By Design - Spring 2016

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golf courses, there wouldn’t be much
green space left,” says Gill. “This really
increases their popularity and the
enthusiasm of the local population.”
Gill worked with PGA Tour player
Kelly Gibson to rebuild Joseph M.
Bartholomew Municipal Golf Course
after the devastation of Hurricane
Katrina. This was a tremendous
commitment by the City of New
Orleans to preserve green space and
attract residents to return to the city.
“One of the beauties of golf is it can be
shaped and shifted. It’s malleable, you
can push and pull it much more than
other types of development,” says Martin.
This flexibility allows many municipal
golf projects to deliver an important
role beyond golf, such as water
management or a green space buffer
to important environmental areas.
“All golf could and should be part of a
green infrastructure,” continues Martin.
“We can devise ways to make sure the
wider community—including non-
golfers—benefit from the value of the
asset. You could think of a golf course
as a civil engineering project that also
delivers an ongoing revenue stream.”
Martin’s recent renovation of the
golf course at Wilmette Golf Club on
Chicago’s North Shore improved the
golf experience while also addressing
stormwater management, wetland
mitigation and water quality issues.
He is now working on a project that
will deliver a host of environmental
benefits—at Oak Meadows Golf
Preserve in Addison, Illinois, which is
owned by the Forest District
of DuPage County.
Work on the Salt Creek that runs
through the site will provide over 10
million gallons of floodwater storage,
benefiting residents both up and
downstream. 33 acres of wetlands will be
added and 67 acres of habitat restored.
And improvements in water quality will
improve biological diversity.
“Oak Meadows will accommodate
the public as a preserve as well as a
golf course that will allow the game
to be played while carefully revealing
the environment, its history and
charm and restoring its vital landscape
function,” says Martin.
When municipalities get the
formula for their golf course right, the
opportunities are endless.•
The ASGCA has prepared a number of free
resources to inform golf course projects,
including a Life Cycle Chart to help clubs
plan for capital expenditures and foresee
disruptions to play caused by unexpected
component failure. This and more are
available at
Garrett- Gill, ASGCA, designed El Zagal Golf Course in Fargo, North Dakota
with a series of ‘convertible’ elements
1
3
5
6
9
115
150
135
125
160
95
145
4
8
7
PG
Snag Golf/
Chipping
Pond
Pond
Pro Shop w/
expanded parking
120
0
2
Dry
Basin
Dry
Basin
Dry
Basin
145
0 250 yd
North Date: March28, 2014
Discussion Sketch
Features:
Designed and intended for multi-generational and
mutli-use enjoyment to accommodate:
• 9 hole par 3 golf course with holes of
varying distances with multi-functional tees
intended for beginners, seniors, women and
families -- a fun to play recreational and
social experience.
• 9 or 18 hole disc golf options
• 9 hole 'Foot Golf' )
• 'Snag Golf' / chipping area )
Improvements include putting green, new pro-shop
building and expanded parking area.
Facility will be designed and engineered (graded and
drained) to minimize impact and interruptions to
play following spring oods or seasonal storm
events.
Legend: DiscGolf Basket
Green
Fairway
Tee
Pond
Dry Basin
Top Up Plan
13
290
135
105
145
30 Station
Practice Tee
300
250
200
150
100
Pond
Pond
Dry
Basin
Practice Range
Dry
Basin
Dry
Basin
Pro Shop w/
expanded parking PG
1
3
2
0 250 yd
North Date: March28, 2014
Discussion Sketch
Top Down Plan
Features:
Designed and inte ded for multi-generational and
mutli-use enjoyment to accommodate:
• 3-5 hole executive / par 3 golf course with
holes of varying distances with multi-
functional tees intended for beginners,
seniors, women and families -- a fun to play
recreational and social experience.
• 9 hole isc golf options
• 3-5 hole 'Foot Golf' )
• Learning Center with 30 tation full depth
practice range with all weather tee -- great for
instruction, junior golf, or golf camp programs
Improvements include putting green, new pro-shop
building and expanded parking area.
Facility will be designed and engineered (graded and
drained) to minimize impact and interruptions to
play following spring oods or seasonal storm
events.
Legend: DiscGolf Basket
Green
Fairway
Tee
Pond
Dry Basin
The renovation of Oak Meadows Golf
Preserve in Addison, Illinois, will deliver a
host of environmental benefits