What do we do?

How do we make golf courses future-proof?

Golf courses play an important role in the lives of golfers (both amateurs and professionals). Here, they challenge themselves and others to reach their full potential, escape daily life, and relax both body and mind. This is where golfers meet for the first time or regularly. They work on their skills with a coach or discuss their ups and downs in the hospitality industry.

But developing and managing golf courses is no easy feat. Making and keeping a golf course viable is a top-level sport in many areas. Numerous issues threaten the continued existence of golf courses. These issues are often very diverse in nature, and developing a financially viable future strategy requires extensive knowledge. Golfimpact can help with this. 

Out of love for the sport of golf and out of love for developing places that add value to people and the environment.

Threats to land ownership: housing construction, etc

Threats to nature and the environment: climate (heat, drought, rainfall, wind), chemicals, invasive plants and animals (including crayfish, bird cherry, Japanese knotweed, etc.)

Social threats: elitism, aging

Economic threats: capacity (manpower, raw materials), competence (skills)

Opportunities due to increasing need for recreational areas (multiple use)

Opportunities through game developments (game rules, game formats, training)

Opportunities due to influx of new players since/due to Covid-19

Development team & working groups

GolfImpact works with one development team that in turn manages various working groups.

A Phase 0 study is conducted first, which examines whether the objective of the assignment is sufficiently clear and HOW (in what process) that objective can be achieved. The outcome of this Phase 0 includes the following themes:

• A force field study to determine the formal sphere of influence: who wants what, who is (formally) responsible for it, who has expertise in the field. 
• An area exploration to determine whether we have captured all the baseline values. The following topics will be addressed:
• The soil (ecological possibilities and limitations)
• Climate adaptation (water, heat, etc.), 
• The local culture (identity)
• Laws (obligations), dreams (environmental vision), 
• Impact on connections (building maintenance, connecting traffic flows, storage of means of transport, etc.), 
• Impact on safety conditions (evacuation, etc.)
• An initial design study regarding the appearance (use of materials), what should we adhere to in terms of architecture and landscape
• A user study: who needs what (use value) and what is perceived as added value? What opportunities and threats exist for users? What clusters are possible (multiple use)?

Based on existing knowledge and additional desktop research, we will determine what further studies are needed. The composition of the team and working groups (management, design, knowledge, and stakeholders) and the associated activities will be presented after Phase 0.

Genius Loci - Spirit of the place

Research into the distinctive past, present, ambition and culture

Research according to Identity Matching method