Golf Course Design Ideas

Despite the immense popularity of Tiger Woods during his prime, the number of American golfers has remained static over the past 15 years.  The sharp economic downturn has certainly harmed the sport, as cash-strapped Americans cut back on nonessential spending.  Golf costs more to play than most sports, making it prohibitively expensive for many aspiring junior players who need to play often to improve their skills.

I don't pretend to have all the answers to solve these dilemmas, but do have some ideas.  Here is one place to start:

Build courses with 12 holes

Golf is a game rooted in history and tradition, and few courses are willing to deviate from the 18-hole standard.  For a humorous take on golf's invention, check out this priceless (warning: expletive-laced) Robin Williams clip:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qPrR49qsDc

The sport has changed, however.  Holes used to be considerably shorter before equipment advances forced designers to construct longer holes.  Courses used to be 5,500 – 6,000 yards, but numerous venues now exceed 7,000 yards.  It simply takes longer to navigate 18 holes than it used to.
 

Source: http://www.golfclubatlas.com/

My idea of having a 12-hole course offers some distinct advantages:

·      New courses only require 2/3 of the acreage as before, reducing startup costs

·      If 18 holes take 4 ½ hours to complete, 12 holes would take 3 hours.  Those 90 minutes of savings makes the game more accessible.  People with tight schedules, or folks who simply prefer not to play golf for 4 ½ hours, would now enjoy the game more frequently.

·      With shorter rounds, more people can play on a busy day, adding to a course’s revenue

·      Numerous golfers I have come across like to play more than 9 holes, but definitely fewer than 18 if given the option.  Problem solved.

Anecdotally, I often hear complaints that the game takes too long to play.  Despite playing competitively for many years, I frankly agree with this assertion.  For most people in most situations, the marginal benefit of playing holes 13-18 is quite low.  It is easy to get tired and lose focus, resulting in poor play that detracts from the experience.
 

Logistically, the 6^th, 9^th, and 12^th holes should all finish near the clubhouse to provide maximum flexibility for the golfers.

Due to lower maintenance costs, courses could charge less and attract more golfers than before.  Overall, I believe this setup would be an improvement from the status quo for millions of golfers out there.  Also, some future posts will be devoted to other ways the sport can be improved.