The detail behind the green details.
By Jeffrey D. Brauer
There may be 100 things to consider when designing just one green. Here is a checklist of all the things we consider in drawing a green detail. After reviewing this checklist, you’ll understand why we call them “green complexes.”
GREEN & GREEN COMPLEX DESIGN CHECKLIST
SPACE AVAILABLE
Acres/SF available
Trees to Save (trunk location and drip line)
Safety/Nearby features that constrict space
Slope severity and direction(s)
“Natural” angle and position of the green
GENERAL APPROACH SHOT CONCEPT VARIETY
Make each green different concept from the preceding and following green, and among hole types (par 3, short and long 4, par 5
Precision Target, small enough to aim only at center of green (3-4 per 18 holes, on par 3, short 4, long 4, par 5)
“Sunday Pin” Green (i.e., one difficult pin position – 8-10 per 18 holes – The default green
“Weekend Pin” Green (i.e., two difficult pin positions) (2-3 per 18 holes) – “A” frame or gull wing shape
2 or 3 Level Green (3-4 per 18 holes max, scattered and one each on par 3, short 4, long 4, par 5)
- 2 tiers front to back,
- 2 tiers side to side,
- 2 tiers angled
- 3 tiers front to back,
- 3 tiers side to side,
- 3 tiers staggered (3-4 per 18 holes,)
- 4 Tier (?) Hard, but not impossible, to pull off
Concept Greens – (Mostly from Charles Blair MacDonald ideas)
- Redan
- Biarritz
- Fortress
- Punchbowl
Extreme Greens:
- Large and Rolling (over 10,000 SF)
- Long or Wide and thin
APPROACH SHOT
- Size (Affected by approach shot distance and natural site factors)
- Angle (Affected by natural contours and wind Direction)
- Main Features/Concepts
- Elevation Above Fairway
- Front to Back Slope to Hold Shot
- Visibility to Golfer
- Concept, Width, Angle, and Up Slope of Fairway Approach & Connector
- Surrounding Tie Ins
- Maintenance Considerations from Putting Surface and Surrounds
PUTTING
Determine number of cup spaces required (from 6 to 21 on extremes)
Main Feature Putting Feature and Concept
- Gently Rolling
- Multi-Tier or Subdivided, Interior Contours
- Tilted Plane
Contouring
- Maximum Cup Area Slope
- Variety of Slope
- Rolling Edge Slopes
Basic Cupping Area Green Slope
MAINTENANCE
Sunlight and Air Movement
Mower Exit Slopes and Turning Areas
Drainage Patterns
GOLFER CIRCULATION
Ambulatory access Routes from Cart Path and Fairway to green surface
ADA required handicap access
After the new year, we’ll look at all these factors individually, but obviously, the design process goes round and round to get to the final design, as one factor overrules the other or becomes most important.
Jeffrey D. Brauer/GolfScapes, Inc.
3809 Canton Jade Way
Arlington, TX 76005
Ph: 817-797-6376
https://www.facebook.com/jdbgolfscapes/