Lesson 22- Plants on the golf courses
Plants other than grasses play a major role in providing the golf course landscape.
In general, they
a. Can add to the aesthetics (make it look nice) of the golf course
b. Provide a challenge to play and make the course more interesting
c. Be a home and food source for wildlife (food for bees, nest site for birds etc.)
d. Provide various types of protection and screening
Uses of trees on the golf course
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Divide areas of play i.e. separate fairways.
Screen noise from nearby roads.
Provide focal points on the course i.e. help create landscape by drawing the eye towards certain points on
the course.
To alter line of play (create a dog-leg).
To create a wind break.
To protect tees or greens from wayward golf balls on tight golf courses.
Above left- trees used to divide fairways Above middle – Purple beech used as a focal point Above right- Scots
pine- used to create a dog-leg
Uses of shrubs on the golf course
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Aesthetic reasons (colourful leaves/flowers look nice).
Create a habit (nest for birds etc.) and improve bio-diversity (increase wild life).
Create areas of rough that will penalise players who go off line.
Above left - shrubs used to create an attractive surround to practice green. Above right – shrubs (gorse) used to
create an area of rough and wildlife habitat at Mid Herts golf club.
Uses of herbaceous plants on the golf course
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Aesthetic reasons (flowers look nice).
Improve bio-diversity (increase wild life, butterflies etc.).
Create areas of rough that will penalise players who go off line.
Below wild herbaceous flowers area on a golf course creating a visually treat for the players as well as providing a
home for wildlife.
Image from www.sherriffamenity.com
Uses of bedding plants on the golf course/club house area
Aesthetic reasons (flowers look nice) so form a welcome display for players coming to the golf course.
In seasonal bedding schemes plants are replaced at various points in the year to provide all round colour, this makes
bedding schemes expensive due to the cost of replacement plants and labour involved in planting.
The normal system is to use spring/summer and autumn/winter planting schemes
Below hanging baskets full of bedding plants make an attractive club house surround at Mid Herts Golf Club.
Below from -www.rhs.org.uk a highly formal seasonal bedding scheme