Golf Course Performance Standards (B) 
3) Bare (and decaying-dead) area: This is the difference between the total vegetative cover and the total composition of a defined area.
For a golf green this might therefore be given as from no more than 0.5% to 3%.
Whilst an ‘ideal’ golf tee may not have any signs of wear, this is not realistic where usage takes place, and this will be particularly noticeable on Par 3 tees.
Regular divoting will be essential. External areas to the tee might also be included within any performance measures, which might include the access to and egress from a tee to e
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Golf Course Performance Standards (C)
9) Thatch depth: This is undesirable as the surface needs to be firm to influence green speed and uniformity of putt, as well as reduce the extent of ball/pitch marks and subsequent repairs and also the ability of a golfer to impart back spin onto a ball following initial contact with the green.
Thatch should be reduced to a very small amount, with typically a depth of maybe 3mm-5mm being desirable in contributing to sward resilience.
For a very good standard of green the depth might not exceed 6mm; whilst for a general standard the aim should be for no more than about 12mm.
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Golf Course Performance Standards (D)
13) Infiltration rate: the removal of water from the surface increases the likelihood of a game being played.
High sand specification greens will typically have a minimum rate of 100-150mm per hour, although in practice this can be higher.
Sandy soil-based greens might aim for a minimum of 20mm per hour, whilst general quality greens a figure of no less than 6mm per hour might be acceptable.
The rate of percolation is also important because whilst the initial infiltration into the surface might be satisfactory, if the rootzone has a compaction layer in the soil pro
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Golf Course Performance Standards (E)
17) Pest damage: This will usually relate to damage caused to the surface and is primarily damage from leatherjackets and chafer grubs, and secondary effects of the grubs from birds pecking at the turf, or foxes or badgers digging for the grubs, but mammal damage is relatively uncommon. The threshold level for ‘acceptable’ damage might range from no more than 1% up to maybe 6% on the different surfaces, with greens being the least.
An indirect method of reducing the impact of damage is to firstly ensure root growth is relatively deep as grubs will only eat so much root. Al
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Golf Course Playing Surfaces
Golf greens should have a firm and smooth surface, which allows a golf ball to be putt and travel in the intended direction without deviation from minor surface disturbances. The green will drain well, without puddles being able to form during normal amounts of rainfall. The grass coverage should be uniform, not patchy, dense, mostly free of fine-leaved weeds and free of broad-leaved weeds, and without significant signs of pest or disease attack. Ideally the surface will be blemish free, but minor blemishes on the green from pests or disease attacks should be expected as part of a natural cycl
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Golf Course Practice Putting Green
This should be maintained to the same standard of the greens on the course.
A putting green helps golfers’ ‘warm-up’ for and ‘cool-down’ from, a round of golf and should therefore provide the same playing characteristics as the main greens so as to help golfers develop and improve their skills.
This green might have a variable number of holes cut at different times of the year. During the winter period it might be sensible to have a greater space between holes to help spread wear which cannot easily recover during this low to no growth period, with 6 to 9 holes being typical.
During
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Golf Course Size
Every golf course will be slightly different, but a ‘typical’ standard 18-hole might consist of 14 Par 4s and Par5s, with 4 Par 3s.
The size of features on any course can also vary significantly and this will influence the maintenance inputs, but for illustrative purposes, the 'typical' golf course is estimated as follows:
• Total area: 500,000m² (50 hectares / 123½ acres):
• Greens, including practice green/s: total size 10,000m² (2½ acres).
• Tees: 6,500m² [∼30% for winter tees / ∼70% summer tees] (1½ acres).
&
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Golf Course Standards for Rough Areas
There will be more variability as to what might be decided to be included within initial performance measures, but the following can act as suitable guides: grass height; surface evenness to address holes and irregularities such as rabbit scrapes, which can be a foot / trip hazard; vegetative cover, which might also include wild flowers as well as heather; percentage of scrub encroachment, especially in a rough, which could be included to aid monitoring any increasing trend which would indicate that action would need to be taken to limit any further encroachment.
A semi-rough would typical
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Golf Course Summary of Total Hours
Greens: 2,349,5 - 3,0325.
Tees: 929 - 1,169.
Fairways: 1,520 - 2,616.
Semi-rough: 160 - 230.
Bunkers: 1,004 - 1,652.
Total: 5,962.5 - 8,699.5
The number of greenkeepers required to manage a golf course in line with the above requirements (excluding other areas where figures haven’t been indicated, e.g. deep rough, etc.) will, using the following assumptions, be in the region of 5 to 7, excluding the Course Manager; the amount of time available for this person to assist with greenkeeping tasks will vary depending upon exact job responsibilities. Courses with elite expec
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Golf Course: Managing Performance Standards
A fundamental requirement in the use of performance standards is to manage a golf surface holistically.
It is important to understand the impact and influence changes to maintenance practices can have on the individual standards and how these might also influence, negatively or positively, the parameters of other standards. Cherry picking standards to measure and assess to arrive at an overall quality rating much higher than is representative on the ground is just cheating yourself and others and does not lead to the effective management of a golf course and builds-up prob
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