Golf Course Concepts and Master Planning

Graham Marsh Golf Design emphasize the importance of innovative and functional planning. With this understanding and capabilities, along with our willingness to work with the world’s leading Architectural Planning companies, provides the client with every opportunity for development success.

At all stages through the planning and design of the project, reference should be made back to the Design Brief to ensure compliance. If compliance is not achieved the reasons for not doing so should be investigated and either the Brief or the design be amended accordingly.

When planning a golf course it is important to determine at this stage the exact nature of the course as this can impact greatly on the planning of the project. As an example, if the developer only requires an Executive Course this may be able to be accommodated within 50 hectares of land, however a full Championship Course capable of handling tournaments may require up to 75 hectares.

In accordance with the Design Brief and using the knowledge gained in the site visit and site analysis stage, the planning team will produce a number of preliminary concept options showing various ways that the elements of the development can be located within the constraints of the site.
The golf course should not be treated as an afterthought as it is vitally important that the land planning for the real estate and the golf course occur simultaneously. This ensures that the golf course and the real estate component work together and add value to the overall project.

When undertaking Concept Planning, it is important that the plans be done to scale so that each of the proposed elements of the development can be represented accurately. It is also important to understand that at this stage we are still planning at a macro scale and not to get into too much detail. If the bigger issues are solved at this stage, the detail can be solved later in the Design Development or Detail Design stages.

These plans should be undertaken only in sketch format as many different options may be produced for appraisal. Each of these Concept Design sketches should be assessed by each of the consultants to ensure that they comply with their relevant aspects of the Design Brief and the physical constraints of the site. These plans may be further tested by Sales and Marketing and Financial teams to review the viability of the product within the market.

Resulting from the above, a preferred option should be decided on and taken to the next stage of Design Development.

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