Playable Pathways -
It's a new day for golf!Playable Pathways -
It's a new day for golf!Playable Pathways -
It's a new day for golf!Playable Pathways -
It's a new day for golf!
Playable Pathways is an innovative golf course design approach that creates a more playable golf course for shorter hitters.
Playable Pathways -
It's a new day for golf!Playable Pathways -
It's a new day for golf!Playable Pathways -
It's a new day for golf!Playable Pathways -
It's a new day for golf!
Playable Pathways is an innovative golf course design approach that creates a more playable golf course for shorter hitters.
PlayablePathways is a golf course design approach that uses data to determine tee position, landing area location, hazard location and configuration, and green access and configuration for slower swing speed players. This approach does not affect existing golf course strategies or challenges for low handicap players, but it does provide appropriate tee positions, a manageable ground game, and surmountable hazards for seniors, women, and growing junior players.
Sustainability is like a three legged stool. It cannot stand upon environmental and economic sustainability alone. Sustainability needs a golf culture in order to support the entire circular model and function properly. If there were no golfers, there would be no revenue to support maintenance or renovation of aging golf courses. We need golfers to support our golf facilities, and to preserve and enhance environmental and ecological networks that are the foundation of our golf courses. Golf is a lifetime sport and we like to see golfers play as long as they can, and to start as young as they can. It's a family sport that everyone can play and we like to see women enjoying the golf experience as much as men. We want juniors in the pipeline for the next generation of golfers, so we need academies and training facilities that are purpose fit for golf instructors and all the people that use them. New technology plays a role for all of our demographic groups and we aim to use it where possible and within budget.
Playable Pathways uses average amateur total hitting distance data according to the 2020 USGA and R&A Distance Insights Project Report. Furthermore, in 2021, Playable Pathways founder, Kari Haug, did a study with American club fitting company Club Champion and Sue Shapcott, Phd., on amateur women's golf hitting distances. The American study is the most extensive to date, enrolling 500 women in just three weeks with final usable data collected on 253 amateur women golfers. Hitting and carry distances were collected using the subjects own drivers and 6 irons. Many other metrics were collected as well, including but not limited to, swing speed, maximum shot height, launch and landing angles, and many more. Demographic information was also collected. We use the data from these two studies to inform our design strategies when doing course renovation design work. Using the power of design bolstered by this data, we believe we can re-direct the future of the game to be more inclusive and sustainable.
About Playable Pathways
Our History and Our Future
Our History and Our Future
Our History and Our Future
Playable Pathways was born on the windy links in Scotland while playing the ground game on fast and firm fairways that bumped and rolled from tee to green. The realization that the ground game is an essential element in making golf courses fun and playable for women and seniors who don't hit the ball as high or as far as faster swing spee
Playable Pathways was born on the windy links in Scotland while playing the ground game on fast and firm fairways that bumped and rolled from tee to green. The realization that the ground game is an essential element in making golf courses fun and playable for women and seniors who don't hit the ball as high or as far as faster swing speed players led to the development of a new approach to forward tee design. This approach is called PlayablePathwaysTM. Properly designed forward tees and a Playable Pathway from tee to green will transform the entire golf experience for the average golfer, making the game more accessible, less difficult, and more fun....playing the game the way it is meant to be played. For golf course owners and management, improved playability means improved pace of play for slower swing speed players -- with less total shots, less time hitting or searching for golf balls in long rough, and reduced lost golf balls while navigating insurmountable hazards.
We hope you read about PlayablePathwaysTM and then call us to see if you and your golf friends would benefit from a more playable golf course design at your home course or at a club(s) you own or manage.
Golf Course Playability
Our History and Our Future
Our History and Our Future
Golf courses are designed based upon common shot types and shot distances, with careful consideration of shot angles, fairway landing areas, ground contours and slopes, and green configurations to receive incoming shots. If your hitting distance has not been considered in the design or set up of your golf course, your difficult golf roun
Golf courses are designed based upon common shot types and shot distances, with careful consideration of shot angles, fairway landing areas, ground contours and slopes, and green configurations to receive incoming shots. If your hitting distance has not been considered in the design or set up of your golf course, your difficult golf round may not be your fault! Whether or not a golf course is playable is dependent upon whether or not a reasonably well-hit shot ends up in a place from which the ensuing shot can be played. We believe this should be true for all golfers no matter what the average hitting distance is for your demographic group!
Seniors who no longer hit the ball as far as in younger years will often encounter simple course distance issues that make rounding the course much more difficult than if it were designed and set up to fit average senior shot distances as evidenced by USGA and R&A data in their Distance Insights Report. Almost every amateur woman golfer has encountered the distance challenge on a course that does not fit their game... and they are all too familiar with the offset tee that is obviously too small and often has poor turf quality. What they may not know is that the hitting angle or average hitting distance from the forward tee might not even align with the reception angle of the landing area, or it may set them up to hit directly into a bunker. These design issues (and many others) make the game far more difficult than is it supposed to be. In addition, golf hole length and course length is designed as a percentage of the lengths designed from the back tees, but often these lengths are still far too long if we look at real hitting distance data.
The PlayablePathwaysTM design approach is data-driven and we use real data and best practice design parameters to improve your golf experience.
Email us today!
Our Services
Our History and Our Future
Our Services
All of our golf course design services are provided by a PlayablePathwaysTM certified EIGCA or SAGCA golf course architect who has completed specialized training in course design for slower swing speed players. Our architects offer three levels of golf course evaluation and design services:
The Bronze Package
The Silver Package
The Gold Pac
All of our golf course design services are provided by a PlayablePathwaysTM certified EIGCA or SAGCA golf course architect who has completed specialized training in course design for slower swing speed players. Our architects offer three levels of golf course evaluation and design services:
The Bronze Package
The Silver Package
The Gold Package
The Bronze Package is an online evaluation of hole and course lengths, tee sizes and hitting angles. It is designed to help you identify your priority problem areas. It is delivered totally online through scorecard and downloaded aerial photograph analysis.
The Silver Package is the fastest way to improve playability of your golf course for slower swing speed players. Silver patrons will designate a club representative to work with your architect to gather information and have discussions using virtual communication tools. Once the site has been assessed, your architect will provide personal consultation for playability improvements on up to three priority holes. Silver includes all services in the Bronze Package plus the personal consultation of an architect and limited improvement plans.
The Gold Package is the most comprehensive PlayablePathwaysTM package and includes an in-person visit by a certified golf course architect, a detailed evaluation report with prioritization of recommended projects, architectural consultation, PlayablePathwaysTM design services, and summary cost estimates. For a list of the products and services associated with each level, see the Packages Comparison below.
In addition to the three PlayablePathwaysTM packages, our architects are capable of providing the full spectrum of Golf Course Master Planning Services...and we automatically include the PlayablePathways design approach for shorter hitters in all renovation plans or new course master plans.
Evaluation of driving distance and angle to landing area
One-hour online summary consultation with architect at completion of assessments*
Online summary report with identification of priority problems
*Requires contact with a designated club representative
Pricing quotes available for all course sizes
Management companies email for package deals
Silver Package
Bronze Package
Bronze Package
Online assessment and consultation*
Scorecard analysis
Hole length assessment
Course length assessment
Tee size assessment
Evaluation of driving distance to drive point and turning points
Evaluation of forward tee position relative to reported hole topography, configuration and hazard locations*
Evaluation of green access and playability*
Online summary report with identification of priority problems
Three-hole case study for the club
*Requires a designated club representative for communication and information gathering
Pricing quotes available for all course sizes
Management companies email for package deals
**An in-person architectural visit can be requested for an additional charge plus travel expenses
Gold Package
Bronze Package
Gold Package
In-person architectural evaluation
Scorecard analysis
Hole length assessment
Course length assessment
Tee size assessment
Evaluation of driving distance to drive point and turning points
Evaluation of forward tee position relative to topography maps, fairway and green configurations, and hazard locations
Additional evaluations:
12-point tee evaluation
Tee surface slope direction
Landing area reception slopes
Green accessibility
Special accessibility considerations for seniors
Is your facility female-friendly?
Detailed PlayablePathwaysTM report and printable scaled 24x36 architectural plan - 9- or 18-hole
*Additional fee for 27+ hole facilities
*Requires collaboration with a designated club representative
Pricing quotes available for all course and facility sizes
Management companies please e-mail for multi-facility quote
*Travel expenses extra
Get Inspired by PlayablePathways: A Photo Journey
01/19
Feature Projects
Pirkkala Golf Course Tampere, Finland
Timber Creek Golf Course Watertown, MN
Pirkkala Golf Course Tampere, Finland
Pirkkala Golf Course is an 18-hole golf course that is being expanded to 27-holes. While still in the planning phase, when completed, the course is expected to be the first to fully utilize the PlayablePathways approach and will be a model project for inclusive design. Upon completion, the course will be more playable for seniors, women
Pirkkala Golf Course is an 18-hole golf course that is being expanded to 27-holes. While still in the planning phase, when completed, the course is expected to be the first to fully utilize the PlayablePathways approach and will be a model project for inclusive design. Upon completion, the course will be more playable for seniors, women and growing junior golfers, while at the same time providing a solid challenge for longer hitters.
Crosswoods Golf Course Crosslake, MN
Timber Creek Golf Course Watertown, MN
Pirkkala Golf Course Tampere, Finland
Crosswoods Golf Course is a 27-hole facility in northern Minnesota. In 2022 the club was looking to improve playability of their primary 18-hole golf course, and to renovate the additional 9-hole course. An evaluation of the existing conditions was done with particular attention to hole length and tee positions for shorter hitters. A s
Crosswoods Golf Course is a 27-hole facility in northern Minnesota. In 2022 the club was looking to improve playability of their primary 18-hole golf course, and to renovate the additional 9-hole course. An evaluation of the existing conditions was done with particular attention to hole length and tee positions for shorter hitters. A shared multi-tee system plan was designed for the 18-hole course, and a renovation plan with new hole designs for the 9-hole course was completed.
Timber Creek Golf Course Watertown, MN
Timber Creek Golf Course Watertown, MN
Timber Creek Golf Course Watertown, MN
Since 2015, Timber Creek Golf Course has worked toward creating an inclusive golf culture and a golf course that is fun, challenging, and playable for all golfers. Phased course modifications to improve playability for women and seniors include forward tee installations, changes to mowing patterns, tree removals, and other phased design
Since 2015, Timber Creek Golf Course has worked toward creating an inclusive golf culture and a golf course that is fun, challenging, and playable for all golfers. Phased course modifications to improve playability for women and seniors include forward tee installations, changes to mowing patterns, tree removals, and other phased design interventions. The club has developed a truly inclusive golf culture and membership has increased significantly.
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