What Makes A Good Golf Course

Do you have a favorite golf course? Sometimes it is interesting to consider what makes this course your favorite and why it stands out as being better than others around you. What makes a good golf course will vary from one golfer to the next. However, most golfers will agree that these six things make a good golf course.

Impeccable Conditions

The first and more important feature of a good golf course are impeccable golf course conditions. If you are playing a course that does not take care of its greens, fairways, or rough, it's hard to like the course as much.

Of course, private golf clubs typically have the best golf course conditions. However, many public golf courses take very good care of their greens and ensure that players get a pure and true roll.

You can do your part to help improve golf course conditions by being aware of divots and ball marks and following golf cart traffic patterns.

Good Mix of par 3, 4 and 5

Golfers like variety on a golf course. Not only do we want to ensure that the par 3's, par 4's, and par 5's are fair to play, but also that they are evenly distributed throughout the golf course. Sometimes players will look at a par 5 as a scoring opportunity, and if you have two in a row, it can be difficult to make your move.

Instead, a variety of holes and hole lengths are necessary. Three par 4's in a row that are all 420 yards is not enjoyable for a golfer.

Natural Beauty

Not all golf courses have a setting that creates that much natural beauty. However, when this can be found, the overall golf experience is greatly enhanced. When you can stand on a tee box and look out over the water or play a golf hole in the valleys of a small mountain, the natural beauty is greatly enhanced.

There is a reason why places like Pebble Beach, Pinehurst, and Kiawah have become so popular and alot of it has to do with the natural beauty that these courses offer.

Birdie Opportunities

As important as it is for a golf course to challenge us, you must also ensure that you have opportunities to make birdies. Every golf course should have a few birdie holes. It doesn't always mean that you will make a birdie on these holes, but it is important to set yourself up for this opportunity.

A birdie hole can be a shorter par 5 or even a driveable par 4. Be smart about how you play these holes, and you may enjoy the golf course even more!

No Tricks

Golfers do not like tricks. Some designers can get a bit quirky and will look at creating golf holes that have a sharp turn or a green with putts that are impossible to make. Nobody likes this. Some designers, unfortunately, take the process too far, and the entire golf course feels a bit gimmicky.

Golfers don't mind difficulty on a course, as long as things are straightforward and more natural. Golf course should be a little tricky, but just the right amount so that you can play it good with the right golf course management skills and strategy in place.

Continuity

Last but certainly not least is continuity. If you are playing a golf course with a few great holes in a row, the last thing you want to come across is a hole that makes no sense. For instance, if you walk off the 18th green and think that the course had some good holes but are confused by the overall layout or design, it's just not a great course.

Golf course designers have the difficult task of creating an entire course that works together, not just an individual hole. The continuity on the golf course is a very important consideration. How do all 18 holes work together to create a great golf course?

For some courses where the design is not as good, there is just no continuity.

Conclusion

Take a moment to think about your favorite course and how it came about as your favorite. Chances are you will notice that the course checks all the boxes that we talked about and more. A great golf course can also be made better by having the right staff in place. The people working together to run a golf course should be considered when determining a good golf course.