The importance of golf course water features and the role of lake liners
Jun
21
Written by:
Friday, June 21, 2013
Water features are included in the landscape design of a golf course for a number of reasons. The primary goal is to make the course more challenging thereby attracting a higher number of professional and low handicap golfers to a club. The aim for the golfer is, of course to avoid the water hazard. But, there is more to a lake or water feature than just making a golfers game more challenging.
Other advantages of including the construction of lakes, ponds or rivers in the design layout of a golf course include enhancing the aesthetics by creating a tranquil, soothing effect for all those who visit. On a more practical note, they improve drainage and are used to store water for irrigation purposes.
The soil removed when digging the water feature is used to build the greens by creating undulations and other challenging features. By so doing the landscape engineers will design them in such a way that they serve to drain water into the lake, but at the same time positioning the water feature so that it is visible to the golfer eliminating any nasty surprises for which there are high penalties.
The sound of water flowing over rapids, down waterfalls or spraying out of fountains has such a relaxing effect. From a practical point of view it also drowns out other sounds that could otherwise affect the general calm, tranquil ambience of a golf course such as the aggravating noises from traffic, machinery and other golfers.
Water is an important feature in environmental protection. Drainage from the course can be directed toward lakes and reservoirs where it can be recycled through the irrigation system. Lakes within the golf course can store water for an extended time. In many situations the installation of a lake liner when building a golf course water feature guarantees the containment of water and serves a barrier between the ground and water preventing possible toxins leaching from the soil into the water affecting its use for irrigation purposes.
If you are in the process of designing a golf course with water features in the plan or want to build a lake or reservoir on an established golf course, contact Russetts Developments about our
lake liners and our expertise in liner installations for golf course projects for which we have great experience.