ABSTRACT
Golf courses can be good neighbors to all but the most fragile of environments or ecosystems if they are logically and scientifically designed, constructed, and maintained. The planning method is really quite simple, but it does require commitment by the would-be golf course developer to be sensitive to all related issues, patient with the process, willing to risk “upfront” money, and open to making concessions and compromises. The expense to shape and mold the earth into golf features once it was properly placed was proportional to the volume of earthmoving. The key point is that selecting a gently rolling site, as opposed to an excessively steep or flat site, will help keep golf course development costs modest. An experienced golf course architect can greatly assist clients in site selection based on the objectives and budget of the club. Properly designed, built, and maintained golf courses can protect and improve the environmental quality of their locations.
