One of the most important phases in a golf project is to investigate the feasibility of the proposed site. It is essential that the architect has sufficient time and resources to evaluate the site’s positive and negative attributes before potential development. Once a study of the natural landscape is completed (existing terrain, flora and fauna, environmentally-protected areas, etc.), the initial conceptual design strategy can be presented for discussion with the client.

Development of conceptual design ideas begins and Routing Plan options (layouts for the golf course) will be produced. Selecting a routing plan is one of the biggest decisions the client makes in the project as it is the basis for development. Study results, client intentions, authority requirements and conditions such as environmental impact and landscape integration are taken into consideration. A cost estimate is then compared to the budget and building permits are applied for. Depending on the country, it could several years for building permission.

The Routing is extended to a detailed Masterplan. The Masterplan shows the strategy required for playing each hole with illustrations of obstacles, the greens and their surrounding areas. More detailed drawings, based on key elements of the masterplan are also created such as green drawings, earthwork grading plan, conceptual drainage and irrigation plans, etc. All drawings are created using AutoCAD. The Masterplan is used both as a development document and as documentation for members, investors, authorities and banks.

Benestam understands the importance of assembling a highly qualified team of professionals, from contractors to specialists, and will recommend the best team for every job. Each member of our team has knowledge on the anatomy of a golf course and the specific experience necessary to build one successfully golf course. A team with expertise in the golf course construction market is essential to ensuring the design is maintained throughout the construction process. The contractor is the architect’s right hand and it is in the project’s best interest to appoint the right person for the job.

A golf course develops from the landscape, a living work of art. The architect is the artist, ensuring the client’s vision is expressed from the drawings to every inch of the actual course. A good architect becomes the construction supervisor during development. Benestams architects are often on hand to correct any potential discrepancies between the drawings and the course with the contractor, preventing problems that could lead to rebuilds. Our frequent presence ensures that the course has the right qualities in terms of playability, safety, technical execution and adaptation to the landscape. We rarely undertake a project without construction supervision as a service.

The anatomy of a golf course changes over the years due to maintenance, management and equipment changes. To upgrade an old and wearied golf course, a thorough hole by hole analysis is recommended. Benestam meets with representatives from the greens committee and the superintendent to gain the golf club’s history. This meeting, combined with aerial photographs and other information provide a vision for how the course can be transformed. A detailed report, using the latest technology, is presented outlining the strengths and weaknesses of the course.

Almost every golf course has one or more holes which fail to stimulate, engage or provide the golfer a challenge. A lack of risk- and reward strategy turns the game into more of a nature walk. The main goal is to make alternative routes from the tee box to the green. The golfer can choose a tougher line of play to gain a better line for the next shot or an easier line of play.

The main reasons to renovate a green are often that it consists of insufficient material and has a deficient drainage system. A green that is too moist increases the risk for diseases like fungus and insect attacks. Even the daily wear and tear and low mowing heights have an impact on the green surface. The best known and most environmentally friendly way to build a green is according to USGA specifications. A thorough analysis of the greencomplex (surroundings) is also recommended for drainage problems and design mistakes. Generally weaknesses can be found in low lying areas, bunkers and entrance/exit from greens.

The most common problems with fairway surfaces are incorrect drainage in the profile and surface water run-offs. Courses have been known to close just because of poor drainage, leaving a potentially disastrous impact on business. The method of construction and the type of soil are often to blame. Professional reshaping, sandcapping, and catch basin work prevent flooding and provide good grass and excellent playability.

Bunkers (obstacles) are a central part of the golf course anatomy. Most players, regardless of their level, have a love/hate relationship with them. The standard of a golf course’s bunkers provides a great deal of information and they are typically the area of the course that needs first aid. The standard varies in style, form, drainage function, sand color, sand qualities, etc. The course might have too many or too few bunkers, they can be misplaced according to the strategy (or lack thereof), green bunkers are too far from the green, the bunkers are too deep or shallow. Benestams expert team will complete an analysis, provide recommendations and undertake renovations that result in high standard bunkers.

The tee box often gets little attention at a golf course, despite the daily wear and tear. A tee box should be maintained in the same way as the greens, resulting in a smooth and high quality surface. Tee boxes often suffer from: poor grass quality, lack of surface water run-offs, a rough surface, poor landscape integration, visibility issues to the hole, etc.

Almost every golf club has a need for drainage improvements, both surface and profile. To treat surface problems caused by precipitation and irrigated water; catch basins and swales must be used to transport and ultimately recycle water quickly and efficiently to the nearest ditch, pond, lake, etc. Surface problems occur mostly during the rainy season or when snow melts. Improper design results in the grass struggling to survive. In this case, the best method is to rebuild the whole greencomplex to achieve a long term solution. Please see phase 4, Fairway Renovation.

Renovation and restoration are very different. When a golf club has made a decision to restore its facilities, Benestam uses the original course designs to bring new life to the original architect’s intentions. By studying old pictures and layouts of the course, we may find design elements that have totally or slightly disappeared over the decades. This is of special concern when looking at the classic masterpieces worldwide. Even in Sweden you will find courses that have lost their original design features.

Practice facilities at several golf courses show a lack of enthusiasm. A well designed and maintained practice facility will attract, stimulate and engage the golfer, taking training to a new level. There are no limits in the design of first-class practice facilities. They should be constructed to the same specifications as the golf course: high wear and tear, internal and external safety zones, etc.

The areas around the clubhouse and the car park shows often express a sterile and a cold atmosphere. The landscape characteristics of the golf course should be expressed in every facet of the surrounding environment and facility. Johan Benestam’s education at The Swedish University of Agriculture Sciences, has given him knowledge in the composition of flowerbeds and in the grouping of trees and bushes. These features are better suited to clubhouse areas and the car park than out on the course.