Golf/Tennis-Based Resorts:
The Impact of Development on Operations
Learning Objectives
Identify the major planning and development elements involved in creating
a golf course.
Differentiate between the various types of golf course design in terms of
land consumption, frontage, maintenance costs, and integrity.
Explain the role of general design principles in site planning a golf/tennis
based resort.
Discuss how to balance the relationship between the integrity of the natural
resources base while increasing the profit-generating capability of the
recreational facility.
Identify the major factors affecting the overall development of tennis courts
in a resort setting.
Major Features of Social Interaction
Landscape Architect
Vegetation fairways
recreational uses such as
walking, cross-country skiing,
and bicycling.
Shape of Property
Water Supply the size of the
land, type of grass, climate &
source
Maintenance this comprises
Clearing Required mature trees
of all areas
and smaller ones, burning
Natural Hazards: Hazards such
as streams, ravines, ponds, and
Size of Property rolling terrain, reduce cost
Land Cost clearing;
grading; drainage; construction of
tees, fairways, greens, sand
Topography steep, flat, hilly bunkers, irrigation system, and
cart paths grassing.
Soil Characteristics rocky soil,
clay soil , wetlands, floodplains,
drainage channels, and dry Climate
streambeds
Certification
Golfer may want to play on a course that is
environmentally friendly.
Similarly homeowners may value being close to golf
courses with certain environmental features.
Criticism from environmentalists and government
agencies is avoided.
CORE GOLFCOURSES
Oldest and most basic design Together and either in a
continuous sequence Requires 140 acres and gives
10,000feet of lot frontage Consumes the least amount of
land and least course frontage greatest integrity
emphasis on golf rather than real estate development
Most efficient layout, quick play, inexpensive to maintain
SINGLE FAIRWAYWITH RETURNINGNINES
Uses about 175 acres and offers44,400 feet of lot
frontage and 300minimum width Playing flexibility
and the number of rounds that can be played each day
can be maximized
Maintenance cost are moderatelyhigher
DOUBLE FAIRWAYCONTINUOUS
Uses about 150 acres, offers 25,000feet of lot frontage,,
and requires and minimum width of 500
Uses one-sixth les land than a single fairway course. Less
flexible layout and difficult to work around existing
vegetation but suited for long, narrow sites. Maintenance
cost and time are reduced Course can be boring
DOUBLE FAIRWAYSWITH RETURNINGNINES
150 acres of land, with 500 feet being the minimum
width and 24,200 feet of lot frontage
Uses one-sixth less land than a single fairway course
and offers more integrity than a single fairway
The returning nines offer flexibility
Maintenance costs are less than for a single fairway
and supervision is easier.
Golf Course Design:
Core
Land Consumption
Low
Frontage
Low
Flexibility/Capacity
Low in continuous; high if returning nines
Maintenance Cost
Low
Integrity
High
Golf Course Design:
Single Fairway Continuous
Land Consumption
High
Frontage
High
Flexibility/Capacity
Low
Maintenance Cost
High
Integrity
High
Golf Course Design:
Single Fairway Returning Nines
Land Consumption
High
Frontage
High
Flexibility/Capacity
High
Maintenance Cost
High
Integrity
Low
Golf Course Design:
Double Fairway Continuous
Land Consumption
Medium
Frontage
Medium
Flexibility/Capacity
Low
Maintenance Cost
Medium
Integrity
Medium
Golf Course Design:
Double Fairway Returning Nines
Land Consumption
Medium
Frontage
Medium
Flexibility/Capacity
High
Maintenance Cost
Medium
Integrity
Medium
Design Principles
Safety Flow
Balance
Flexibility
Maintenance costs
Shot value Construction planning
Aesthetics
Fairness Tournament qualities
An item higher on the
Progression list takes precedence
over one below it.
Integrity and Profit-Generating Capability
The course should be built for all golfers. Variations in
handicap can be accommodated by placing multiple tees at
different distances from the hole.
Tee placement also depends on the amount of play. The
more the course is played, the larger the tees.
Integrity and Profit-Generating Capability
Shot Value Hazards
Fairness Progression
Bunkers Natural features
Water Final holes
Trees Flow
Trends
Declining participation
Land use restrictions
More stringent water access regulations.
Environmental concerns
Barriers to the sport
Residential development
Native grass
Improved maintenance technology
Beverage carts
Women golfers
Tennis Courts
Site Selection
Climate
An acre of land can, theoretically, accommodate six single
courts, each 60 by 120 feet. In reality, this crowded
configuration would make for a very unpleasant experience.
A dark background behind the players helps them see the ball.
Tennis Courts
Private outdoor tennis club can handle between 30 and 60 players per court.
Capacity can be increased by one-third by adding lights. A reservation
system helps push capacity closer to the upper figure of 60 players per
court.
Tennis courts tend to be developed in clusters. Maximum efficiency when
courts are developed in clusters of eight or ten.
Objective in orienting the course is to avoid players having the sun in their
eyes.
Tennis Courts
Porous Nonporous
Fast drying Long lasting
Expensive
Easy to maintain
High maintenance
Annual resurfacing Dry quickly
Clay Non-cushioned play fast and
Less expensive to build are hard on legs
Last long Player comfort
Play slow Synthetic turf long lasting
High maintenance
Grass
Look good
Daily maintenance
Susceptible to damage
