The Environment's Friend & A Golfers Most Feared Encounter

Water brings to a golf course a certain serenity no matter its size, shape, or distinction; yet it also can provide some of the most exhilarating moments in golf. Water is, and always will be, the most penal of all golf hazards as evident by Rae's Creek at Augusta National, the Pacific Ocean at Pebble Beach, and that small pond at your local country club.

The existence of water hazards is not a new development in golf course architecture, it just happens to be a much more complex aspect of design. Today, the creation of water hazards are extensions beyond the site's natural conditions. They are a result of an architect's design concept to enhance the playability and shot making value, adding quality through aesthetic beauty, and as a functional attribute.

As a golf course architect, the design concept I implement into the use of water hazards follows a carefully outlined series of steps which I have utilized during my twenty-three years of practice. Working closely with the client - who is the most important member of the project team - we begin to create a theme for the golf course. From here, the use of aerial and topographical maps begin to develop the concept into reality by envisioning the placement of water hazards in coordination with natural locations of low areas and existing drainage patterns of the site. With this knowledge in hand, we visit the subject property to ensure what was envisioned in the drawing room works well with the site's natural characteristics.

My design firm works very hard to create courses that compliment Mother Nature. I believe this to be the most important aspect of our profession, as I want our courses to lay lightly upon the land, rather than appear as a man-made addition.

Once the theme has been developed, we begin to create the characteristics of individual holes. As water hazards can be an instrumental aspect of any hole's character - let's illustrate the three types of holes on a golf course. They are: penal, heroic, and strategic.

Since water hazards rarely offer the opportunity for recovery - any attempt is usually futile (witness Curtis Strange at the 1985 Masters as he unsuccessfully attempted recovery shots from Rae's Creek), the use of water hazards on a particular hole classifies it as penal. However, we try to go one step further in our use of water hazards to add another dimension to the heroic and strategic holes.

A heroic hole has its hazard designed at a specific angle to challenge the golfer to choose a line by determining how far they can carry their shot across the hazard. Another term we use for this type of hole is the "Bite Off Hole". The more you elect to carry the hazard with your shot, the shorter the approach.

A strategic hole locates hazards along the side of the fairway. Golfers who decide to challenge the hazard with their tee shot are rewarded with an easier approach than if they had elected to play away from the water hazard.

Beyond the design concept, water hazards add aesthetic appeal to the golf course as well as an amenity enhancement. Water creates eye appeal. Its aqua blue reflection glistening with the sun creates dramatic contrasts with the white sand of bunkers and the natural greens of today's grass varieties. As an amenity, we can add additional high quality views from homesites as well as to those from the clubhouse which we accomplished at Fiddlesticks Golf & Country Club in Fort Meyers, Florida.

The prevalent role of water hazards in golf course design is the most unnoticed aspect of design by the golfing public. This is their use as a function of project drainage. Water hazards are utilized as storage during storm events, assisting in the filtering of sediments, and as a source for irrigation.

With the governmental regulations we face in developing new courses, and even with our renovation projects, it is very important to formulate a team experienced in sensitive site design and knowledge with complex land usage.

An example of one of our more complicated site designs involving water hazards was the Tournament Players Club at Prestancia in Sarasota, Florida.

The project consisted of 505 acres located in one of the most difficult counties in America to permit a project. Prestancia was developed by Hugh Culverhouse - owner of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The design team's task was to create a world class golf course and residential community in a short time frame, which on its opening day was to host the Chrysler Cup - an International Seniors Tournament televised by ABC Sports. What made the design complex was the presence of a major portion of Sarasota County, as well as the governmental regulations associated with the creek. The team had to design a lake network which would first store storm runoff, then filter the sediments from the water through a created wetland before it would be discharged into the creek.

The golf course was in immaculate condition on opening day and the team of landscape architects was extremely proud of the finished product. Currently, Prestancia is one of the more successful Tournament Players Clubs in America.

As we have outlined, water hazards - their design, aesthetics, and function are occurrences of much more than a golf course architect's daydream. They are the result of a specific design process, a contribution of input and thoughts by team members to create a finished product which enhances the environment and makes the golfer think twice before swinging their golf club. LASN