Nine Steps for Course Planning

by Dan Dinelli (editor@clubandresortbusiness.com)
August 2007
 

Golf course planning takes time, research, insight and money, but Mike Hurdzan says the improvement planning process is not complicated if the following steps are followed:

1. Get up-to-date, very detailed aerial photos and contour mapping of at least two-foot contours; one foot is better.
2. Select a qualified golf course architect and assemble a planning team.
3. Analyze the entire property for safety issues, strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, constraints, environmental resources, golfer likes/dislikes, projected timeframes or schedules, budget allocations, etc.
4. Now have the planning team prioritize all of the desired improvements into a numerical order, with most important first (which is always safety issues) and least important last (which too often is improvements to the maintenance complex, unfortunately).
5. Place all of the pertinent information onto one base map, or layers on a base map. Then the golf course architect should do overlays on tracing paper or Mylar, to evaluate all possibilities. This is called “Schematic Design.” Continue producing overlays and have everyone on the planning team critique them until there is agreement that one plan best satisfies all concerns.
6. The golf course architect should then refine this final Schematic Design into a “Design Development Plan,” which means adding as much detail as possible and doing a preliminary cost estimate.
7. Once the planning team approves this plan and agrees on the scope of the improvement budget, it should be rendered or enhanced into a “Master Plan” that is ready for presentation to golfer groups or interested parties for their approval and funding.
8. When funding is in place, construction documents are prepared, based upon the approved Master Plan. These allow competitive bidding between qualified contractors, define the scope and work limits, and guide the improvement work. A refined cost estimate should be prepared by the golf course architect.
9. Finally, arrange improvement work on a schedule that phases it in around golf activities—and hope for good weather.