Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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CHAPTER SIX
Golf/Tennis-Based Resorts:
The Impact of Development on Operations
Learning Objectives
 Identify the major planning and development elements
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involved in creating a golf course.
Differentiate between the various types of golf course
design in terms of land consumption, frontage,
maintenance costs, and integrity.
Explain the role of general design principles in site
planning a golf/tennis–based resort.
Discuss how to balance the relationship between the
integrity of the natural resources base while increasing the
profit-generating capability of the recreational facility.
Identify the major factors affecting the overall development
of tennis courts in a resort setting.
Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Golf Course Planning and Development
 Size of Property
 Market
 Shape of Property
 Land Cost
 Topography
 Water Supply
 Natural Hazards
 Irrigation System
 Soil Characteristics
 Climate
 Vegetation
 Arid
 Clearing Required
 Maintenance
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Certification
 Golfer may want to play on a course that is
environmentally friendly.
 Similarly homeowners may value being close to golf
courses with certain environmental features.
 Criticism from environmentalists and government
agencies is avoided.
Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Golf Course Design:
Core
 Land Consumption
 Low
 Frontage
 Low
 Flexibility/Capacity
 Low in continuous; high if returning nines
 Maintenance Cost
 Low
 Integrity
 High
Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Golf Course Design:
Single Fairway Continuous
 Land Consumption
 High
 Frontage
 High
 Flexibility/Capacity
 Low
 Maintenance Cost
 High
 Integrity
 High
Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Golf Course Design:
Single Fairway Returning Nines
 Land Consumption
 High
 Frontage
 High
 Flexibility/Capacity
 High
 Maintenance Cost
 High
 Integrity
 Low
Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Golf Course Design:
Double Fairway Continuous
 Land Consumption
 Medium
 Frontage
 Medium
 Flexibility/Capacity
 Low
 Maintenance Cost
 Medium
 Integrity
 Medium
Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Golf Course Design:
Double Fairway Returning Nines
 Land Consumption
 Medium
 Frontage
 Medium
 Flexibility/Capacity
 High
 Maintenance Cost
 Medium
 Integrity
 Medium
Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Design Principles
 Safety
 Flexibility
• Flow
• Balance
• Maintenance costs
 Shot value
• Construction planning
 Fairness
• Tournament qualities
 Progression
• Aesthetics
• An item higher on the
list takes precedence
over one below it.
Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Integrity and Profit-Generating Capability
 The course should be built for all golfers. Variations in
handicap can be accommodated by placing multiple
tees at different distances from the hole.
 Tee placement also depends on the amount of play.
The more the course is played, the larger the tees.
Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Integrity and Profit-Generating Capability
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Shot Value
Fairness
Bunkers
Water
Trees
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Hazards
Progression
Natural features
Final holes
Flow
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Trends
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Declining participation
Land use restrictions
More stringent water access regulations.
Environmental concerns
Barriers to the sport
Residential development
Native grass
Improved maintenance technology
Beverage carts
Women golfers
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Tennis Courts
 Site Selection
 Climate
 An acre of land can, theoretically, accommodate six
single courts, each 60 by 120 feet. In reality, this
crowded configuration would make for a very
unpleasant experience.
 A dark background behind the players helps them see
the ball.
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Tennis Courts
 Private outdoor tennis club can handle between 30 and
60 players per court. Capacity can be increased by onethird by adding lights. A reservation system helps push
capacity closer to the upper figure of 60 players per
court.
 Tennis courts tend to be developed in clusters.
Maximum efficiency when courts are developed in
clusters of eight or ten.
 Objective in orienting the course is to avoid players
having the sun in their eyes.
Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Tennis Courts
 Porous
 Nonporous
 Fast drying
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 Long lasting
Expensive
High maintenance
Annual resurfacing
 Easy to maintain
 Dry quickly
 Non-cushioned play fast and
 Clay
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Less expensive to build
Last long
Play slow
High maintenance
are hard on legs
 Player comfort
 Synthetic turf long lasting
 Grass
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Look good
Daily maintenance
Susceptible to damage
Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.