Natural Disasters and Golf Course Design
Natural disasters are an unavoidable part of living on this planet. Whether you live in an area that is known for destructive tornadoes, live along the Gulf where hurricanes pose very real threats to our properties and safety, or just happen to live somewhere that has a year with enough rainfall to cause a flood, we all know how serious these situations can become.
Whenever you own a business, such as a golf course, that relies almost entirely on a well maintained landscape, these threats come with a bit more risk. This is because a disaster such as a flood, tornado, or hurricane can come with enough force to flood your greens and rip your well planned, highly groomed course to shreds. How does someone plan for something so destructive in a budget, when you have so many ordinary expenses to keep up with as it is?
One important thing to keep in mind is having good insurance. Often times, golf courses do not plan for these natural disasters because they are rare. Plan smart, one serious wipe out over a ten year period could be devastating without the right kind of coverage. Loss of course use is a very serious factor to consider, because not only will you have to pay to have your course restored, you will also have to deal with the lack of revenue while you work to get your course back in playing order.
Make the choice to work with an engineer and have them help you to understand your courses watershed and flood potential. Every golf course will have its own unique hydrology complications. Knowing about them ahead of time can be beneficial for you.
Golf Architect, Jeffrey D. Brauer has experience in planning courses with these threats in mind. When it comes to greens, tees, and fairways, he believes in raising them as far as it is practical. Ideally, consistently elevating as applicable to slow flood waters down.
If flooding is a concern for you when designing or revamping an existing golf course, work with Jeffrey D. Brauer! He has experience working around regional concerns and helping to ensure there is a strong business plan in place to accommodate even the worst case scenarios.
Jeffrey D. Brauer/GolfScapes, Inc.
3809 Canton Jade Way
Arlington, TX 76005
Ph: 817-797-6376