NEW COURSE DESIGN PROCESS

 Our design program consists of five phases that are described in detail below.

  PHASE ONE - MASTER PLAN DESIGN

   v     Routing Plan

We begin by reviewing a property with the owner.  Once chosen as Architect of Record, we  produce as many routing options as necessary to maximize golf (and housing, if a golf/real estate community).  We study the property and its natural amenities closely, making sure to preserve the environment as much as absolutely possible.  Our goal is to blend the course with the natural features of the property.  

  v     Strategy Plan

We establish a strategic vision for the golf course to ensure it matches the marketing scheme for the membership and property.  The end product is a color rendering of the plan that is invaluable for marketing memberships and home sales.

   v     Strategic Narrative

The strategic narrative describes the course design in detail, along with a hole-by-hole description.  Our objective is to design a course that is aesthetically pleasing to the eye, strategically sound and enjoyable for all levels of players, and offers great diversity in par threes, fours and fives, all of which  provides a fun and memorable experience. 

v     Cost & Design Study

The first step is to develop a Scope of Work that includes every line item to build the course, and assign estimated cost for each.   We call vendors in the region to determine materials and labor cost for building the various course features.  We call on contractors familiar with the region to compare notes and finalize the cost estimates.  Also included in the cost estimates are any items associated with the course Grow-in, including maintenance budget, equipment inventory, turf care center, and landscaping.  Billy Fuller has developed such budgets in diverse regions throughout North America. 

v     Schedule Analysis

Based on the  scope of work, we develop a line item schedule for construction and grow-in, taking the owner to grand opening day.  Having worked on nearly 100 courses from start to finish, Mr. Fuller’s experience is invaluable in developing a schedule that minimizes the risk of surprises. 

v     Power Point Presentation

 This combines all of the aforementioned items in Phase One to offer owners the perfect marketing piece for membership and property sales.  The focus is on the course design, and is presented on a hole-by-hole basis.  Typically Mr. Fuller would make the presentation to the owner or committee first, and then to a larger audience as deemed appropriate. 

 PHASE TWO - GOLF DOCUMENTS-BID PACKAGE

 Once the owner approves the Master Plan Design, we develop a bid package that includes:

(a)    Working Drawings such as Strategy Plan, Contour Plans, Greens Plans, Clearing Plan, Erosion Control Plan, Irrigation Plans, Grassing Plan

(b)   Bid for Contract & Scope of Work

(c)    Technical Specifications (describes how to build each course feature, such as erosion control, clearing, greens, tees, bunkers, drainage, irrigation, grassing, etc.)

(d)   General Conditions

(e)     AIA Contract (agreement between golf course owner and contractor).  We typically allow 60 to 120 days to prepare these documents, depending on scope of work. 

 Once complete, these documents represent everything a contractor needs to offer a unit price bid and lump sum bid.  We feel it is critical that unit prices are included for all key features (greens, tees, bunkers, drainage pipe, irrigation, cart paths, earthwork, etc.) to protect the owner.  

  PHASE THREE - PRE-BID CONFERENCE

 When the bid package is complete, we extend an invitation to qualified golf course contractors to visit the site and study the documents and plans.  We are there with them   to answer questions and make sure they are enabled to produce a comprehensive and competent bid.  We allow them 30 days to submit bids.  Once bids have been received we confer with the owner to evaluate and determine the best contractor for his golf course. 

  PHASE FOUR - CONSTRUCTION - DESIGN APPROVAL

 During construction, we are on site weekly to make all design approvals and review construction specifications.  We produce Site Visit Notes for each course tour describing all design approvals and instructions for the contractor.  For each subsequent site visit we check off any follow up items for the contractor.  Weekly construction meetings are critical to maintain a communications between owner, project engineer, designer, golf course superintendent, general golf course contractor and sub contractors, vendors and suppliers, and site engineers.  Meeting minutes are published and action items assigned with due dates for implementation.  Updated schedules for various construction line items are published weekly.  We also ask that a daily site person representing the owner (quite often  the golf course superintendent) produce a weekly update on construction progress, weather conditions, etc. 

  PHASE FIVE - GROW-IN

 The last line item in the contractor’s agreement for each hole is grassing.  This typically includes a combination of seed, sprigs, and sod.  Once the turf is installed it becomes the owner’s responsibility to bring the turf to maturity and ready for play.  The golf course superintendent is in the primary position implementing the grow-in programs.  This is a very intense time (four to six months typically) of applying specific agronomic programs designed to bring the turf to maturity as quickly as possible.  It might be compared to putting a beautiful wedding gown on the bride.  It is this turf cover that protects the designer’s masterpiece, and allows the players to enjoy the game to the fullest.