Golf Course Planning & Operation Analysis
Zack Peters, Will Robinson
Department of Civil Engineering, English
Abstract
The Integrated Learning Experience (ILE) objective was to develop a detailed business plan for the operation and maintenance of a golf course on Lehigh University's Goodman Campus. The team evaluated a six-hole and a nine-hole layout, along with the cost and revenue implications of both options. This twelve-member interdisciplinary team built upon the efforts of the previous groups focused on this issue. ILE groups have been responsible for the initial studies of then-opened sports complexes at the university for the last decade. Most recently, the student-designed Mulvihill Golf Learning Center was opened in the fall of 2008.
The team focused on two main issues for the design of the course: cost of maintenance and amount of revenue; upfront costs were ignored. Initial market studies were performed to determine the demand for a particular course, and logistics analyses were performed based on time-of-play factors. From these, the hole layout and order was developed. Maintenance costs were calculated on a per-hole basis using ‘standard' length/size par 3, 4, and 5 holes. Revenues were generated using current usage from the existing practice facility and projected usage based on the results of the market survey. The team organized a recommended design based on the previous analyses and noted several other considerations that need to be incorporated with the design of this facility, including zoning requirements, the possibility of existing wetlands, drainage issues, adherence to USGA guidelines, and accessibility to the Lehigh community.
Bios:
Zachary Peters – Zack is a senior in the civil engineering department at Lehigh University. He is planning on pursuing a career in engineering/land surveying. For his senior capstone, Zack is expanding on the ILE project by working on the design of an irrigation system for a specific golf course layout.
William Robinson – Will is a senior English major at Lehigh University. He plays on the golf team and, following graduation, is looking to pursue a career in healthcare policy.
