Key Points
There are many advantages to hiring a qualified golf course architect when considering a golf course renovation.
The right golf course architect will have a broad perspective and will work together with the superintendent to find the best short- and long-term solutions.
In most cases, utilizing an experienced contractor rather than in-house labor will also result in a better result with long-term cost savings.
When the leadership of a golf club decides to undertake a golf course renovation, whether major or minor, there is often the temptation to design and execute the work in-house, theoretically saving the time and money of selecting a qualified golf course architect and paying for a specialized golf course builder. While keeping everything in-house may make sense under certain circumstances, this article will examine the advantages of outsourcing the design and construction to experienced and qualified professionals, including improved sustainability.
Why Hire a Golf Course Architect?
Golf course superintendents are trained and focused on the maintenance of golf courses. When asked to design an improvement to the golf course that he or she maintains, the natural inclination may be for the superintendent to view that improvement primarily from the perspective of ease of maintenance or improved agronomy. Golf course architects, on the other hand, are trained to view golf courses more holistically and can also analyze a project in the context of strategy for the revised hole(s), strategy for the entire golf course, shot value, historical context, aesthetics, costs/benefits, and safety. For example, if a greens committee is interested in relocating or adding tees, an experienced and qualified golf course architect will consider not only potential agronomic and maintenance issues of the new tee but also accessibility, strategy, visibility, and playability for all classes of players.
The renovation project can be even more cohesive if the golf course architect is given the opportunity to prepare a master plan for the entire golf course – laying out a long-term vision of ordered and prioritized improvements. Is the project that the club is currently considering the highest priority or should limited resources be devoted to something more urgent?
An example of a renovation master plan.
Hiring a golf course architect will not only move responsibility for the project away from the superintendent, it will also alleviate the responsibility and liability for potentially complex design decisions for all golf course stakeholders and decision makers (greens committee, membership, club president, general manager, municipal administrators and politicians, etc.) without diminishing their roles as the final decision makers. Whereas a project conceived by the greens committee and undertaken by the superintendent and maintenance staff could leave all parties open to criticism and liability, the golf course architect, as an outside consultant, will be working hard to build consensus among the diverse set of stakeholders until an agreeable solution is reached that appeals to the majority.
This isn’t to say that the superintendent should not be heavily involved throughout the process. The superintendent knows and understands the golf course intimately and will have a broad and thorough understanding of its agronomic and maintenance issues. Plus, the superintendent will be responsible for maintaining the improvements once they are built, so his or her input and buy-in are vital to the long-term success of the project. It is therefore imperative that the superintendent and golf course architect work hand-in-hand to satisfy the goals and expectations of the membership and ownership.
In terms of relative costs, the golf course architect is often able to translate his or her experience into cost effective and/or economically sustainable solutions that the superintendent may not be attuned to. This can happen through value engineering (defined as finding a way to provide the same function for a lower cost) or coordinating with trusted industry contacts including golf course builders, shapers, agronomists, and irrigation specialists to find additional efficiencies.
A final reason to hire a golf course architect is that he or she is very likely to have a broader base of design experience than the superintendent, enabling a quicker recognition of solutions that have been applied to similar problems on previous jobs. Ideally, the golf course architect will also be familiar with sustainable design and construction best practices, leading to a smaller environmental impact, greater community buy-in, long-term economic benefits, or ideally, all three.
For larger renovation projects, an early partnership with the Golf Environment Organization (GEO) Foundation might also make sense. The GEO Foundation has a wealth of resources and experience in helping golf courses achieve and quantify greater sustainability. The GEO Foundation will work with the golf course architect to achieve the most sustainable design solution and construction strategy. When the project is complete, the GEO Foundation will help to promote and celebrate these positive outcomes. Finally, once the improvement is back in play, the GEO Foundation is uniquely positioned to provide guidance and quantifiably measure the improvements resulting from greater sustainability in the day-to-day management and operation of the golf course.
In-House Labor or an Outside Contractor?
Once the design of the renovation project is under the direction of a golf course architect, there are arguments to be made for using maintenance staff to carry out elements of the project. Perhaps parts of the golf course will need to be closed and, as a result, the maintenance staff will need to be kept busy in the interim. Perhaps the maintenance staff already has the proper equipment and a good amount of experience and competence to handle portions of the project, making the sourcing of outside labor unnecessary.
However, it is also important to consider the risks of giving the maintenance staff more than they can handle. If the project is prominent or disruptive enough, the membership will demand that it be completed as quickly as possible. Needless to say, re-work, budget, and schedule overruns will not be tolerated, especially if they could have been avoided by outsourcing to a qualified golf course builder to begin with. With the exception of the most tailor-made remodeling projects, it’s safe to say that a few dollars saved today by using in-house staff are not worth the long-term risk of using an inexperienced or ill-equipped labor force. This isn’t even to mention the attention that will have been diverted from the day-to-day maintenance of the remainder of the golf course while the maintenance staff is engaged with the remodeling project.
Finally, there is a third option for very small projects. The golf course architect can sometimes bring in his or her own shaper and utilize a limited number of in-house staff while overseeing and coordinating the construction him or herself. This would eliminate the need for a formal bid process to select a qualified golf course builder. This would also give the golf course architect more of an opportunity to make inexpensive field adjustments “on the fly” based on field conditions that might improve the project. The trade-off is that the golf club will need to appoint a knowledgeable representative who is empowered to make decisions to oversee the work (to, among other things, serve as a liaison between the golf course architect and the other stakeholders, to purchase materials, and to inspect and approve the construction). This methodology will be discussed in greater detail in the next article - Step 2: The Various Modus Operandi of Golf Course Architects.
Contact Sustain Golf for more information!
The European Institute of Golf Course Architects (EIGCA), in partnership with the GEO Foundation, has developed a continuing professional development program for its members called Raising the Standard of Sustainable Golf Course Development, or RSSGCD. This is the industry’s only structured program in the world to specifically train golf course architects in sustainable golf course design, construction, and maintenance best practices. A Sustain Golf team member has attained Stage 3 of this rigorous program.
A Sustain Golf team member is also currently serving on the EIGCA’s Sustainability Committee and is a GEO Certified Accredited Sustainability Verifier.
We firmly believe that common sense sustainable design, construction, and maintenance practices are the keys to the long-term survival of the game of golf. We aspire to be on the leading edge of applying sustainability concepts to golf course design, construction, and maintenance.
We would be happy to answer any questions that you might have about sustainable golf course design, maintenance, and construction. Visit www.SustainGolf.com or contact us at the following address for more information: Contact@SustainGolf.com.
Up Next:
Step 2: The Various Modus Operandi of Golf Course Architects
Sustain Golf is a collaborative group of like-minded qualified golf course architects. We are also qualified and experienced as civil engineers, vertical architects, and project managers. We have the breadth and diversity of experience and knowledge to offer a full suite of golf course design and construction services, from first concept to opening day on your new or remodeled golf course.
References:
Hurdzan, Dr. Michael J. In-House Vs. Out-Source. Retrieved from https://asgca.org/design/existing-courses/course-renovation-articles/in-house-vs-out-source/
ASGCA Insight (2016, Spring). The Wise Decision. Retrieved from http://asgca.org/images/stories/by-design/2016/Issue_27/The_wise_decision.pdf
Pavalko, R. Scott, (2016, Sept). Ground Control: Navigating a Renovation. Retrieved from https://www.gcmonline.com/news/ground-control-navigating-a-renovation
GEO website. Retrieved from https://sustainable.golf/
Peer Review:
Dr. Keith Duff, former UK government wildlife agency Chief Scientist, current Golf Environment Consultant
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