Existing Courses

Increasing numbers of private clubs and owners of resort or pay-for-play golf courses have come to us as they realise the need for upgrading, extending or adjusting the planning of their existing courses. The reasons vary but can include:

• Remaining competitive – for example, many private golf clubs are suffering as their time-strained members increasingly prefer playing the burgeoning number of truly excellent, ‘day-out’ destination golf venues.
• Preserving safety as residential subdivisions come closer to the courses
• Rethinking golf holes in the face of recent golf equipment advances
• Adding residential areas to the golf courses

In all such masterplanning audits, the CGD group absorbs the full effect of the site problems and opportunities, reports on these, and makes studied visual and descriptive recommendations for course adjustments. By careful planning of the works, we minimise disruption to playing conditions, and often include a ‘spare hole’ to facilitate the construction program.

New Developments - Estates and Reports

The Masterplanning is approached differently depending on the requirements of the site, depending on whether the golf course is being developed within an estate or a resort development, or in isolation.

Estates and Reports

If a new residential golf course estate or a new resort development is considered, the masterplanning process addresses in great detail all routing, planning and technical matters required to respect the client’s wishes, and establishes with reports and presentation drawings the entire scope of the project. Specialist engineers are available to design for roads and services. Landscape architects set standards and themes for presenting the development beautifully. Budgets are prepared, and project management programmes for the construction episodes are developed.

New Developments - Golf Courses

The Masterplanning is approached differently depending on the requirements of the site, depending on whether the golf course is being developed within an estate or a resort development, or in isolation.

Golf Courses

If a golf course is going to be developed in isolation, without the exigencies of abutting roads or residential infrastructure, the CGD group studies the site to prepare detailed routing plans, often examining and presenting several alternative plans which exploit the land features in different ways. A key early decision always is where to locate the clubhouse or ‘hub’ control precinct, most often geared to where access roads and services can most economically be brought. Macro-drainage and environmental factors are studied and reported on. The vital questions of irrigation water supply, storage and broad reticulation requirements are addressed. Presentation drawings and documents which describe the recommended plan are prepared both for committees and often for marketing purposes.

Clubhouse

As a qualified architect and a passionate golfer, Tony Cashmore has the knowledge and experience to plan efficient, well designed golf clubhouses and control precincts which work beautifully with their environment. CGD can design all necessary golf-related buildings and contribute to the planning of the entire precinct. The diverse traffic and processing activities required for commercial success of a venue are complex, made more so when at quiet times, you want a minimum staff requirement.

We have advised several long-established golf clubs on replanning and extending their clubhouse zones, including reviewing access and car parking needs, and provided unique approaches to new resort clubhouses associated with hotel or investment residential units.

Safety

In an increasingly litigious society, and with recent law decisions emphasizing how vulnerable public and private clubs are when errant golf balls cause damage to property or injury to persons, there is an ever-stronger need for experienced golf architects to solve interface problems between golf play and course boundaries.

With the significant increase in residential developments around golf courses, safety-related issues are a major factor in securing planning approvals and creating a harmonious community. The CGD group has a highly regarded record in the area of golf safety and use many innovative and cost effective ways to assist in solving even the most difficult concerns.

Consulting

CGD provide a range of consulting services to assist in the successful operation of your golfing venture. Golf developments are expensive and increasingly complex to manage, requiring various checks and measures to maximize their potential. CGD will work with you to ensure your golf venture has every chance of maximizing its potential. Our preferred partner in this is Jeff Blunden Advisory Services (JBAS). JBAS is acknowledged as one of Australia's leading providers of independent golf industry advisory services.The Services we provide include:

CONSULTING - MARKET FEASIBILITY STUDY

CGD can review your project and provide an accurate assessment of the venture to assist in attracting potential investors and/or financing. Some of the areas covered in this study may include.

• Market Analysis
• Development Opportunities - Property, Course, Hotels, leisure facilities etc.
• Demographic Factors
• Historical and projected cash flows of existing facilities
• Physical condition of any current facility
• Documentation of historical performance of competing facilities
• Membership/PAYP Structures & Visitor Fees
• Facility Usage
• Financial Projections (including design) / Financial Feasibility
• Capital Costings
• Operational Structures
• Topography / Agronomy Reports
• Environmental / Ecological Factors
• Assessment and documentation of the target market

CONSULTING - GOLF RELATED BUSINESS PLANS

Golf related enterprises require the same planning disciplines as any other business venture. Adequate planning provides a realistic vision of what can be expected, taking many different factors into account. CGD can assist you in preparing a comprehensive business plan for investors, financiers and operational initiatives.

Consulting - Operational Audit

As the golf industry continues to become increasingly competitive, many venue owners are looking for thorough reviews of their operations. Ultimately, they need to maximize revenues, and the control of costs is paramount to a successful golf business. CGD will work with you to assess some or all of the following and make detailed recommendations for your action

• Individual profit centres
• Maintenance practices
• Fee structures
• Possible capital improvements

Consulting - Capital Selection and Control

Capital equipment is expensive to purchase and operate, requiring a careful selection process before choosing equipment partners. CGD can advise on:

• Maintenance equipment required
• The preparation and reviewing of capital tenders
• staffing levels (seasonally)
• easing packages
• advantages/disadvantages of outsourcing and course resource sharing