| An Interview with Kevin Norby, Golf Course | | | | plan process often allows the Club to avoid costly |
| Designer | | | | mistakes and to save money by phasing projects |
| "Kevin - tell us what is a long-range Golf Course | | | | in a more logical sequence. |
| Master Plan?" | | | | Another important benefit of preparing a master |
| The long-range master usually consists of a | | | | plan is to avoid the implementation of "pet |
| detailed plan and a typewritten narrative | | | | projects" or spontaneous projects which often |
| summarizing the existing condition of the golf | | | | result when new managers, committee chairs or |
| course as well as recommendations for future | | | | Board members are appointed. Often times these |
| improvements. We typically start with an aerial | | | | projects are done with perfectly good intentions |
| photograph and a topographic map of the golf | | | | but without a complete understanding of what the |
| course and then, through a series of site visits | | | | course's long-range priorities are. |
| and meetings, we summarize the strengths and | | | | "Implementing your Master Plan - Tell us how it's |
| weakness of each hole on the golf course. | | | | done." |
| We typically look for drainage and maintenance | | | | Once the master planning process is complete, |
| problems, safety problems and problems with | | | | your Club will need to decide which projects are |
| pace of play or playability. In some cases, we | | | | of highest priority. For some courses this is a |
| might also look at opportunities to increase vehicle | | | | matter of simply trying to improve turf quality |
| parking and ways to improve cart staging and | | | | and daily playing conditions. In this case, the Club |
| circulation around the clubhouse. | | | | might decide to focus on drainage issues, tree |
| Once the analysis has been completed, we then | | | | removal and the installation of cart paths. |
| prepare a plan of the golf course showing our | | | | At other courses, the priority may be to improve |
| recommended improvements. The plan is usually | | | | course playability and strategy by adding tees, |
| prepared in full color so that it is suitable for | | | | rebuilding greens or reconstructing bunkers. |
| presentations to large groups or for display in the | | | | I often recommend that the Club try to select a |
| clubhouse to encourage discussion among the | | | | specific hole or specific area of the golf course |
| membership and guests. | | | | and then complete all or most of the work in that |
| The final phase of the master planning process | | | | area at once rather than doing numerous smaller |
| involves putting together a cost estimate and a | | | | projects such as constructing new tees on three |
| phasing schedule for the improvements. This | | | | or four different holes. There are a number of |
| allows the superintendent, owner or Board to | | | | reasons for this but most importantly these larger |
| prioritize the specific projects on a hole by hole | | | | more comprehensive projects tend to save |
| basis based on cost and other criteria of there | | | | money by more effectively minimizing disruption |
| choosing. | | | | to play throughout the golf course and by |
| "Why does a Golf Course need a Golf Course | | | | reducing the cost of restoring damaged turf and |
| Master Plan? | | | | irrigation. |
| The real purpose of the master plan is to provide | | | | Another reason for this is that the more |
| a long-term vision for making improvements to | | | | comprehensive projects allow the membership |
| the golf course and to provide a basis for | | | | and the golfing public to see the new dramatically |
| prioritizing those improvements. | | | | improved finished project in its entirety rather |
| We frequently visit with courses that only a year | | | | than just seeing smaller individual projects that |
| or two earlier put in new cart paths or new | | | | might go somewhat unnoticed. |
| irrigation systems only to find that the new tees | | | | Regardless of how you decide to proceed, the |
| they now want to build don't work well with those | | | | master planning process can be a great tool for |
| previous improvements. By stepping back and | | | | providing a long-range vision and for prioritizing |
| taking a look at the bigger picture, the master | | | | improvements to your golf course. |