Golf landscape design 07:30, 10/08/2021

Brian Curley 

A.S.G.C.A. 

Schmidt-Curley Design, Inc. 

This is not an easy answer as some sites require essentially ZERO landscape design effort. If the site is of propersized and shape and is very natural, some courses can be designed and built with little or no disturbance to the surrounding landscape. This is common with many of the most notable and famous courses today. This could include courses on open dunescape along beachfronts or courses carved through dense trees or other natural landscapes. In these cases, if little grading effort is required and no revegetation effort needed to establish landscape, the mere introduction of turf is the majority of the effort. This minimal effort is further enhanced if the site is naturally sand-based and “bunkers” are created by merely scratching away at the surface. This has become more and more a standard of design that many developers are looking for, even if the location is further removed from the golfing marketplace. 

On the other extreme, some sites require extensive grading efforts to overcome a very difficult terrain that is not golf friendly. Massive dirt works are able to transform a difficult property into a more natural looking golf terrain. In these cases, quite often the perimeter of these newly created golf grades requires a re-establishment of landscape. This will often require a mixture of ground covers, shrubs and trees. Recent designs have tended to avoid too many tree introductions and more of a tree-less look being the trend. However, you do not want to create too much turf area as this creates more maintenance and could render the courses too wide and easy. In these cases, the architect must use critical thinking to provide the optimum turf area while creating a beautiful landscape to frame the holes and, sometimes, direct play to avoid safety issues. 

Landscape introduction can range from very formal presentations (think Augusta National) to wildly natural expanses of native grasses, shrubs and trees.  As with so many things in life, however, it is difficult to please 100% of the players and debates over proper landscape treatments are common.  

I believe there are numerous examples of tremendous landscape efforts. Most people do not realize that Augusta National was originally quite open and has, over the years, seen the growth of the majority of the pines you now see. They also have created some of the most iconic backdrops of flowering shrubs for the pivotal holes seen every year. This course has likely impacted other golf landscape designs more than any course in history. There are also examples of 100% transformations from flat desert to wildly countered and landscaped designs. A prime example would be Shadow Creek in Las Vegas. My choice for best landscaping would always fall upon the natural links courses where magnificent landforms of natural dunes and whispy grasses create both great visuals and the proper playing grounds for golf. 

In golf course design, the landscaping takes how many percent? There are “parkland” courses (wall to wall turf) built on small parcels where every bit of land is kept in turf and there is almost no landscape effort needed. On the other hand, massive properties require the same amount of playable surface but this leaves large areas of landscape. So, the answer first lies in the size of the land dealt with some playable areas of courses are dwarfed by the surrounds! Regardless, landscape design is a very integral element in the process and the value of a golf experience is often dictated more by the surrounds than by the playable course area itself. 

Martin Moore 
President - Flagstick GCCM 

Every project site varies, but in many cases landscape generally accounts for up to 40 – 50% of total area within the golf course boundary limits. So needless to say, landscaping is a huge visual point within the overall golf development. The landscaping component is a very important part of the overall golfing experience. The experience starts when the guest passes through the entry gate and arrives at the clubhouse, and lasts until they leave the property. The experience should create a stress-free relaxing atmosphere and lasting memories. The complete landscaping is far more than just planting trees, shrubs, groundcovers, and other plant material. So many other details are included such as; tee markers, flagsticks, water features, walls, benches, cart paths, other hardscape, etc. Even trash cans. These important elements all need to be unique in style, and fit the overall theme of the project. Be creative and think “outside the box”. Look at ways to uniquely use “local” materials that fit into the natural place of existence.  

A good landscaped golf course is what fits into the native location and surrounding environment. Some of the best golf courses in the world are simple native landscapes. Barnbougle Dunes, Bandon Dunes, Sand Hills, Cypress Point, Hoiana Shores, FLC Quang Binh are just a few examples. Most of these courses were landscaped with very inexpensive local native materials matching the surrounding environment. In a sense, landscaped by “mother nature” with very little assistance by man. Then you have the other end of the spectrum with very formal and colorful landscapes, usually part of large multi-functional residential properties that are almost fully created; Shadow Creek-Las Vegas, TPC Sawgrass, the Madison Club, and of course, Augusta National GC are a few good examples. In the end, the landscaping of the golf course should mirror the landscaping theme throughout the entire property development to ensure overall visual continuity. Everything should feel as it fits together. 

Well, there can be a huge variance in costs to landscape a golf course. I have heard, and even witnessed landscape budgets for as little as $ 75-100,000 USD, and up to, and in excess of $30,000,000 USD. Both budgets producing effective landscaping experiences based on location and surrounding natural environments. In a “formal” landscape effort where everything must be created from bare land, the costs are usually high and so much depends on sizes, species, quantities of trees and other plant materials, scale of water features, hardscapes, etc. As mentioned earlier, many great “natural” landscapes that are mostly created by mother nature can be very inexpensive, when compared to the “formal” landscape.  

Paul Stringer 

President of Nicklaus Design 

The role of landscaping is very critical to a successful golf course design. If done correctly, the presentation of the landscape often times is integral to the overall look and feel of the golf course and surrounding. As designers, we are often presented with a site that doesn’t have a lot of natural features or much landscape. When choosing what type of materials, plants, trees, or fauna to place within the golf course or near the golf course, we want to do the  most natural look that represents the native landscape in that particular region where the site is located. 

Some sites have a lot of natural landscape on it, and requires very little extra landscape to be added. Sometimes you need to thin out some native landscape just to fit the golf course on the land. Many golf course sites sit low and are built in the flood plains. After additional fill or sand capping is added, there is a need to be creative and not “over-do” the natural look in the area by adding too much additional landscape. The selection of proper grasses both for the play surfaces and non-playing areas is critical.  

The landscaping of the golf course can be a significant cost of the overall construction of the golf course if a lot of additional landscape is needed or required. Owners may have particular reasons for additional landscape to block roads or buildings, etc. Every property is different and has various landscape budgets. In terms of the percentage of the overall budget for construction, it was an unusually high percentage because of the added landscape. Traditionally the landscape budget would be 5-10% of the overall construction budget but again depends on the features on the site, the goals of the owner, residential development, etc. Many golf courses are built with minimal landscape and over time, add additional landscape as required once the golf course is finished and starts to mature.   

Care must be taken not to over-landscape once the course is completed where the wrong type of plant material is added in areas it does not belong. This can add significant long term costs to the overall maintenance budgets and negatively affect playability. It’s therefor very important a landscape design is carried out in conjunction with the golf course designer to ensure correct landscape placement. 

Water usage needs to be carefully considered in the landscape design. Often when landscape is added after the course is built; the irrigation system may not have been designed to accommodate vast additional landscape areas, thereby putting strain on the golf course irrigation, using more water than originally intended.