Older courses often found natural features to utilize, like placing greens near narrow streams. However, as development encroaches around a golf course, urban runoff increases substantially. Unfortunately, this often causes frequent flooding and significant erosion. In some instances, raising the affected greens above flood levels was sufficient protection from floods. Some greens were moved farther away from streams instead. Increased water flow also created erosion, thanks to increased flow velocity. Streams that once bubbled were frequently widened to create ditches lined with riprap or rubble, and their charm was lost.
Today, newer environmental practices and regulations discourage golf courses near natural streams. Most require a 25- to 50-foot vegetation buffer that filters chemicals and fertilizers before they enter bodies of water. Long grass too close to greens can also result in loss of stroke, or even ball, on slight misses. The days of turf placed right up against streams are ending.
Modern Water Features
Because most golfers don’t enjoy playing in muddy (or even dry) ditches, it’s tricky to work around intermittent natural streams. Many golf courses today use modern technology to build their own streams far away from natural draining courses, which solves many of the above problems.
These manmade streams, ponds and lakes are often designed to be even more attractive than those once discovered in nature. As custom streams have risen in popularity, so have other thoughtfully designed water features.
The Rise of Golf Course Ponds
Ponds are still architecturally popular water features for golf courses, and for a variety of reasons.
Since the rise of irrigation systems after World War II, golf courses have needed ponds for irrigation storage. Many architects chose to make these multifunctional so they could serve as both hazards and aesthetic enhancements to a course. Many cite Robert Trent Jones as the trailblazer of the trend, thanks to the famous Dunes Club in Myrtle Beach, which featured a dogleg par-5 13th hole.
As engineering thrusts onward, our increased ability to move earth has allowed for larger ponds to be built at surprisingly affordable costs. Ponds give way to lakes.
