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Golfcourse Clubhouse Design:Requires Careful and Innovative PlanningGolfcourse Clubhouse Design is a form of building architecture that requires not only an intimate "golfers eye" view but it invariably is constrained by many specific technical and operational requirements.When looking at a typical clubhouse design brief, it often seems that many of the required spaces have the same or similar siting requirements. But of course it is impossible to locate all required areas in one place. Like any complex problem, the best approach is often to break it down into manageable sections, 2 of which could be as follows: A) Planning and Space Allocation B) Building Design and Enterior Fitout Planning and Space Allocation is like the backbone of the golfcourse clubhouse design and the flow of patrons is the basis of the planning. If the general planning is not properly addressed at the outset, no amount of great design and tasteful fitout will give you a well liked and functional clubhouse. However, the best clubhouses always combine very sound space allocation with inovative design. In fact, the complex needs of most of today's standard golfcourse clubhouses make such great design almost mandatory. Basic Planning ConstraintsThe following list is a typical generic set of constraints that must be adressed on any typical Golfcourse Clubhouse Design, without allowing for extra site specific issues.-bagdrop area should be accessable and not prone to overcrowding -carpark should be close to the bagdrop and with ready access to the check-in area -changing rooms should be close to the check-in area -proshop should be close to the changerooms, starter, starting and finishing holes, golfers terrace and checkin area -Golfers terrace should afford good views of starting and finishing holes, without interferance from morning or afternoon sun. -The terrace layout should make it easy to spot friends prior to or after a golf game -Kitchen should be central to golfers terrace, restaurant and possibly other ancilary facilities -Although central, the kitchen should have hidden "back-of-house" access for deliveries and refuse collection -Golf cart storage should be close to starter and bag drop without having the large storage space appearing dominant -Ancilary facilities must be positioned in easily accessible locations without adversely affecting views or disturbing golfers As you can see, a good many of the required spaces are vying for the same limited areas, and solving the puzzle can be very complicated. A good way to approach the initial planning for golfcourse clubhouse design, or to check the operations and potential of an existing clubhouse is to think in terms of the flow of patrons. This enables the ideal ralationship between spaces to be clearly seen, and in an existing clubhouse it can give a hint as to where inefficiencies lie, which could be eating up potential operations profits. Compiling the Golfcourse Clubhouse Design BriefGenerally, the planning process for a Golfcourse Clubhouse Design begins at the outside, in the golfcourse. Although the golf course is a freeform entity, the specific nature of its design requirements such as returning nine hole loops and adherence to natural terrain, usually means that through a common sense process of elimination, the site for the clubhouse, as well as its orientation (and sometimes even its general internal space allocation) virtually "chooses itself".Indeed, the overall perameters for golfcourse clubhouse design often becomes evident during a golf course masterplanning overview. Often the clubhouse architect has virtually no say in the location of the clubhouse, its orientation and sometimes even the general internal space allocations. This sometimes does not sit well with certain building architects who normally get to be more proactive in the initial planning. The end result, however is always better if the golfcourse clubhouse design, like the golf course is dictated by the land and terrain, rather than the land being changed to cater for the clubhouse. The end result can be especially good if a clubhouse architect can inject some innovative design elements to help solve the internal golfcourse clubhouse design and planning issues in an efficient and memorable way.
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