The image a golf club portrays

[triky_white]

Hello all golfing enthusiasts,
Richard from Kent, UK, been playing golf for roughly two years now and am slowly progressing. Im thoroughly enjoying the game and im always looking to get playing when I get the time. I am a student at Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, studying Graphic Design and I am in my last year. For my final project in my Graphic Design Degree I am looking to base my project around Golf. I will be looking at the potential role that design can play in creating and reflecting the image of a golf club. I will be looking into how a club can use design to create a more impressive and aesthetically pleasing image.

Over the last summer I managed to get a design job that involved me going to golf courses and doing measurements for their yardage books and scorecards. I was also designing the images you see in their yardage books. This was as good as it sounds and I loved every minute of it. It took me all around the country and I went to about 20 courses all varying in difficulty, size and quality. On my travels I noticed many good examples of which I can talk about in my project, for example when i went out to Northern Ireland for a measurement at Castlerock I walked into their clubhouse and instantly saw that they had their logo printed on their carpet at the door, pictures of their course and their trophy cabinet all in the entrance creating a special ambience. I also witnessed some annoyingly poor use of design at some clubs, like when they use hand written signs on locker rooms, when courses have faded signs around their course it is things like this that gives the club a poor reputation and reduces the experience.

What I ask of you is any help you can give me, whether it be good or bad examples of your golfing examples, or if you can express your views on the potential use of design by golf clubs.

Thank you for reading and any replies.

Richard.

 

[TWM]

Richard,
My beef is about the appearance of our driving range and the state of the mats. We might just as well hit off the concrete.
This is a privately owned club and relies a lot on income from pay and play customers. I am sure a little thought and some money spent here would attract more players.

 

[Vincent]

Hi Richard,
In travelling around and visiting loads of courses over the years, I have noticed a significant correlation between the state and standard of golf course "furniture" and the condition of the actual course.
For example if the tee markers are old, badly marked, losing their colour (e.g. yellow tees, white tees etc) or if water hazard markers are broken, missing or badly placed or 150 yard markers or "next tee" signs indecipherable (or vandalised) then this appears to be reflected in the state of the course as a whole.
In my mind these things are quick hits to make courses smarter and shouldn't be ignored. I'm no expert but I would guess greenkeepers have more time on their hands during the winter months and these should be the things they concentrate on. If they don't it probably shows a lack of passion to maintain the course to its highest condition possible.
Alas my home course is starting to move that way!!

 

[ricardodaintino]

I think it might also be worth noting that courses with no maps on scorecards, no hand books or guides and no signage around the course, probably also suffer from slow play and agitated members angry at being stuck behind slow visitors. This in turn leaves visitors having bad experiences and members becoming more likely to look for new courses to allign themselves with.

An extra page of pagination on the scorecard (which they will then be able to sell the reverse for advertising) and 18 small signs stating next tee, would solve this problem and enhance the standard of play.

 

[birdieman]

I think we should have a hot dogs and beer stand at the turn like they do in America, 5 minute pitstop so to speak.
Once got whisky and venison burgers after 9 holes in a charity texas scramble, went down a treat and didn't put us off our game!

 

[ricardodaintino]

Belton Woods in Grantham has a BBQ/ beer shack after the front 9 in the summer. As long as its a quiet day and you don't rejoin the back 9 at a conjested point they encourage you to enjoy the views, booze and burgers!

 

[viscount17]

Some courses are let down before you even reach them, eg those with no, or worse inaccurate, roadsigns.

Others are let down before you put hand to pocket for the wallet; car parks like an assault course, overly stocked and equally overly sparse pro-shops.

There are though, those that wait until they have the money and you're out on the course, before letting you down.
- Those where the shotsaver is out of date and they can't be bothered to even type up the changes.
- Courses where you need a sherpa to find the next tee and those that let you find out that half the course is 'under maintenance' and the bunkers have had all the sand raked out.

It all comes down to the same thing Information, Information, Information
(with thanks to a TV programme of nearly the same name)

 

[markwarne]

Hi Richard, welcome to the forum.

There are lots of things that I have picked up as being the "little things that make a difference" that I would love to see at my club. But as someone aluded to earlier, if you are a proprietory club, money is probably directed elsewhere.

Things that I like to see are the small signs showing the way to the next tee (if not obvious), named holes on the tee boxes / card (this is on our web card, but not on physical card), emblem on flags. These are just some.

Things I cannot abide are faded tee boxes, shabby containers for seed boxes, and probably the worst of the worst - although it may seem really pedantic - is using cut off plastic drinks bottles as scoops in the aforementioned seed boxes. I mean, how much are 18 scoops going to cost

I am sure a little bit of effort made by every club would do its image wonders.

 

[jonesuk]

Being fairly new to golf means I haven't played many courses and I am fairly inexperienced so I totally agree with the points above about the signage. I think it is a small thing for the greenkeepers/course management to do but helps to keep your game flowing and when you think back about your day it is a much more positive image in your head.

I think the clubhouse is a key part of the image/experience as well. Again, being new to golf, it has been a little daunting going to a completely new club (especially more elite/expensive/stuck up ones!) not knowing where the pro shop is, changing rooms, bar, etc. A well laid out and welcoming club house that flows well onto the 1st tee and 18th green also makes it a much more positive experience overall.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

The one that always gets me annoyed and ironically is something they do at Ascot is have different flag colours or small flags tied to the flagstick to indicate where on the green the pin is situated and no mention in the strokesaver or on the scorecard as to which is which.

For the purposes of those playing at Ascot on April 3rd, red flags are at the front of greens, yellow are in the middle portion and white are at the back.

 

[cm_qs]

Controlled entry to the clubhouse is one of my pet hates. I fully appreciate the need for security that requires it but there is nothing more annoying than rolling up at an unfamiliar club and having to hang about at the door waiting for someone to let you in out of the rain because the intercom isn't being answered. When you can persuade someone to let you in they usually look at you as if you're about to burgle the place. It would be much better to secure locker rooms / unoccupied pro shops / etc individuall rather than just locking people out of the building unless they're members.

Another negative design aspect is first tees which are clearly visible from the clubhouse bar. A bit of privacy when teeing off at the first is a luxury and eases the nerves a great deal. No one likes an audience for the first shot of the day.

 

[madandra]

It grips my 5h1ter when you get pulled up by members of a course your visiting for wearing trainers/casual shoes. If I need to wear formal shoes in the clubhouse effin tell me then. Put up a sign, have the greeter tell us but FFS dont let some pumped up wee nazi member march up to me at 6'2" and 17 stone and start getting all mighty on me.

 

[shanker]

What I ask of you is any help you can give me, whether it be good or bad examples of your golfing examples, or if you can express your views on the potential use of design by golf clubs.

Thank you for reading and any replies.

Richard.

Richard
I'm dying to help you with your research. I can tell you that male golfers with big willies aren't always long hitters. Don't know about the ladies.

 

[Imurg]

Almost everything at my current club spells cheap! The Car park wouldn't have looked out of place in WW1 trenches so you get muddied up the eyeballs getting out of your car. Once you're on the way to the 1st you've got a 600 yard walk along a path that resembles Gaza on a good day.

There are maps of each hole on markers next to the tee. Whoever measured them must have been on something. On one hole the gap between Yellow and White tees is 27 yards on the card. No word of a lie, I could throw the Captain from the white to the yellow. 27 yards it ain't and it ain't ever been!

If you're lucky you get tee markers that actually point in the vicinity of the fairway - but not always. And don't think about teeing up 2 club lengths back coz you'll fall off. 150 yard markers, when present, are anything between 138 and 159 yards to the front/middle (no-one knows for sure). Hazard stakes are few, making life tricky.

When we play matches at other courses, opponents are amazed by how well we play from the rough. that's because our fairways are almost like the first cut. Greens are slow and bumpy and covered in a greeny-blue liquid (to keep moisture in?). And few if any repair pitchmarks so the greens resemble a teenagers face.

When you've finished you've got that 600 yard trudge back to the clubhouse through mud and God knows what. To be fair the clubhouse is the best part of the place unless you count the hand-dryers. Now I thought the idea was to blow warm/hot air over your hands to dry them. Nah!! You get a warmer wind on Mt Everest!

Then its back to the car and off to the carwash.


I feel strangly better for that!

Wonder why I'm looking to change?

 

[backwoodsman]

Is a decent hole guide - either on the card or on a sign at the tee - too much to ask? And for gawd's sake, tell me whether the yardage is to the front or middle of the green.

 

[theeaglehunter]

I think the club logo should be on as many things as possible- door windows, flags, carpets, door mats, golf buggies etc. It just looks like more money / effort has been put in and makes the club look more 'elite' for want of a better word. Many clubs do have it but what surprises me is when some clubs don't have logoed clothing for sale ion the pro shop this is one area you could potentially look at.

Out of interest triky_white where do you play your golf whilst in Cambridge?

 

[Twire]

Almost everything at my current club spells cheap! The Car park wouldn't have looked out of place in WW1 trenches so you get muddied up the eyeballs getting out of your car. Once you're on the way to the 1st you've got a 600 yard walk along a path that resembles Gaza on a good day.

There are maps of each hole on markers next to the tee. Whoever measured them must have been on something. On one hole the gap between Yellow and White tees is 27 yards on the card. No word of a lie, I could throw the Captain from the white to the yellow. 27 yards it ain't and it ain't ever been!

If you're lucky you get tee markers that actually point in the vicinity of the fairway - but not always. And don't think about teeing up 2 club lengths back coz you'll fall off. 150 yard markers, when present, are anything between 138 and 159 yards to the front/middle (no-one knows for sure). Hazard stakes are few, making life tricky.

When we play matches at other courses, opponents are amazed by how well we play from the rough. that's because our fairways are almost like the first cut. Greens are slow and bumpy and covered in a greeny-blue liquid (to keep moisture in?). And few if any repair pitchmarks so the greens resemble a teenagers face.

When you've finished you've got that 600 yard trudge back to the clubhouse through mud and God knows what. To be fair the clubhouse is the best part of the place unless you count the hand-dryers. Now I thought the idea was to blow warm/hot air over your hands to dry them. Nah!! You get a warmer wind on Mt Everest!

Then its back to the car and off to the carwash.


I feel strangly better for that!

Wonder why I'm looking to change?

Twire makes a note....*call a raincheck if Imurg invites him for a game*

 

[triky_white]

Hello again,

Thanks a lot for your messages, appreciated greatly. I agree with many of the points and can see that there does seem to be a problem mainly with signage around some courses.

From going to many courses I have noticed that there are many clubs that seem to forget about general maintenance of their club like a bit of paint here and there or making sure that they have signs so people can find the club itself. It is vital that clubs should maintain a high standard and remain consistent in their approach if they are to be an elite club. Recently I went to a club that had signs to most holes indicating direction to the next tee up until their 12th when it actually took about 4 minutes to find the next tee ( I won't mention the course because apart from that it was really good ). I am a big fan of clubs that have their own merchandise, logos over everything, whether it be pencils, hats, jumpers or tees. I feel that selling the clubs merchandise is a great way to raise image of the club with ease, whether this be through selling the merchandise in the shop alongside top designers or whether they are selling it for a higher price. I agree with theeaglehunter that clubs should use their logo as much as they can, on flags especially as this is one of the best indicators of whether you are playing at a club that holds good standards, in my opinion.

Thanks again for your help.
Richard.

 

[triky_white]

...not played in Cambridge yet, mainly due to the fact im a student and have little money but I am looking to play in the next couple of weeks and I am actually going to take my clubs up to uni. I looking to find a driving range as im in desperate need of working on my long game. I am struggling off the tee at the moment but couldn't be happier with my putting and short game, typical.

Rich.