How To Become A Golf Course Designer

If you've ever taken a look at a golf course and thought you could do better, you might want to learn how to become a golf course designer. A golf course designer takes on different aspects of golf course design but is also assisted by a support team to make the design perfect from every standpoint. The support team may consist of an engineer, architects and/or surveyors. The golf course designer must consider many factors to go into the design of the golf course. Keeping to budget limitations is essential and most golf course design blueprints are made using computer aided drafting software. Some golf course designers also have access to visualization software to give the golf course owners a 3-D view of the proposed golf course. Golf course design is a very specialized discipline and requires an equally specialized education to achieve this career.

1. Graduate high school. If you have the chance, work for a golf course and talk with golf course designers about their duties. Getting a chance to understand what the job entails beforehand is always useful information.
2. Search for colleges and universities offering a degree in landscape architecture. Colleges don't offer golf course specific majors or minors, but landscape architecture provides a solid grounding for golf course design. Landscape architecture is an available major in many colleges.
3. Choose complementary electives or a minor to provide additional experience beneficial to golf course design. Golf course designs will benefit from horticulture, civil engineering or agronomy. Another essential skill to learn during your college years is the use of computer aided drafting programs--these are essential for golf course design.
4. Apply to your chosen college, which will hopefully be in an area with plenty of golf courses. After getting accepted into the program, seek out internship opportunities available at golf courses. You may have to start off with an internship as a greenskeeper, but that gives you hands on experience with the different golf course designs.
5. Apply for a golf designer job. If you're lucky with your internship, you might be able to transition directly from intern to full time employee. Otherwise, research golf courses and resorts in your area. Highlight any practical knowledge along with your degree in your resume. If you took complementary courses during college, such as civil engineering, note that as well. Self-employment is a possible path, as a resort might opt to hire a freelance golf course designer it can let go after the resort is complete. Going the consultant route requires good marketing skills and a solid list of contacts.