How to Build a Commercial Golf Turf Course From Scratch?

Imagine a thrilling round of golf with your buddies, where all are eager to take prompt aim for a lengthy shot. Such enthralling rounds feel best when played on an awesome golf course. The glazing grass all around with sandy bunkers, makes the scene look more tranquil and relaxing. 

Every sport has 3 pivotal aspects, which are players, equipment, and the field. The field in golf is dubbed the “golf course,” which is the foundation of an engrossing game. The aesthetics of a golf course depend primarily on its construction and maintenance and its profile can make or break the records. 

Not all golf courses are built or planned in the same way. There is a variation of terrain and tuft. Though popular in the world, the craze is blooming rapidly in Asia with golf equipment dealerships and turf and irrigation suppliers from South East Asia flourishing swiftly. The renowned golfer Tiger Wood has played and won scores of golf titles. Out of all the golf courses he has played on, he has called St Andrews Golf Course, Scotland, his favorite one. Why are some fields so admired over others? The basic point goes to the root of the golf course, i.e., the construction part. Let’s move to the steps to be followed in building a commercial golf turf course from scratch.

Steps to Build a Commercial Golf Turf Course

Building a commercial golf course consists of an array of essential steps. From the first step of finding a site to the maintenance, the process goes sequentially as discussed below. 

1. Site Selection: This is the root step for building a commercial golf turf course. The terrain, curves, and soil quality of the site are instrumental in picking the right choice. The selected site should require minimum earth-moving efforts. Inspecting the soil quality is essential for predicting the growth of the grass. The site also needs to be in proximity to the golf lovers.
2. Plan and Design: One of the most crucial parts is to make a plan for the chosen site. It consists of multiple sub-steps such as designing the topography and making infrastructure plans, draining plans, irrigation plans, and landscape plans. The in-depth information gathering and suggestions from the golf course architect are prerequisites for this step. Selecting the position of trees to be grown, their height, density, and type, and planning the position of bunkers, tees, etc. are also unignorable.
3. Shaping: The golf courses do not have an even topography nor do they have steep terrains. To shape the terrain as per the plan, the basic requirements include earthmoving vehicles. This time-taking step involves converting a rough earthwork into an evenly planned field. The curves on the field, the bunkers in between, and the path for the golf buggies are neatly carved out of the given rugged site.
4. Tee and Bunker Construction: Tees are the grounds on which the game starts. They are the bedrock of the game. Sandy bunkers amid the golf course are also a crucial part of making the game more exhilarating. Both these are to be planned, marked, and constructed meticulously.
5. Irrigation and Drainage: The turf cover not only craves for consistent irrigation but also the extra water needs to be removed. Drainage channels and tranches that are dug out to fit pipes are to be packed afterward. The irrigation systems need to be chosen smartly. During summer, the surface requires more irrigation than in the winter, autumn, and spring. The key parameters of soil to be considered to check the need for irrigation are soil moisture, evaporation rate, temperature, and rainfall pattern. As the process of irrigation is cumbersome,  it is advisable to install sensors to suggest when and where the watering is required. After that, the water pipes, control valves, and sprinklers are to be positioned to expand the reach of the irrigation system. 
6. Golf Course Cart Path: Designing the route for the cart can’t be ignored as it is crucial for the smooth transportation of the team across the golf course. The path for the car becomes more important when the field’s terrain is bumpy. This path also helps in drainage. It is usually made of concrete and asphalt, which are impermeable, but some permeable alternatives are also available, which can absorb extra released irrigated water and heavy downpour. 
7. Grass Selection and Planting: Various grass varieties differing in color, texture, and growth pattern are considered a good choice for turf. Grass selection, cover density, leaf length, and growth pattern are other parameters for turf development. Some examples of good grass species are Bermuda grass, bent grass, poa anua grass, and perennial grey grass. Artificial/synthetic grasses are also available in the market that need less maintenance. But natural grass is always preferred over artificial alternatives. After selection, the planting, fertilizing, and maintaining the grass followed successively.
8. Maintenance: It is the last but the most crucial point in the series. The golf course turf needs constant maintenance, irrespective of its usage intensity. The grass needs irrigation, and instruments, and lighting systems should be persistently inspected. The length of the grass and the prevalence of rodents or burrowing animals in the field should also be checked over time. 

What More?

To simplify the above-dictated process, take advice from a golf course architect to keep the process hassle-free. All these steps contribute to building golf courses not only apt for golf clubs but also for golf tournaments imparting a thrilling golf experience. The golf course is not just an arena for playing a sport, but a place for knitting innumerable memories with your golf buddies. The sport is played well when the field is maintained well. A good golf course increases the appetite of golfers to play more and more. 

Also Read: Step-By-Step Guide To Website Design

Anu Joy

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