Traditional Golf Course Construction
From the rebuilding of a single hole to the design and build of an entire golf complex, our attention to detail is paramount.
Learn MoreSince its inception in 1993 Contour Golf has had at its core a philosophy that upholds the traditional values of classic course design that has empathy with the surrounding environment and which produces sustainable, enjoyable and revenue producing golf. The focus of the philosophy is on producing a facility that encourages players of all abilities who enjoy the game and the course facilities, who are loyal and who keep coming back time and time again.
Contour Golf acts as a brush in the hand of the golf course architect and provides the conduit to turn design in to reality. The respect for the design and designer is paramount yet Contour is an impassioned company that believes in an honest and complete dialogue with the architect that aims for mutual trust and respect. Contour has been working with some course designers for decades and others for only one or two years but has earned a reputation for delivering the architect's vision on time, within budget and without fuss.
Such adaptability and recognition of individual styles and methods has been accrued through myriad developments with such architects' as Jeff Howes (Fota Island for the Irish Open), Weller Designs, Christy O’Connor Jnr., Jonathan Gaunt, Patrick Merrigan, Steve Marnoch, Ken Moodie and Roger Jones. During this time Contour have worked in the UK, Ireland and mainland Europe on wildly varying terrain: from mountain bog to heavy clay.
From the rebuilding of a single hole to the design and build of an entire golf complex, our attention to detail is paramount.
Learn MoreWorking with licensed and specialist soil importation companies, Contour can deliver a fully managed and efficient construction of a golf course infill project.
Learn MoreContour Golf has a wealth of experience in bunker construction, bunker remodelling and bunker renovation.
Learn MorePonds, lakes and water features on the golf course are rich habitats for wildlife, provide additional challenges for the golfer, are aesthetically pleasing and can provide for or supplement the irrigation on a golf course. There are many positives and few negatives in creating water features.
Contour Golf has the experience and expertise for constructing ponds, lakes and water bodies and has knowledge in the correct method of constructing such features.
Contour Golf has a wide range of specialist machinery and experienced team personnel to construct or renovate a water body or feature. Contour is conversant with erosion and water control, bio engineering and wetland habitat creation.
Contour Golf has been installing USGA type greens for many years and has a wealth of experience in sourcing and testing suitable materials. Contour Golf has the know how and machinery for expertly mixing the rootzone, for installing the drainage, the composite layers and then for finishing and seeding to a very high standard.
The United States Golf Association recommendations for green construction have been the most widely used method of green construction throughout the world and consists of a perched water table, comprising a sand rootzone mix of 300mm depth a blinding or choker layer of 50mm and a 100mm gravel carpet. If appropriate gravel is used then the intermediate layer may be left out and a two-layer system employed.
There are strict guidelines and specifications for the materials that can be used.
The idea is to produce a growing medium that provides resistance to compaction, one that will drain readily but will retain sufficient moisture and nutrients to sustain normal turfgrass growth. For golfers this means a putting surface that produces a consistent surface that should be playable all year round.
Contour has specialised machinery that speeds the infrastructure enablement for irrigation installation and Contour Golf is able to offer an irrigation installation service from full coverage to a system upgrade.
ServicesThe advantages of drainage are manifold. Well drained growing mediums promote healthy grass growth on the golf course through ensuring the required nutrients, oxygen and trace elements are made available. By encouraging a deeper root zone, drainage will also increase the drought resistance of the sward. Wet soils create anaerobic conditions resulting in poor growing conditions. Bunkers without adequate drainage will turn into ponds.
Contour Golf has a belief that once the drainage on the golf course is working correctly then myriad problems are solved. This philosophy starts at the surface and works its way through the topsoil and subsoil. At the surface Contour ensures that there is always a fall on the playing surfaces to shed water readily and easily. Contour utilises low ground pressure tracks and tyres to avoid compaction of the topsoil thus avoiding the creation of impermeable layers within the soil that restrict water and nutrient cycles. Contour has bespoke unique specialised implements to relieve compaction in the subsoil. Contour specialises in sub soil drainage installation for greens, tees, bunkers and fairways and uses the latest laser and GPS technology for the most efficient and cost effective method for installing the drains.
After the many layers of the construction process it is the finish of the work, the final trimming, cultivations and seeding, that is the shop window for the course. Following on from the finishing, the grow in period should then ensure that the finishing will remain as intended and the course can be brought in to play as soon as possible.
Contour Golf has a reputation for putting every effort in to exact the highest finishing standard. Contour achieves this with specialised sub soiling, final grading, cultivation, and seeding machinery; with specialised hand tools and through an obsessive attention to detail. The aim is to produce an aesthetically pleasing playing surface that is fair, consistent and predictable, one that is easily maintainable and one that is in play as soon as is possible and therefore producing revenue for the client.
The grow in period is one of the most critical elements of the construction process and it is during this phase that there is the potential for the biggest mistakes to be made. It must be stressed that grow in is not the same as maintenance on the golf course and that unless greenkeepers have some previous knowledge and experience of this process that even with the best will in the word and the best of intentions then actions can lead to costly damage to the new playing surface.
Contour has extensive knowledge and experience of grow in and is able to offer a complete service or provide guidance and advice to the client and greenkeeper during this critical phase.
Please get in touch with us for any golf course construction enquiries. We look forward to discussing your project.
Ingrid Eichler
07785 272935 01327 879464 ingrid@contour-golf.comOffice Address
1 Jubilee Cottage • Norton Road • Daventry • Northants • NN11 2LS • ENGLAND