Just when you thought you've seen everything, something comes along that makes you realize just how naive you are.
Since the golf industry slipped into a decline of waning participation, fewer players and even fewer golf courses nearly 20 years ago, operators have been searching for ways to cut expenses. A French company believes it has a handle on wrangling some of those high costs associated with maintaining a golf course - just stop mowing the grass, or watering it.
At least some of it, anyway.
Academie 57, a golf academy in the east of France, is constructing a golf course with synthetic turf on greens and tees and around bunkers.
Academie 57 is a golf learning center in the city of Metz about 40 miles from the German border. Its facilities include a host of instructional golf opportunities for children and adults, including classes and clinics and classroom education - and apparently teaching newcomers to play the game on a surface they probably never will encounter again lest it include a windmill.
The project, a nine-hole short course comprising par-3 and par-4 holes, is being led by Diamond Golf Architects of Belgium and Southwest Greens Construction, located in The Netherlands. Greenshaping, a French partner of Southwest Greens, also is involved in the project.
The project will have natural grass in all other areas. Officials did not say how much they expect to save on maintenance and water use over the lifetime of the course. Academie 57 officials have said they are confident the synthetic surface will stand the test of time. That opinion is based on their testing the product . . . for two years. Fortunately, it comes complete with a user guide and five-year warranty.
According to the American Society of Golf Course Architects, a golf course putting green constructed with natural grass should last 15 to 30 years - but does not include a user guide.