Creating a new golf course is a massive undertaking that spans over about 150 acres. There are so many elements, checks, and tools that need to be used and taken into account to build a new golf course.
Therefore, if you realize how complex the construction of a golf course is, you may wonder: how are golf courses constructed accurately according to plans?
In this articles, we will help you get an idea of what goes into golf course construction, and how golf courses are constructed to follow design plans.
How Are Golf Courses Constructed Accurately According To Plans?
Golf courses are built in 2 phases: rough terrain shaping, then fine details shaping. During the first phase, low precision is required. During the fine details shaping, smaller tools and hand construction are favored along with laser-guided technology to ensure accurate construction. Other accuracy-improving technologies include GPS mapping & topographical maps.
The construction of a golf course in an immensely complex undertaking that only a few other projects can beat in complexity, such as rocket ships and particle accelerators.
Golf courses use different layers in their turf, on top of having insane number of varying slopes, materials, distances and other elements to take from plans to reality. There are so many variables to control on a golf course that make its planning and construction a logistical challenge.
Before building a golf course, there is a technical team that goes to the lot for inspection. The inspection makes sure the lot is suitable for construction according to elements such as the soil type, irrigation, how often it rains, the temperature, the number of trees to deforest, financial feasibility, and more.
If the inspection team members deem the lot to be suitable to build a golf course over, then the project moves on to the planning phase.
Through thorough design, planning, and discussion with the major stakeholders, a team of architects, golf course designers, engineers, landscapers, ecologists, and more create the blueprints for an amazing new golf course.
Next is the tricky part. Bringing the plans to real life as a living, breathing golf course, up to spec with the blueprints. You may know how it is easy to create something random and have it look decent, but it is 10 times harder to replicate something perfectly, such as in the case of a golf course according to plans.
So how do golf course constructors make sure they get every distance, every slope, every turf material correct according to the blueprints? How are the constructors and machine operators so precise with their equipment?
First of all, you need to know that the construction of a golf course can be separated in two phases:
1) rough terrain shaping;
2) fine details shaping.
The rough terrain shaping is done using big machines that can cover a lot of ground quickly; at this step, efficiency is more important than accuracy. After the rough terrain shaping has been approved, finer details are shaped either by hand or by using small tools and vehicles.
By using topographic maps, GPS technology and more, the construction team can start building the golf course by levelling the terrain roughly according to plans.
First, the construction team uses large machines such as excavators to dig into the ground or shovel dirt towards elsewhere to increase the altitude of any given point. This is the rough terrain shaping.
After this step, the inspection team uses various different technological tools to verify how precise the construction is so far. Upon seeing potential improvements, the inspection team hands the construction team a list of all the changes required.
The tools used by the inspection and construction teams include laser-guided machines and verification tools that are more accurate than a human ever could be, even with decades of training. The GPS mapping technology is especially useful for making sure that the golf course is built with the correct distances.
The terrain on golf courses requires special construction, especially for irrigation, as the turf needs to drain quickly to avoid floods and stoppage of play after light rain. The top layers of golf course turf has to be specially constructed to assure its durability, longevity, and a high standard of performance for players.
Construction needs to be carried out efficiently and respectfully in order to minimize the environmental impacts of building the golf course. Making mistakes during construction can also lead to increased building costs, as well as fines from regulatory organizations such as environmental ones.
To further guarantee the precision of the golf course construction according to plan, construction teams use progress reports to the leadership core. The leadership core can then take the proper decisions to lead construction down the best path.
The leadership core usually includes the golf course designer as one of the main leaders, along with other stakeholders like the parties funding the projects, engineers, and regulatory organization members.
Conclusion
There you go! After reading this article, you have learned more about how golf courses are built accurately according to plans, according to spec.
What surprised you the most about how golf courses are built accurately? Do you dream of building your own golf course one day? Let us know down below in the comments!
