• Golf Course Design Computer Programs
• Golf Course Design Principles
• Golf Course Design Firms
• Design Golf Course Architects
• Golf Course Design Computer Program Download

A new software development could transform the way architects design, says Wayne Branthwaite. CAD has made the process of designing golf courses easier and more accurate. Changing designs became simpler, and having the computer calculate earthworks made the process more accurate. However, actually drawing contour lines by hand to create the design has been the same since the year dot. Mike Jones' courses for Links. As a professional tournament player, golf course design always facinated and intrigued me. I knew from experience that a good golf course could be fun to play, challenging, and beautiful to look at, all at the same time.

Golfing Terms and Golf Statistics

How do the PGA golf tour professionals know which parts of their game need work and practice? When is a hiccup turning into a trend? How can they target their practice sessions to maximize the benefits?

How can young golfers at college maximize their training? How can students of the game visually see improvement when they follow careful fitness regimes, such as those found at Sport Fitness Advisor: Golf Fitness? See our Versions page for the special free-version for student golfers.

It is simple. The golf pros and students keep a record of each round they play. With just a few simple key statistics any problem areas can be discovered and corrected.

The great news is you too can record these key statistics as you play your round and then use Chart My Golf's powerful free online golf-charting software to do all the complicated calculations for you. The next time you want a lesson from your local pro or even if you want to practice by yourself, you will know you are maximizing your time and potential.

So what should you be recording? Well, it is really up to you. There is no wrong answer, but the more you record the more informative the results will be. The software will automatically calculate all the statistics for you. The maximum you need to record for each hole is your total score, the position of your tee shot compared to the fairway, your tee shot distance, the number of shots taken from a fairway bunker, the number of shots hit into the water, the number of penalty strokes you receive (this is in addition to the shots you have hit into the water or out of bounds), the position of your approach shot relative to the green or the length of putt left after your approach shot, the number of shots taken from a green side bunker, the number of shots taken from the grass around the green and lastly putts. All the other statistics can then be calculated by the software. Here are some of the key areas.

Strokes

This is the total number of shots, including penalties, you have taken for each hole.

Fairways Hit

This is a percentage value telling you how consistently you are hitting the fairway with your tee shot.

This is recorded as a yes when you hit the fairway or a direction the ball landed when you do not.

Note: on par 3 holes, where you are meant to hit the green with your tee shot, you do not record fairways hit. Instead recording no-score.

Fairways hit is then presented as a percentage of successes against failures. The nearer you are to 100% the better you are at this aspect of your game.

Golfers should be aiming for the following Fairways Hit percentages:

Greens In Regulation (GIR)

This is also a percentage value telling you how consistently you are reaching the green (the putting surface) within the expected number of shots.

Chart My Golf automatically calculates this for you using all the other data you submit. This statistic is recorded as a yes or a no for each hole. You have reached the Green in Regulation if your ball lands on the green surface within 2 shots below the par of the hole. So for example on a par 5 hole you would want to hit the green in 3 (5 - 2) shots or below. Then, similarly to fairways hit, greens in regulation is presented as a percentage of successes against failures.

Chart My Golf has invented two more statistics related to GIR, which is more useful to the bogey or double bogey golfers. GIR+1 asks if you have reached the green within 1 shot of par, ie one more than a scratch golfer would expect to reach the green. Similarly GIR+2 asks if you have reached the green exactly on par, ie two more than a scratch golfer would expect to reach the green. Bogey golfers will find their GIR+1 percentage will show improvement before there is noticeable improvement in their standard GIR percentage making GIR+1 more useful for golfers of their ability. Similarly double bogey golfers, those who would be aiming for about 36 strokes over par for a full round, will find the GIR+2 percentage a more useful guide for golfers of their ability.

Golfers should be aiming for the following GIR percentages:

Putts

This is the number of shots per hole you hit with the putter.

Sand Saves

This is another percentage value telling you how consistently you are holing-out within 2 shots when you land in a green side bunker. If this percentage is high the golfer knows hitting a green side bunker has only a limited effect on their overall score. Chart My Golf automatically calculates this statistic for you from the data you submit.

When you land in a bunker beside the green you would ideally still want to get into the hole within 2 shots. If you do it is considered a sand save and is recorded as a 'yes'. If you land in a green side bunker, but take 3 or more shots to get into the hole then a 'no' is recorded. If you do not land in a green side bunker you record a no-score. Sand saves are then presented as a percentage of successes against failures, just like fairways hit.

Up and Downs

This is a measure of the consistency with which you hole out within 2 shots when you land on the grass just off the green with your approach shot. When you miss the green with your approach shot, but do not land in a green side bunker, you will still be aiming to get into the hole within 2 shots using an iron/putter and then your putter. If you can get into the hole from this green side location within 2 shots you record a 'yes' on this hole for Up and Downs. If you take 3 shots or more you record a 'no'. If you hit the green with your approach shot you record a no-score. Chart My Golf automatically calculates this statistic for you from the data you submit.

Up and downs are then presented as a percentage of successes against failures, just like fairways hit.

Other Terms Found in Chart My Golf

• Par: The number of strokes a scratch golfer is expected to complete the hole.
• Stroke Index (SI): The holes are ordered 1-18 to determine the shots received per hole for players of different handicaps. The hole with SI 1 is the most difficult hole and most golfers will receive a stroke on this hole. The hole with SI 18 is the easiest hole and only golfers with a handicap of 18 or above on a standard difficulty (Slope ™ of 113) course will receive a stroke on this hole.
• Yards or Meters: The distance from the tee to mid-green.
• Dogleg: An indication if the hole is straight, or curving to the left or right.
• Slope: An indication whether the hole is flat, uphill or downhill.
• Score: The total number of strokes taken for the hole.
• Fairways Hit: If you hit the fairway with your tee shot on par 4 holes or above, you have achieved a fairway hit.
• Fairway Bunker: The number of times you hit a fairway bunker.
• Water: The number of times you hit the water.
• Penalties: The number of penalty strokes you have received.
• Approach: An indication of the landing position of your shot to the green, ie off green or measured by the length of the putt.
• Green Side Bunker: The number of times you hit a green side bunker.
• Off Green Chips: The number of off green grass shots you take with an iron or putter.
• Putts: The number of on green putts.
• Fairways Total: The total number of shots you take getting to the green. You should aim for 2 under par of the hole. This leaves you 2 shots to get into the hole when you are around the green.
• Greens in Regulation: If you reach the green within 2 less than par you have achieved a GIR.
• Greens in Regulation + 1: If you reach the green within 1 less than par you have achieved a GIR+1.
• Greens in Regulation + 2: If you reach the green within par you have achieved a GIR+2.
• Green Side Total: The total number of shots you have taken around the green. You should aim for 2 shots or less around the green.
• Up and Downs (Scramble): You achieve an Up and Down if your approach shot lands off the green, not in a bunker, and you still manage to complete the hole within another 2 shots.
• Sand Saves: You achieve a Sand Save if you land in a green side bunker and you still manage to complete the hole within another 2 shots.
• Greens In Regulation per Fairway Miss: The GIR when you fail to score a Fairway Hit.
• Greens In Regulation + 1 per Fairway Miss: The GIR+1 when you fail to score a Fairway Hit.
• Greens In Regulation + 2 per Fairway Miss: The GIR+2 when you fail to score a Fairway Hit.
• Green Side Save: This is achieved if you manage to pick up shots around the green when you lose shots reaching the green.
• Fairway Miss Save: This is where you miss the fairway with your tee shot, but still get to the green in the expected number of shots.
• Fairway Bunker Save: This is where you still get to the green in the expected number of shots after hitting a fairway bunker.
• Green Side per Off Green Approach: The green side score for off green approaches.
• Green Side per Long Putt Approach: The green side score for long putt approaches.
• Green Side per Mid Putt Approach: The green side score for mid putt approaches.
• Green Side per Short Putt Approach: The green side score for short putt approaches.

Golf Course Design Computer Programs

Summary

These are just some of the statistics you can easily record while you are playing your round. The web version of Chart My Golf works on mobiles, laptops and desktops, and the downloadable version will work on many devices. So all you need to do is enter a small number of values into Chart My Golf and the program will make all the calculations for you. The program will then present your golf stats in a multitude of colorful graphs and tables.

Now you can see trends in your golf stats rather than just individual data. Now you will be able to react to problem areas just like the pros and even predict potential areas of concern before they fully manifest. If you maximize your practice, improvement will surely follow.

A useful link is a golf stat glossary. Find the season statistics for leading golf pros by following this link.

Top of the list for any potential golf course developer should be the engagement of a golf course architect (search the EIGCA member database). Your golf course architect will lead your development from concept to completion and ease any bumps along the way, helping to avoid the project becoming unnecessarily complicated, drawn out and expensive.

We have written this guide on how to build a golf course to help you through the process. The specific roles of the golf course architect in making your site a course everyone will want to play are highlighted and at the end are some tips on how to select a golf course architect and the cost of building a golf course.

Feasibility Studies

From concept to completion, your golf course architect will lead your development

• Technical – is the site you are considering suitable for a golf course? A golf course architect will examine the physical elements of the site, such as land area, topography, soils, geology, vegetation, drainage and water availability. They will also examine other restraints, such as legal and environmental restrictions surrounding use of the land, the local infrastructure and location of services, plus identify potential conflicts or safety issues.
• Market – is there a market need for your golf course? Will your course fulfil market requirements, locally and potentially internationally? What demand is there and how can you satisfy this to best ensure long term success? Your golf course architect can help with this and advise on specialist research groups to carry out this study

Design Concept

Your golf course architect will assess design opportunities and restraints and review site surveys (see common limitations below). They combine these with your objectives and vision for a successful course to create a design concept which shows potential locations of all the major elements of the project.

Common limitations - the common limitations which restrict golf course development are:

• Steep slopes – these often lead to extensive earthworks to make them suitable
• Flat sites – these may require considerable earth movement to facilitate surface drainage and to create fill material to build features
• Rock or poor soil conditions
• Lack of suitable water
• The need to conserve important natural habitats and public rights of ways

The ideal site has gently undulating landforms which can form natural locations for greens, tees and fairways.

Golf Course Design Principles

Masterplan

Once the feasibility studies are complete, the Masterplan investigates how the design concept will convert into a course people are able to play on and enjoy. This is the stage when the golf course layout, including locations for the clubhouse and maintenance facilities, the playing surfaces and landscape character, location, style and size of features, e.g. lakes, streams, walls, bridges and pathways, will be prepared along with construction programmes and budgets.

The masterplan should be developed by a project team, which is usually led by the golf course architect and typically includes some or all of these specialisms:

Your golf course architect will provide a detailed design package to reflect local planning submission requirements and ease the planning process

• Land Planner
• Building Architect
• Civil Engineer
• Irrigation Designer
• Landscape Architect
• Ecologist
• Planning Consultant

Planning Approval

Planning requirements differ greatly from one country to another and obtaining planning permission can be burdensome and lengthy. Your golf course architect will provide a detailed design package to reflect local planning submission requirements and make the planning process easier. Your golf course architect will also assist with the preparation of an Environmental Impact Assessment should it be required.

Tenders

Your golf course architect will prepare detailed documentation, including contracts, plans and specifications to allow the project to be tendered. If you need them to, they will also assist in evaluating tender responses and select the best contractors for you.

The documentation may include plans for:

• Grading
• Drainage
• Clearing
• Irrigation
• Grassing / landscaping
• Green / tees / bunkers
• Construction
• Specifications and Bill of Quantities

Golf course construction

As your golf course architect understands all elements of the build and will be your project leader, they will assist in developing an accurate construction programme. Part of their role is to regularly visit the site during construction to ensure the course is built according to the contract documents and agreed timetable.

Establishment

At this point in the development, your golf course will nearly be ready for play, leaving just the final details before it can open. Your golf course architect will mark out mowing lines for the greens, fairways and roughs, and sand lines for the bunkers. The final stage of making their design a reality is to establish a maintenance regime with the course superintendent to create the overall course character.

Selecting a golf course architect

• Do you want to do your own research into suitable golf course architects and approach them direct? Search the EIGCA member database to find an EIGCA member who fits your needs
• Do you want the EIGCA to do the legwork for you? Use our Member Referral Service by sending a brief to us and we will distribute it to our members on your behalf
• Do you want to organise a design competition? Find out how by using our competition guidelines

Golf Course Design Firms

All EIGCA members are bound by a code of professional conduct and practice.

Cost of building a golf course

Golf course design fees are dependent on a variety of factors, such as the type and scale of the project, its technical complexity, the planning approval process, the working practices of the individual golf course architect and the services and conditions imposed by clients. Fees are usually calculated in one of three ways:

1. As a percentage of the construction costs
2. A fixed price
3. A time rate

To understand more about the amount you will need to invest in engaging a golf course architect, read our advice on golf course design fees.

Design Golf Course Architects

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Affordable Golf Facility Development

Golf Course Design Computer Program Download

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