How to Choose the Right Golf Course for You 

Elements of a Golf Course

Golf doesn’t have a standardised surface. But each golf course essentially has some key elements that make one golf course different from another.

• The Teeing Ground or Tee Box: 
  A typical golf course has three or more teeing grounds per hole, but some have as many as six or seven different teeing grounds on each hole. The different tees correspond to different yardages catering to different playing abilities. 

• The Putting Green: 
  The ‘green’ is the ground surrounding the hole. It comprises of grass that is cut very short and as even as possible to help the players take precise shots. Golf courses can have greens in varying shapes and sizes. The quality of green and how well it is maintained makes a golf course stand out. The Bangalore Golf Club, for example, has green made of Bermuda grass, which is smoother to play on.

• The Fairway and the Rough: 
  These are the areas between the teeing ground and the putting green. The grass on the fairway is cut very short, while that of the rough area is left comparatively taller. The rough makes a good shot challenging and more robust.  The rough of a golf course is either maintained by the greenskeepers or kept unkempt and natural.

• The Hazards: 
  Hazards include ponds, lakes, rivers, sand traps, and bunkers that you should avoid while playing. The types and number of hazards may vary with different golf courses. Like a challenge? Then you should consider booking a golf course with more hazards!

Types of Golf Courses

There are multiple types of golf courses based on the style of landscape, the time it generally takes to finish the game, and the kind of access people have to the course. 

Have you noticed that most golf courses have an architect associated with them? It is because designing a golf course requires intricate work  . It can be considered a work of art with a certain degree of science and aesthetics attached to the design. The architects tend to use the natural terrain to shape the landscape of the golf course.

• Link course:
  Golf originated in Scotland, and so did the link course. Link courses were located on the narrow sandy strips between the coastline and adjoining farms. They were open to the winds blowing in from the sea and lush with plenty of coastal grass.  A link course usually features slow greens, along with fast and   rolling fairways. 

• Parkland course:
  Far from the windy shore, a parkland course is carefully manicured and tailored. It features faster greens and smoother fairways. 

• Desert course:
  Mostly found in oil-rich countries, a desert golf course contains natural dunes, and other terrain features common in a desert. The lush green grass seen on the course can be the only green seen, amidst the sandy backdrop of a desert.

Golf Courses Based on the length of play

The holes on a golf course are numbered 1 to 18.  The ‘par’ for a golf course is the number of strokes an expert golfer takes to complete the game. For example, par-3 holes are holes that an expert golfer would require only 3 strokes to complete. The size of the golf courses and the length of play varies with the number and types of holes. There could be three different types of golf courses:

• 18-hole course
• 9-hole course
• Executive course

Prestige Golfshire Golf Club in Bangalore, for example, is an 18-hole course spread over 7000 yards of land.

Golf Courses based on the course access

Unless your Card is offering you complimentary access, golf courses always come with a booking fee that can vary with the type of access.

• Public courses:
  Accessible to the general public with the payment of daily use fee

• Semi-Private courses:
  Accessible through membership, these courses are also open to non-members on payment of the daily use fee, for example, resort! The golf course here may be open to its guests and to non-guests too on payment of a fee.

•  Private courses:
  Open only to members and their guests, these types of golf courses grant exclusive privileges. Most country clubs and golf clubs own private golf courses accessible only to their members.

How to Choose the Right Golf Course for Yourself

Most golf courses look beautiful and seem perfect to play on. Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned pro, you may want to look beyond the surface to ensure a rewarding game experience. Here are some elements that you could prioritise on, based on your needs.

• Quality of the course
  An excellent golf course is the outcome of hard work and a strict maintenance schedule. The grass must be well-manicured for the ball to slide smoothly. The fairways and bunkers have to be free of obstruction and weeds. A prior visit to assess the golf course is usually a good idea.

• The behaviour of the staff
  Feeling welcomed is essential to having a pleasant and relaxing time. Right from the moment you enter the golf club, you get a sense of how the club treats its members. Is there anybody to greet you? Are they paying attention to your needs? Are they fully staffed? This gives a peek into how well the facility is being managed and how much they value their members.

• Course design
  Each golf course is differently designed. Do consider your game level and the course design to make sure that you have the right mix of fun and challenge.

• Length of the play
  Game time depends on the number and types of holes and the number of golfers in the group. It is, therefore, vital for you to select the right combination of the number of holes and par style. An executive course with 18 or 9 holes will take less time as opposed to a regular course with 9 or 18 holes.

• Types of amenities
  Take time to look into the amenities offered and decide based on the purpose of your game. Basic facilities like lockers, pro-shop, snack bar, and a lounge area are found at most golf courses. If you are planning a golf getaway though, then you can consider a golf resort that offers you plush accommodation, spa, range of dining choices, and billiards. 

•  Practice facility and availability of instructors
  The availability of competent instructors to provide insightful tips is definitely a bonus. Make sure to check if the golf course has a practice facility. It will help you to move to the next level faster. 

Golf can be a very relaxing game, giving you the time to pause and enjoy the moment with your family or friends. What’s more, it hones your temperament and discipline. It is the perfect hobby in an idyllic green setting. The right golf course, thus, has a pivotal role to play in this therapeutic experience. To a golf enthusiast, nothing can be better than unhindered, complimentary access to their desired golf courses.

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