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Cart Paths

1 posts
  1. Andy Scott
    Andy Scott avatar
    0 posts
    12/17/2013 2:12 PM
    Greetings,

    I would like to hear from those who have Cart Paths around just Tees and Greens. My club is in the process of re-doing and/or eliminating paths. Currently we have very rough(Exposed Tree Roots) Asphalt and have experimented with a Milling machine with intentions of repaving over that. We are a small Private club and play about 12,000 rounds a year. When it's wet almost no one plays and the course drains fairly well.

    Thanks for your time



  2. Randle Robinson
    Randle Robinson avatar
    0 posts
    10/17/2014 9:10 AM
    We are installing cart paths (rock temporarily) this fall and I was wondering if any of you had any advice on setting location for them. How far from fairway etc? Thanks!



  3. Richard Lavine
    Richard Lavine avatar
    3 posts
    10/17/2014 11:10 AM
    I would try to get a golf course architect involved in this. There is a severe liability issue with cart paths when a golfer sitting in a cart gets hit from an adjacent fairway. Architect have the knowledge to know where accidents are less likely to happen, but I know in some cases, architects don't even want to get involved with this. Good luck with your project.



  4. Corey Eastwood
    Corey Eastwood avatar
    80 posts
    10/17/2014 11:10 AM
    Same as Rich. My experience is do to liability they prefer not to be involved. They are best on right as most are left handed slicers.

    Corey Eastwood CGCS, Stockton Golf & CC, Retired

  5. Cerminara Jamie L
    Cerminara Jamie L avatar
    10/18/2014 2:10 AM
    15 degree angle from the tee bisected down the line of play has been the rule of thumb, or so I have heard. This will and has always been broken for various reasons. Most architects would tell you line of sight and playability are the most important. Making sure the base is well compacted and that you don't create pockets for water to lay are probably the most important thing. Using curbing and pitching them will allow you to control water.
    Dealing with undermined cart paths is a pain.



  6. Theodore Piersol
    Theodore Piersol avatar
    0 posts
    10/18/2014 5:10 AM
    we are cath paths all the way around. some of the paths cross in front of the tees and invariably golfers will drive straight from the tee into the rough, ie follow the line their ball took, and consequently a cow path is created. I would try to follow the flow of where the carts go now because its very hard to train golfers. Also we are eight feet wide paths makes it great for vehicular traffic on a cold frosty morning.



  7. Kyle Fick
    Kyle Fick avatar
    4 posts
    10/23/2015 10:10 AM
    When you all look at path replacement, how do you go about it?

    Do you look at local road/construction builders, or do you get into looking more at golf course construction companies?

    How do you make the case for asphalt vs concrete in the north?

    If you have asphalt currently, do you do a lift on top of old material, or remove and replace?

    I'm kind of new to this type of project and am looking for a little advice on where to go from here. I've got a few contacts to different types of contractors, but thought I should search the advice of my peers.

    Thanks for any advice you might have for me.



  8. Andy Jorgensen
    Andy Jorgensen avatar
    1 posts
    10/23/2015 10:10 AM
    Kyle,

    I have overlayed asphalt in the past. However, you really need to look at the issue that is causing the paths to be redone. If tree roots are an issue, obviously take care of the issue before adding another lift. If you have some raised areas, check out http://www.flatpaths.com. This guy provides a service that will smooth your raised areas buying you some time before venturing into resurfacing your paths. Additionally, when you resurface, I would avoid patching areas as it is hard to get the transition from old to new smooth without doing additional grinding of the edges. In the one case where I have overlayed paths, I used a road contractor but had to call around to several before I found one that had small enough equipment(layers and trucks) to service my needs without ripping up the course in the process. We also ended up ahving to use skid steers to feed the machine in smaller areas in which we couldn't get a truck. Keep in mind that this will also cost you a lot more than what a typical road resurfacing project would go for.

    As for concrete, I use traditional concrete guys. But again, you may have to call around before finding one that is willing to do areas on your course with limited access. This is also going to cost more money since often the contractor will need to rent smaller, more specialized equipment to get the mud out onto the course without tearing things up. Often though, a golf course construction company has the expertise and equipment to do this slightly cheaper than a contractor, but will require a minimum square footage before even accepting the job.

    Down here, we can typically have concrete poured for $2.25/sq on new construction and closer to $3.00 for repairs including removal of old, form and pour.



  9. Corey Eastwood
    Corey Eastwood avatar
    80 posts
    10/23/2015 11:10 AM
    The best is to grind the old asphalt and regrade using that for a base. Then pour a new concrete path.

    I would recommend a Golf Course contractor. DHR, Danny Ramos does this all over the world and is reasonable and leaves minimal cleanup.

    Corey Eastwood CGCS, Stockton Golf & CC, Retired

  10. Kyle Fick
    Kyle Fick avatar
    4 posts
    10/23/2015 11:10 AM
    Corey,

    you read my mind. that is the recommendation I'm giving my bosses is to grind and grade to create more of a base. Thanks for the reinforcement on the GC contractor as well. I was leaning to the belief that these are the guys that have seen the failures at properties like ours anyway, go to them.



  11. Matthew Enderson
    Matthew Enderson avatar
    1 posts
    10/23/2015 1:10 PM
    Kyle, If you are leaning toward concrete contact Howrey Construction out of Iowa. He is set up to do golf cart paths. 712 297-8192. I know of a number of courses he has worked on in the Dakotas and upper midwest. Good luck.

    Matt Enderson



  12. Gary Carls
    Gary Carls avatar
    19 posts
    10/23/2015 10:10 PM
    Kyle, I would second everything Corey said. When we did our paths several years ago we had lots of regular paving guys there for the walk through but once they realized the complexities involved with working on a golf course most of them did not bid the project. Being a municipal facility meant we were kind of at the mercy of the bidders but were fortunate that DHR came in as the lowest bid. I highly recommend their work because of their wide range of golf course experience. The fact that golf course contractors understand that you often need to stay open for play or work around other things in your schedule is a huge plus. All in all for us that meant that the contractor interfered with play as little as possible and we were able to stay open throughout a complete course concrete path installation. They also had the right equipment to assure that we also had minimal damage to the course, especially the irrigation system. Good luck with the project.

    Gary K. Carls, CGCS, President - Oakland Turfgrass Education Initiative

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