GOLF COURSE

A golf course is an outdoor recreation area created for the purpose of playing golf. It consists
of a set of holes that are played one after another, usually in sets of nine or eighteen. Each hole
contains a flagstick designating the location of the hole, a tee box, a fairway, a rough area, and a
green. The goal of the game is to use the fewest number of strokes to drive a tiny, hard ball into each
hole.

Size, design, and level of difficulty can differ among golf courses. Some courses are wide and
relatively level, while others have mountainous terrain, sand traps, and water hazards. Each hole's
length can also differ, with some needing big drives and others emphasizing short, accurate strokes.

The fairways, greens, and bunkers of golf courses are normally maintained by a crew of
groundskeepers. Numerous golf courses also have extra features including driving ranges, putting
greens, pro shops, and dining options.

There are golf courses all over the world, and many of them are connected to exclusive clubs
or vacation destinations. The Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia, the St Andrews Links in
Scotland, and the Pebble Beach Golf Links in California are some of the most renowned golf courses
in the world.

The minimum size needed for a golf course might change based on the number of holes, the
layout, and the terrain. But typically, a typical 18-hole golf course needs at least 120–150 acres (48–
60 hectares) of land.

Tees, fairways, greens, roughs, as well as hazards like bunkers, water features, and trees must
all be allowed to be built on this site. The course's design must also leave enough room between holes
for golfers to stroll or use golf carts without obstructing other players.

9-hole golf courses and other shorter courses can be made to fit on plots of land as small as
50–70 acres (20–28 hectares).

It's important to keep in mind that these are only basic guidelines and that the precise
dimensions of a golf course might change based on the characteristics and design aspects of the
course. Furthermore, some courses could need more space if they are built on difficult terrain or
include extra amenities like driving ranges, practice grounds, or clubhouses.

6 DIFFERENT TYPES OF GOLF COURSES

There is a lot of golf course jargon thrown around, but if you don’t know what these terms mean, it
can feel disorienting. This week, we are focusing on some terms used to describe different types of
golf courses.

LINKS COURSE
First up is the most famous type of golf course, the links course. The term derives from the Old
English word hlinc meaning rising ground or ridge and refers to sandy area along coast. While many
courses claim to be links, call themselves links-style, or have the word links in their name, the
category is more specific than that. True links courses are mostly found in Scotland, Ireland and
England. The course must be along the coast with sandy soil underneath. Links golf is where the game
was founded as this sandy soil was perfect for the game and not great for much anything else. The
land wasn’t of any use for agriculture so people started looking for a different use for it. The sandy
soil drains remarkably well, keeping the ground firm — ideal for a golf course. You can check out
the links association website which tracks all the courses in the world that fit their criteria of true
links. Some of these courses include The Old Course at St. Andrews, Royal Troon, Lahinch, and
several of the courses at Bandon Dunes golf resort.

The 18th hole at the Old Course at St. Andrews.GETTY IMAGES

But this doesn’t tell the whole story. When most people think of links-style golf, they are picturing
golf that can be played along the ground with lots of undulation, plenty of dunes and little to no trees.
These courses also usually feature pot bunkers as opposed to the larger sprawling American-style
bunkers. Because of the lack of trees and waterfront location, wind plays a huge factor on most links
courses.

Now, architects have started trying to replicate some of these features on land that aren’t technically
suitable for links courses. They will build wide-open courses and try to make the ground feel naturally
undulating and windswept. These courses can still be tons of fun, even if they aren’t technically links
courses.

PARKLAND COURSE
Parkland courses are built inland, away from the ocean. These courses often feature lots of trees and
lush grass. If you watch the PGA Tour, you’ve probably seen plenty of parkland courses. They’re
called parkland courses because they look and feel like you are playing golf in a park. It’s usually the
case that parkland courses are well-manicured, and are full of man-made features like dug bunkers,
ponds and built-up rough. Parkland courses are often built in places that don’t have ideal conditions
for golf. This means the grass and soil are harder and more expensive to maintain. Because there isn’t
as much natural land movement and undulation, much more work must be done by the course
architect on parkland courses to add intrigue and excitement to the course. Arguably the most famous
parkland course in the world is Augusta National.

Augusta National is among the most famous parkland courses in the world.GETTY IMAGES
HEATHLAND COURSE
The quickest way to understand heathland courses is to read the definition of heath: “an area of open
uncultivated land, especially in Britain, with characteristic vegetation of heather, gorse, and coarse
grasses.” Most heathland courses are found in Britain. These inland courses are usually a bit more
open than parkland courses as their style is based on links courses. The courses often have lots of
gorse and heather as part of play and don’t usually look as precisely manicured as traditional parkland
courses. While most of them have few trees (mostly pine trees) many of them have had trees grow in
over the years. These courses came about when people were looking for places to play golf other than
links land. The terrain is often undulating in a similar way to links and the sandy soil is similar as
well. Many of the best courses in Britain are heathland courses, including Woking Golf Club,
Sunningdale Golf Club, and Alwoodley Golf Club.

Woking Golf Club in the UK.WOKING GOLF CLUB

SANDBELT COURSE
The sandbelt region in Australia is home to some of the most cherished courses in the world, though
they can get lost in the shuffle due to their location. The sandbelt region is just outside of Melbourne,
Australia and is home to several of the world’s finest courses. The soil in this area is surprisingly
sandy compared to the surrounding areas and is perfect for golf.

“The Melbourne Sandbelt region is a geographic anomaly resulting from a prehistoric flood which

deposited heavy sandstone into low lying areas,” says thesandbelt.com. “The sandy loam can reach a
depth of up to 80 meters in some places.”
This soil is perfect for undulating greens and terrain with firm running ground. But the soil is also
great for steep edged bunkers surrounding greens. Famed course architect Alister MacKenzie  visited
the sandbelt region in 1926 and designed Royal Melbourne’s West course and consulted on several
other courses. Every course in the area is great, but some standouts are Royal Melbourne Golf Club,
Kingston Heath Golf Club and Metropolitan Golf Club.

The sandbelt region is perfect for courses like Royal Melbourne.GETTY IMAGES
STADIUM/CHAMPIONSHIP COURSE
These two terms often go together. These are courses designed to host golf tournament big or small.
Most of the time a club saying they have a “Championship Course” doesn’t mean much other than it
is 18 holes, fairly long and fairly tough. The phrase “championship” is often used to distinguish
courses if a club has more than one to choose from. But you could also define a “championship
course” as a course that has hosted big tournaments, which cuts down the list dramatically.

The 17th at
TPC Sawgrass provides one of the best theaters in all of golf.GETTY IMAGES
Stadium courses might have a slightly more constricting definition. TPC courses make up the
majority of “stadium courses,” as they were built with spectators in mind for PGA Tour events.
Stadium courses are designed for easy movement and flow of spectators and often feature strong
vantage points and exciting holes.

TPC Sawgrass is widely cited as the original stadium course. Other examples are the Stadium Course
at TPC Scottsdale and TPC River Highlands in Connecticut.
PAR-3 COURSE
Short courses and par-3 courses can be looked at as “golf lite.” These courses are often extremely fun
to play and friendly for beginners, kids or golfers of advancing age.

Short courses are great because they take up less land (which makes them cheaper and
environmentally friendly), are quicker to play and can be playable even for a first-timer.

Some major clubs have par-3 courses that go along with their traditional, 18-hole course (Augusta
National comes to mind). Many resorts are beginning to put in short courses including Sand Valley
(the Sandbox), Pinehurst (The Cradle) and Bandon Dunes (The P eserve). There are great par-3
courses around the U.S. including the beautiful Palm Beach Par-3r.
The Cradle at Pinehurst Resort packs a punch despite its small stature.PINEHURST RESORT

PARTS OF A GOLF COURSE

Although courses do vary in type, the vast majority feature common elements. Here are the different
parts of a golf course:

1. Tee box: The area from which you hit your first shot on each hole. Most courses feature multiple
sets of tees to accommodate golfers of different skill levels.

The back tee boxes are used by only the best golfers; these tees extend the course to its longest
possible yardage. The middle tee boxes are used by most average golfers. The forward tee boxes are
used by most female and senior golfers. (All golfers play to the same green no matter which tee box
they have used.)

2. Fairway: The closely mown stretch of turf between the tee and the green.

3. Cart path: The formal path throughout the course for golf carts to drive on. Keep your cart on this
path unless otherwise instructed by course officials.

4. Rough: High, often thick grass that borders the fairway and surrounds the green.

5. Bunker: A hazard usually filled with sand (but sometimes grass) found mostly around greens but
also on fairways.

6. Water hazard: A pond, lake, river, or stream found in the middle or to the side of a hole.

7. Fringe: The closely mown turf that encircles the putting surface; fringe grass is slightly higher than
the grass of the green itself.
8. Green: The designated putting surface for each hole, where the flagstick and cup are located.

9. Out-of-bounds area: An area indicated by white stakes that is considered out of play. If a ball is
hit into an out-of bounds area, a one-stroke penalty is incurred, and your next swing must be taken
from where your last shot was played.

TYPES OF HOLES

The main factor that defines a type of hole is its par. That number reflects the number of strokes it
should take an experienced golfer to complete the hole. There are three types of holes: par-threes, par-
fours, and par-fives. The yardage of each hole determines the par.

The following distances are general guidelines for the lengths of each type of hole. (The lengths of
holes played by professionals vary from these guidelines.)

 Par-three: Up to 210 yards for women and up to 250 yards for men
 Par-four: 211–400 yards for women and 251–470 yards for men
 Par-five: 401–575 yards for women and 471–690 yards for men
You may also hear the term dogleg used to describe a par-four or par-five. That term refers to the
shape of the hole, which usually bends fairly dramatically to either the right (as shown below) or the
left. 

WHAT IS THE LONGEST GOLF COURSE?

The longest course in the United States is found in Bolton, Massachusetts. The private Pines Course at
The International is 8,325 yards long. The fifth hole is a 715-yard par-five; there is also a 277-yard
par-three. The 18th hole is a mere 656 yards.

DIFFERENT TYPES OF GOLF COURSES

You will come across several different types of golf courses, which vary both in the types of holes 
they feature and in their policies regarding whom can play there.

Regulation: A regulation course is considered a full-sized course. It can consist of nine or 18 holes
with full-lengthpar-threes, par-fours, and par-fives.

Executive: An executive course can be made up of nine or 18 holes, but the holes are shorter than on
a regulation course.

Private: A private course is open only to members.

Semi-private: A semi-private course offers both memberships and tee times for non-members.

Public: A public course, also called a daily-fee course or a municipal course if owned and/or
managed by local officials, is open to anyone.
Pitch and putt: A pitch-and-putt course is a nine- or 18-hole course with very short holes, most under
100 yards. These courses are generally open to the public.

Miniature: You use only your putter on a miniature golf course, which usually has at least nine holes
and numerous fun obstacles (windmills, clown’s mouths, and so on) blocking your path to the hole.

There are also two main styles of courses:

Links: A course usually built on treeless, sandy soil alongside (or “linked” to) the sea. Some courses
use this description if the land is wide open and devoid of trees, but authenticity is lacking if the
course is not near the sea. The Old Course at St. Andrews, shown here, is a good example of a
traditional links course.

Parkland: A course in which golf holes are defined by trees on both sides.

TABLE IIV.1. SCHEDULE OF PRINCIPAL, ACCESSORY AND CONDITIONAL

USE/OCCUPANCY OF BUILDING/STRUCTURE

General
Classicfication PRINCIPAL ACCESSORY CON ZONDING
of DIO CLASSIFICATION
Use/Character NAL
of Occupancy
of
Building/Struct
ure
Group I-
Assembly for
More than
1,000 (Cultural
and/or
Recreational)
Division I-1 1. Colisea and 1. Parks/gardens CUL (Cultural) - a
sports 2. Resort areas, e.g., community to national
(Recreational complexes beaches, including level of cultural use or
Assembly accessory uses Occupancy,
Buildings with 2. Theaters 3. Open air or outdoor characterized mainly as a
stage and an and sports activities and low-rise or medium- rise
Occupant load convention support facilities, building/structure for
of 1,000 or more centers including low rise stadia, cultural activities
in the building) gyms, amphitheaters and
3. Concert swimming pools PRE (Park Structures.
halls and open 4. Golf courses, ball Recreation and
houses courts, race tracks and Entertainment) a range of
4.Convention similar uses recreational uses or
centers 5.Memorial/Shrines/ Occupancies.
monuments, kiosks and characterized mainly as a
other park structures 6. low-rise or medium- rise
Sports Club building/ structure for
 7. Underground parking
structures/ facilities
TABLE VII.4. MINIMUM REQUIRED OFF-STREET ( OFF-RROW ) CUM ON SITE
PARKING SLOT, PARKING AREA AND LOADING/UNLOADING SPACE
REQUIREMENTS BY ALLOWED USE OCCUPANCY
Specific uses of of occupancy Reference Uses or Character of
( refer to section 1.3 of this Occupancies or Type of
rule) Building/Structure
GROUP I
9.1 DIVISION I-1 Recreational or similar public
assembly buildings such as
stadia, sports complexes,
convention center etc.
low to medium intensity
recreational or
entertainment functions
related to educational
uses, e.g.. structures on
campuses or its
component parks/open
spaces and all other kinds
of recreational. or
assembly
buildings/structures on
campus such as auditoria,
mess halls. seminar
facilities, gymnasia.
stadia, arenas and the
like.
Minimum Required Parking
Slot, Parking area and Loading
Space Requirements
One (1) car slot and one (1)
jeepney/shuttle slot for every
50.00 sq.meters of spectator
area; and one(1) bus parking s
slot for every two hundred
(200) spectator
 CAGAYAN STATE UNIVERSITY- CARIG CAMPUS
College of Engineering and Architecture
Tuguegarao City, Cagayan

GOLF COURSE

Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for Design 6

(College of Engineering and Architecture)
CAGAYAN STATE UNIVERSITY-CARIG CAMPUS
Tuguegarao City, Cagayan

MARY HEART D. CORREO

BS ARCHITECTURE 3-B

Researcher

AR. EDMUND DELA CRUZ

Instructor
 CAGAYAN STATE UNIVERSITY- CARIG CAMPUS
College of Engineering and Architecture
Tuguegarao City, Cagayan

GOLF COURSE

Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for Design 6

(College of Engineering and Architecture)
CAGAYAN STATE UNIVERSITY-CARIG CAMPUS
Tuguegarao City, Cagayan

CRISTIAN RHEY AGUINALDO

BS ARCHITECTURE 3-B

Researcher

AR. EDMUND DELA CRUZ

Instructor