Golf Environment Organization

The principle of first understanding the character of a site, then using its natural features to best advantage, was quickly identified by the early golf architects. In the “Golden Age” of golf course architecture in the 1920s, it became established as one of the tenets of the profession, and was codified in the writings of men such as Donald Ross and Dr Alister Mackenzie.

This principle still holds true, although it has tended to become overwhelmed by the extravagances of the post-war fashion in golf course design, which favoured the development of a uniform “international” style.

The crucial first task is to undertake a thorough assessment of landscape character. In the case of golf development, this means that the following questions have to be answered:

What is the landscape character of the site and its context?

The starting point is to consult existing landscape character assessment documents. These descriptions of landscape character may be found at national, regional or local level. The landscape consultant will then build on this information by undertaking a site-specific study to describe the most important landscape and visual characteristics.What is the Landscape Character of the site and its context?

What are the most important landscape characteristics?

This will require description and explanation of components collectively termed the “Landscape Resource” including the landscape context of the site, its landscape setting, the most important landscape elements on the site, how the elements combine together to create a distinctive “character” and “sense of place”, and internal landscape character zones.

What are the most important visual characteristics?

This requires investigation of what is normally termed the “Visual Resource” including where the site is visible from, which parts of the site are most visible, what outward views are obtained from the site, and what the most important internal views are.

Can it accommodate the proposed type and density of development without unacceptable detrimental effects on the landscape character?

These three questions are facets of the same issue and are crucial to the acceptability of the development in landscape terms. The landscape assessment should not only answer these questions but should also directly influence the design by identifying inter alia; an acceptable development density, master planning constraints and opportunities including options for the routing of the golf course layout, areas and features within the site which should be conserved or avoided by the development, and specific opportunities for landscape enhancement.

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