DEVELOPER’S GUIDE
Evolving Priorities for Golf Course Builders BY HENRY DELOZIER, GLOBAL GOLF ADVISORS
Many developers have begun to plan new golf projects. Most projects are at various stages on drawing boards from and bubble-diagram on a land plan to finished plans ready for permitting and approvals. The one attribute common to almost all of these new golf course plans is change. So much has changed since the heyday of golf course planning and construction. There is discipline where there was none with developers. There is trepidation on the part of bankers where there was once careful enthusiasm. There is great opportunity for golf course builders. The opportunity is born of the fact that only golf course builders possess the understanding that enables informed change. Where can efficiencies be restored? Can some courses revert to push-up tees and greens? Can irrigation systems be simplified by refined planning choices? Can infrastructure options be streamlined? OPPORTUNITIES FOR GOLF COURSE BUILDERS Planners and developers seek cost reductions and construction efficiencies. GCBAA members are ideally informed and positioned to educate the planning cycle. Reduce Costs – Developers want to reduce costs in all categories. Identify all of the unnecessary costs within the developer’s budget and pro formae. Look for chances to maintain quality while emphasizing cost-effectiveness for your clients. For example, they need to know how to handle cart path planning with an eye for maintaining quality – as in the width of the path or roll-up curbing – while managing costs – as in eliminating redundancy and evaluating non-continuous trails when appropriate. Builders always work well with the golf course design community. There is a tone of candid feedback and openness. Develop the same level of trust and engagement with the development and homebuilding community. Improve Efficiency – All parties benefit from improved process efficiency. Most of the old hands with the homebuilding and development communities have changed companies and – sometimes – roles. As such, there may not be experienced development professionals
with whom you are working. Project planning on matters concerning the golf course are needed. How should the golf course easements for ingress and egress of community drainage water be planned? How should property boundaries be confirmed after construction? Most of the current generation of golf developers may lack this level of understanding. Expand Resources – Most development companies have lost planning and project management resources that were in-house. The resources available through GCBAA become invaluable to many of these companies as they re-start the development cycle. GCBAA is the only recognized independent and objective authority for golf course construction. Refer clients to GCBAA as a source of industry standard and best practices. In many cases, information from GCBAA validates and confirms the guidance that an individual GCBAA member may have already shared with the developer. GCBAA is a valuable asset for its members as the emerging cycle progresses. POINTS OF EMPHASIS FOR BUILDERS Golf course builders must emphasize capabilities that were subordinated during the boom cycle. When golf course construction was booming most developer-clients threw money at projects and were always receptive to over-the-top add-alternates. Water features, bridges, retaining walls were some of the go-to favorites where a builder could expect additional revenue. Educate – Builders will add immensely to the value proposition with this generation of developers when they provide disciplined guidance and coaching. Builders need to teach updated best practices. Builders must add “educator” to their job descriptions. When the builder shows the client how the course can be just as attractive and functionally capable without excessive expense, the builder benefits. The added trust, reliance and engagement from the client are extremely important for securing more future work. CONTINUED ON PAGE 16
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