Wildcat Creek Golf Park, Lafayette, Indiana

Abstract

The goal I had for this project was to see the development of a site which integrated a golf course with a more natural and useful land use, in essence creating a park-- a golf park. Within the confines of the design I had the goal of creating an area which allows many people to use the land simultaneously without interference or risk of injury. The area was to be comfortable, natural, and practical. Mostly it needed to be used. In the future, I would like to see this project used as an example for golf course developers and golf course owners/ managers to show what can be achieved with some imagination. I will also gladly open this project for study by students, professors, professionals, or any interested parties because I feel that this project has merit and would be beneficial to anyone who would like to act upon the ideas presented in this project.Personal goals for the terminal project included obtaining further knowledge of golf course design. The additional knowledge I have gained from this comprehensive project aided me in securing a job in a golf course design firm and helped me to realize a goal of becoming a golf course architect.Maintaining the belief that golf courses which are built today are single-purpose facilities which do not utilize the most efficient use of land, I have studied the possibilities for the creation of a golf course built within a park setting. The argument that golf courses are a waste of valuable land for such a limited range of uses does not sit well with the millions of men, women, and children who love to play the game so I suggest that golf courses be integrated with other recreational facilities to create a 'golf park.'My objective for this terminal project has been to study the relationships between golf and other sports or leisure activities which I feel will integrate well with the game of golf. The sports or activities I have chosen relate to golf Because of some of the inherent or historical aspects of golf: space, trails paths), and water. Wildcat Creek Golf Park's amenities share the 'inherent' or 'historical' aspects of golf and are thus integrated into the park. Because I feel that golf courses need not only cater to golfers, I wanted to study the possibilities of the union between golf and these other activities. While I realize that this union will probably never become a staple in the golf course design field, I wish to show that the union between golf and other activities should not be ignored, that it is possible to create a safe and exciting atmosphere for all of the activities involved.A secondary objective I had for this project was to become as informed as possible about the design, construction, and philosophy of golf courses which aided me not only during this comprehensive project but also after graduation.There are at least two things which I have used to help in the completion of this comprehensive project. First, having been a golfer for the last ten years, I feel that I had a basic understanding of the game of golf and what constituted successful golf course design. I played golf in Puerto Rico and Maine and many places in between and feel that I have a fairly broad knowledge of golf in the Midwest and eastern coastal regions of the country. Secondly, my experience in general landscape design obtained through my education for the last five years at Ball State, and many independent design projects I was involved with aided my design of this comprehensive project design.