Tips on Reducing Golf Course Maintenance

A new flyer focusing on the cost of maintaining a golf course – designed to assist golf course owners and managers balancing short-term expenses with long-term expectations – is now available from the American Society of Golf Course Architects (ASGCA).

“The Cost Factor: Tips & Techniques for Reducing Annual Maintenance Costs” was developed by ASGCA in concert with the Golf Course Builders Association of America (GCBAA) and the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA).

“All businesses need to balance short-term expenses with long-term expectations,” said ASGCA President Erik Larsen. “ASGCA is proud to work alongside GCBAA and GCSAA on this easy-to-read piece. We hope this flyer can also serve as a starting point for discussions among golf course owners, managers and players on maintaining their course for years to come.”

Every maintenance project is unique, and a superintendent’s work may be limited by finances, time, staffing, etc. Therefore, the flyer features two dozen specific ideas which can assist course owners and managers in controlling costs while providing a fun, challenging, environmentally-sensitive playing field for golfers. These include:

• Minimize irrigated turf for less water, pumping, fertilization and mowing.
• Limit formal sand bunkers, favoring less costly landforms or other natural features.
• Develop softer green contours to facilitate triplex mowers instead of hand mowing.
• Develop wider access points to fairways for reduced cart wear.
• Invest in drainage which keeps the course open following storms.

“The Cost Factor” is available to download free at www.asgca.org