How Long Stuff Lasts on a Golf Course

[saevel25]

How long stuff lasts on a golf course, according to a superintendent

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There’s much talk in golf about the length of courses, but not much about their longevity. How long do...

 

[iacas]

Good stuff.

• Greens: 12-50+ years
• Tee boxes: 12-20 years
• Fairways: 10-15 years
• Bunkers: 10-20 years
• Bunker sand: 5-12 years
• Cart paths: 7-20 years
• Irrigation systems: 8-50+ years
• Tee markers, ball washers, penalty area stakes: 3-5 years
• Flagsticks: 1-2 years
• Cups: 5-10 years

Any surprises?

It's like how every cell in your body replaces itself every 7 years (or whatever it is): everything on your golf course may be totally new every 25 years or so.

[Sandy Divot]

Our course was built in 1954, and we are still using the original greens. They are considering converting to Bermuda, but there is no timetable.

[WillieT]

The course that has become my “home” course just recently went through some great updates - reworking of the fairways, greens, removing tons of undergrowth and a bunch of trees.  The course, as the old timers say, is in the best shape it’s ever been.  It’s not long, just under 6500 from the tips as it was built in the late 60’s.  These updates will have this course being fun to play for many years to come.  These same owners are now in the process of restoring another local course using much the same techniques.   All that to say the longevity numbers noted in the article don’t really surprise me.