Aesthetics By John Sanford, Jr. Print E-mail
This article belongs to a 12 part series on modern golf course architecture.

Even though a small percentage of golfers are capable of "shot making", all golfers can appreciate the natural beauty of the golf course. Native vegetation lining the fairways of many golf courses produces the character of those holes and typically should not be significantly altered unless it affects the playability or turf quality of the hole.

The best courses are not only well maintained with healthy turf grass, but also kept neat and clean. If a mowing line suffers from weak turf conditions, that mowing line loses its definition. When out-of-play turf areas on a golf course become weakened by shade or poor soils they should be replaced by ground cover such as pine straw or mulch to create definition and contrast between the healthy turf and the ground cover.

Existing and proposed landscaping should be treated as a design element and laid out to complement the course bunkering, contouring, playability, and other features to create a composition on each hole.

As with any artistic composition each golf hole should possess contrast in color and texture. White bunker sand should be highly visible to contrast with the green grass. In the north (cool season), a variety of turf types are used to contrast from bright green Bent grass fairways to dark green Blue grass roughs. This contrast creates definition and helps to guide the golfers eye toward the target.

In the south (warm season), it’s a bit more difficult to derive contrast from fairway to rough since Bermuda is typically used in both areas. Contrast and definition are achieved by good healthy grass that produces a clean edge through difference in mowing heights. Although there are several new warm season turf types that will produce contrast from fairway to rough.

Shaping and contouring can also add to the overall aesthetics of a golf course. Blending with the natural terrain is always easier on the eye than creating unnatural landforms in a natural setting. Planting of flowering trees and shrubs can add additional color throughout the course and should be located by the golf course architect for maximum playability.



John S. Sanford, Jr., ASGCA, ASLA

John started Sanford Golf Design in 1986 and is the lead architect for all course design. A member of the American Society of Golf Course Architecture and a licensed Landscape Architect since 1981, John has a diverse background in Land Planning., Construction Management and Golf Course Design. His design skills have most recently been showcased at Apple Mountain Golf Club, Jolie Ville Golf Resort and The Links at Pointe West. John graduated from Louisiana State University in 1981 with a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture degree.

http://www.sanfordgolfdesign.com
 
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