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    1. Erosion Control
    2. Vegetation Management

    Erosion Control on Golf Course Construction Projects

    March 1, 2001
    You might not be aware of it, but all the easy sites on which to build golf courses are gone. Not really, but today the design and construction of golf projects face complex and challenging site conditions further complicated by the need to incorporate necessary erosion control measures. As golf courses require the virtual denudation of extremely large areas of land (typically more than 100 ac.) and the movement of huge quantities of earth (200,000 yd.3 or more), this is no easy task. To accomplish all of this and stay on schedule to meet the important “planting window” for the special grasses, proper design and management of the erosion control measures are essential. In preparing a set of golf course construction documents, the grading plan is the first one to complete. Though it does not cover such details as green and tee construction, it does show the general grading (typically at 2-ft. contour intervals)-and thus the surface drainage-throughout the overall site. Immediately upon completion of this plan, it is necessary to meet with the project’s engineer to begin discussing practical solutions to the erosion control issues. It is very important that the engineer be experienced in golf course construction. A typical golf course construction project incorporates the normal array of erosion control devices, including silt fences and super silt fences, diversion dikes, and detention basins and sediment traps in addition to various types of water-quality devices, which are usually permanent features. Overall, while the various devices must address the control of erosion and sedimentation, they must also be properly located to allow for the construction of the golf course features, including grading, installation of drain lines, irrigation materials, and all the various turf areas that must be established before removal of the devices.

    The basin under constructionLocating a sediment trap or a diversion berm in a fairway or a rough means that an area cannot be completed until planting and stabilization of all the ground upslope of it. It also means that the contractor must come back, remove the control device, and plant the area in which it was located. Obviously this affects the ultimate completion and opening of the golf course. An important aspect of helping to ensure that the devices stay out of the way of construction is to try to have sufficient distance between the various golf features and adjacent limits of disturbance, as it is usually along the perimeter in the lower portions of the site where conflicts arise. Whether temporary or permanent devices are needed, they must be anticipated and “designed in” to avoid conflicts. For instance, though detention and water-quality control basins have size, elevation, and other engineering requirements, their shapes and slopes can be designed to blend in with the course; they need not be uniform rectangles.A good example of a basin in harmony with the contouring and aesthetics of a golf course is that of the Baywood Greens Golf Course outside Rehoboth Beach, DE. As is often the case in such golf course and home-site communities, runoff from development areas must be collected and detained before it flows across part of the course and into a wetland. On Baywood’s Hole No. 1, proposed housing on the right side of the fairway was to drain in front of the tees into the low area in the woods (wetland). On the left side, a basin (approximately 30,000 ft.3 of storage) was needed. To further complement the aesthetics of the area, special grasses and perennial wildflowers were planted throughout the basin’s floor. Though the basin has been active since the course opened, no problems have been experienced so far.The completed area and basinAn example of protecting a sensitive drainageway on a remodeling project Erosion control measures are also needed when remodeling an existing course if the disturbed areas amount to more than 5,000 ft.2 or are adjacent to a stream, a wetland, or another sensitive area. Depending on the amount of work being accomplished and the particular drainage requirements, erosion control measures for remodeling work can be as simple as using silt fence on the low sides of each work area to employing more sophisticated dikes and basins.Whether dealing with new construction or remodeling work, part of resolving the erosion control plan is selecting the proper control device for each particular situation. Selection is vital, as it can save time and money in the construction process. In certain areas, for example, it might be more practical to install a super silt fence in lieu of a diversion dike. The removal of the super silt fence and restoration can be more efficient than having to get equipment back onto a golf hole to remove the dike and repair and plant the area.Because many golf courses are located in environmentally sensitive areas that contain wetlands, it is critical to protect these areas in order to meet permit conditions and be good stewards of the environment. In addition to the necessary erosion control protection, we recommend that wetland areas be clearly marked before construction to alert workers to their location and thus avoid unintentional impacts.Even properly planned and installed erosion control devices can fail unless they are closely monitored and maintained. Silt accumulations must be removed on a regular basis so ponds and traps have adequate volume to function properly. Silt fences and diversion berms need regular inspection for breeches or downed sections. Drainage exiting the site at the project perimeter should be monitored daily. It does not take long for a neighbor or an inspector to see a plume of silt and have the project face a shutdown or monetary fines.The golf architect and engineer must work closely together and draw from their experience and expertise in adapting to the challenges and regulatory requirements of each different golf construction project. It is through this team effort and careful planning that golf courses can be successfully constructed while also being sensitive to the environment.