Skilled Experience Counts

In this article, Brian Pierson, a founder member of the BAGCC and Chairman until 1995, reminds us that there are a number of willing and able golf course constructors awaiting to assist golf clubs with plans for course renovations and long terms construction work.

In the not too distant past, we recently experienced one of the wettest periods on record. Many golf courses had closed and members were keen to play. In this situation, the green staff can at times do more damage by working on the course then trying to prepare it for play. The Chairman of Green is blamed for closing the course, when he is in fact taking the correct decision. The Secretary plays umpire but cannot win. The course, is, after all, the club's greatest asset and what it deserves is a long-term management plan.

The introduction of effective weatherproofs has encouraged enthusiastic golfers to play in all weathers, but the seasons do not change. Many of our courses, like old cars, need a good service and some a complete overhaul. enter the golf course builders.

The British Association of Golf Course Constructors (BAGCC) was founded in the late seventies, to provide the golf industry with experienced builders and renovators. The reconstruction of or renovation of existing courses requires particular skills, equipment and knowledge. If courses are to be improved to the standards demanded by today's golfer, Clubs must move with the times. The average greenkeeping team is not over-manned and, if course improvements are required, they should not be carried out to the detriment of course maintenance, or in the dead of winter. "The men are in the sheds painting and a chap down the road has a JCB digger and some good top soil (usually subsoil from the footings of a new building) let's build a new tee or bunker!".

Golf course builders have regrettably spent years and thousands of pounds of members' fees correcting the excesses of well-meaning amateurs. Great works of art are not improved by amateurs. The club's greatest asset deserves the best and it must be a team effort comprising architect, agronomist, constructor and the full involvement of the Course Manager. The harsh financial reality of running a golf club business today, more than ever before, means strict budget control, hence the team approach.

Many clubs are now preparing a ten year plan. The improvements to a golf course may fall into many categories, e.g. tees wear our for several reasons:

• are they large enough to cope with the increased level of play?
• are they well drained?
• would additional teeing space not only make greenkeeping a more efficient operation but also provide a visually more attractive playing area?
• can walkways to and from tees be improved, by varying alternative routes to reduce wear?

Fairways suffered enormously last winter:

• is the problem poor drainage?
• is it compaction?
• are they suffering from long term trafficking?

Bunker refurbishment has always been an on-going problem.

The most important part of any golf hole is the green. Many were traditionally built with a clay lined base to conserve rainwater. However, with the introduction of irrigation systems, the water retention qualities now only contribute to poor drainage. A radical programme of rebuilding with stone carpets and free-draining rootzone is the long-term solution - not work best undertaken in-house. The enormous expertise available has never been greater. Nationally, there are very few courses being constructed, making this an ideal time for Golf Clubs to call in reputable contractors to discuss their requirements.

There has in recent years been an unfortunate trend away from the mainstream contracting industry with clubs and advisers cherry picking individual plant operators. Whilst many of these operators are skilled in their particular field, golf clubs are laying themselves wide open to the problems of public liability and personal accident claims compounded by the introduction of CMD (Construction Design Management) Regulations and HSE requirements. Members of the BAGCC and all recognised golf course builders carry the necessary insurance and have established working practices.

If the golf course requires renovation, now is the time to call in specialist contractors, obtain detailed quotations using approved methods and materials and it is worth remembering that old saying, "Quality will be remembered long after the price is forgotten."

For further information contact Brian D Pierson (who has constructed or altered over 250 golf courses, including seven Open Championship venues since 1966). Tel: +44 (0)1202 82232