Designing a golf course that appeals to players of all skill levels is a complex balancing act.
Architect Ken Moodie shares his approach to creating courses that are challenging yet enjoyable for everyone, from beginners to seasoned pros.
Through thoughtful placement of tees, hazards, and greens, Moodie’s designs reward skilful play while providing options for those still developing their game.
Here’s how he strikes the right balance between challenge and playability in golf course design.
Key Takeaways
- Tee Placement for All Golfers
- Fair & Strategic Hazards
- Blends of Grass Hollows & Mounding
- Varied Green Designs
- Course Lengths Based on Swing Speed
- Course Flexibility
1. Strategic Tee Placement for All Golfers
One of the most effective ways to tailor a course to golfers of varying skills is through thoughtful tee placement.
Moodie notes that tees can be strategically moved forward and adjusted to provide easier angles for less experienced players.
For example, forward tees can be angled to minimise the need for long carry shots over hazards, allowing shorter hitters to reach fairways and greens without undue difficulty.
However, this placement can be tricky on courses where tees are set on ridges, as moving them forward might place them in low-lying areas, requiring a clever design to avoid such challenges.
Moodie recommends a minimum of four tee boxes per hole, and five on courses that host professional tournaments.
This range provides flexibility, with lengths tailored for various swing speeds rather than just age or gender.
Some course now uses numerical designation for the tee markers, which indicate total yardage, to help golfers choose the best tee for their average hitting distance.
2. Creating Fair Challenges Through Hazards and Bunkers
Moodie believes that hazards and bunkers should be designed to reward well-placed shots while offering ways to avoid them for those less skilled.
For instance, placing bunkers diagonally rather than straight across the fairways allows golfers to choose how much risk to take on their tee shots.
Skilled golfers can challenge themselves by “cutting the corner” of these hazards for a shorter second shot, while others have the option of a safer route.
For hazards near greens, Moodie avoids placing bunkers or lakes directly across the front of the putting surface.
Instead, he leaves alternative access routes so that players who may struggle with aerial shots can still approach the green.
Drive bunkers positioned 230-280 yards from the back tees offer a test for longer hitters while providing fair options for others to avoid these traps.
3. Using Grass Hollows and Mounding to Add Subtle Challenges
To add challenge without overwhelming high-handicap players, Moodie incorporates grass hollows and mounds rather than only bunkers around greens and fairways.
These features test better golfers by subtly altering shots and angles, without imposing the penalties associated with deep bunkers, which can be difficult for slower swingers to escape.
This approach ensures that courses remain challenging without unfairly penalising less experienced players.
4. Design Varied Green For Strategic Play
Moodie emphasises the importance of asymmetrical greens that provide different levels of challenge depending on pin placement.
On one side, the green might offer an easier entry point, while the other side is designed for more difficult pin positions, adding layers of challenge suitable for tournaments or advanced play.
Collaborating with golf pros, Moodie integrates features like run-off areas and hollows to create opportunities for skilful play.
The design of the green also takes the length of the approach shot into account. For long par-3 and par-4 holes, a longer, narrow green accommodates the long shot that is likely to be played into them, while on shorter holes, a shallower but wider green offers diverse pin placements that require precision.
Inspired by iconic designs like the Par-3, 12th hole at Augusta National, Moodie aligns greens diagonally, demanding accuracy in both direction and distance.
5. Incorporating Course Length Variety Based On Swing Speed
Modern golf equipment and players’ evolving skill have made balancing course lengths challenging, especially for elite golfers who can drive over 300 yards.
Moodie advocates designing tee boxes with lengths suited to swing speeds rather than age or gender, which provides golfers with an ideal challenge tailored to their capabilities.
For instance, a course might have tees for professionals set 50 yards behind the regular back tees, allowing players to experience the full spectrum of challenges on the course.
During our conversation, Ken shared an insightful graphic (Below) that illustrates the correlation between clubhead speed and carry distances, showing how swing speed influences driving distances across skill levels.
6. Flexible Course Features That Cater to Tournament and Casual Play
Moodie’s designs aim to provide flexibility for courses that can host a mix of casual players and professional tournaments.
By incorporating a variety of tee boxes, diagonally placed hazards, and greens with multiple pin options, Moodie creates courses that challenge advanced golfers without deterring the recreational player.
This thoughtful design ensures that every golfer, regardless of skill, finds satisfaction on the course.
In summary, Moodie’s approach to golf course design centres on creating a fair and enjoyable experience for everyone, blending challenge and playability with smart choices in tee, bunker, and green placements.
His insights reveal a nuanced understanding of what makes a course both rewarding and accessible, proving that with the right design philosophy, courses can be crafted to suit the needs of all golfers.
You can find out more about Ken and his business, Creative Golf Design, HERE
