You’re designing a golf course. How can you create a professional layout that’s both challenging and fun?

Hire KemperSports to help you think through all of the decisions you will face in conceptualizing, planning, designing, building, opening and operating a golf course.

Janina is spot on. Seniors and women need a PlayablePathwayTM all the way from tee to green. Slower swing speeds generate shorter shots with lower trajectories. Designing a “course within the course” takes data-based architectural thought. You can’t just set out some tees. The ground game comes into play much more than the aerial game, slopes in landing areas need to be receptive to incoming shots, and strategic challenges and hazards must be surmountable in order to create a fun and equitable golf experience for aging golfers, women and developing junior golfers.

“A course should give the greatest pleasure to the greatest number” Alister Mackenzie. He was the best writer of his generation on this the topic and described the ideal courses having wide fairways but hazards on the side giving the best line to the green, firm turf so the hazards are meaningful around the greens, slopes to create interesting shots and minimal rough. He wrote it all in #the spiritofstandrews which is a great starting point in understanding some perhaps counterintuitive ideas.

Engaging a qualified golf course architect for on-site evaluations is pivotal for crafting designs that harmonize with the natural landscape, ensuring sustainability, and enhancing playability. Such visits allow architects to leverage the terrain's inherent features, address unique environmental challenges, and integrate the course seamlessly into its surroundings. This approach not only elevates the aesthetic appeal and functionality of the course but also promotes cost-efficiency and adherence to regulatory standards. A meticulously planned and executed design fosters an exceptional golfing experience, underlining the importance of professional architectural insight in achieving a balance between natural beauty and strategic play.

Women are the fastest growing market and often newer golfers are hindered by forward tees that are too long. You cannot pick a target yardage of, say 5100, or 4800, or 4600-yards and think your work is done by placing tee boxes 30-50 yards ahead of men's tees. Multiple sets of forward tees are needed, because obviously, not all women play alike. Please pay attention to what women will face regarding the total playability of the course, hole by hole, and shot by shot. Forced carries from the fairway over 80 yards won't cut it, par-3's over 145-150 either. Gentlemen, would you like to hit driver on par-3's knowing you cannot reach them? Women often cannot reach par-4's and 5's in regulation, so there's little chance at birdies or pars.

This will more than likely depend on location more than your choice. Don’t get it wrong, otherwise you will fail. Thinking about the audience and the environment will help here too. Use existing undulations etc to your advantage. Remember flow, and views are important.

Make the golf playable and fun for all levels of golf. Use tee place me to wisely and fairway contours to challenge better players and give those with lesser abilities area to land the ball.

Allow enjoyment, challenge and flow of the layout. The range of high quality golf course architects are vital and can make it or break it for you. Most golfers like good variety of shot types and therefore hole length and shape.

This is a funny one, as it is very easy as a human to add your own feeling and aims to a specific significance or feel. This in my opinion and experience is dangerous, as it may not be broad enough. For me, the key is to make the entire experience from car park to car park as good as it can be. Don’t be scared to be reflective and self aware. Try not to chase some weird and wonderful unique item, feel or hope… Allowing the golfer great experience from arriving to departing, and also to invent shots, that will bring them back. Have high standards around the business will allow for your future prosperity.

Try to use the natural terrain of the golf course I. Your initial layout. Use the natural backdrops and scenery to your advantage for aesthetic appeal. I would also always have a drivable par four .

Always be testing your entire business, including the course. Employ a sound architect will make this happen. They know how to match all the aspects and test where necessary.

The course starts on arrival. A course that has great people working in all areas make a difference to your day of golf. I have been on golf courses that would be a 3 out of 5 that I would go back to just on the merit of the experience from the staff looking after you. I have been on golf courses I would rate 5 out of 5 I would never go back to just because of poor attitude of people working there. It has an affect!

This is done each year with a planning committee to see upgrades in place. Know your competition and be the best . Leaving upgrades etc. will lead to downfall and an unkempt course.

Great advice….you’d think it would be obvious but please talk to someone who knows something about it. And a good start is to read “The Spirit of St Andrews” by Alister Mackenzie and “Anatomy of a Golf Course” by Tom Doak (and then call an architect).

Absolutely No.1 is get a Golf Course Architect. The worst examples of course design and modification I have seen all came about from an owner or committee thinking they can give it a go. Course design and modification is a very specific set of skills and whilst we all like to think we possess them, very few actually do. Invest in a professional, someone who will support your business and ideas. This is your project (you being an owner, club, committee or board) so make sure the person you choose to work with is working with you not just for their prowess. This does not mean it is foolproof, look at the recent work on a bridge that was then ripped up in a matter of weeks however professional advice will guide you through the process.

It's easy to minimize the value of sunshine hitting the early holes. If the sun can burn off frost on those early holes, you can minimize the amount of revenue sacrificed by frost delays. In the west, mountains play a big factor, and need to be a primary consideration, when routing the layout.

John Konya's reply was right on. I remember a green that was always sick. It was heavily shaded at the early time of day when sunlight was required to promote all those plant activities. By peeling back the trees causing the shade, voila! The green made a miraculous comeback.