect, if possible, to design the irrigation system. Keep in mind the different water needs of greens,
tees, fairways, roughs, and native areas. Consider the topography, prevalent wind speeds, and wind direction when spacing the
heads. Choose the most efficient type of irrigation system considering available resources.
Construction
Select Qualified
Contractors
Use only qualified contractors who are experienced in the special requirements of golf course construction, such as members of the
Golf Course Builders Association of America.
Safeguard
Environment
Follow all design phase plans and environmental laws. Soil stabilization techniques should be rigorously employed to maximize
sediment control and minimize soil erosion. Temporary construction compounds and pathways should be built in a manner that
reduces environmental impacts. Prevent the spread of invasive species.
Install Irrigation
System
Installation should consider the need to move equipment and bury pipe while maintaining the original soil surface grade to minimize
the potential for erosion.
Establish Turfgrass Turfgrass establishment methods and timing should allow for the most efficient progress of work, while optimizing resources and
preventing erosion from bare soils before grass is established.
