Architectural designers consider many factors when creating beautiful golf clubhouses, from providing a respite to cool off after a game to crafting a state-of-the-art restaurant for dinner and drinks. Let’s take a look at some of the design elements that are put to work to create the best golf clubhouse designs—and what you should look for when designing your next clubhouse.
3 Best Architectural Features for Golf Clubhouses
1. Lookouts
Your golf clubhouse will sit amidst beautiful greens and lush landscaping. Take advantage of the views by incorporating lookouts for your golf clubhouse. Lookouts can be incorporated into golf clubhouse design in several ways, including:
- Floor-to-ceiling windows in the main dining room
- Outdoor viewing or seating on a high balcony
- Dedicated outdoor event space on the roof
2. Flexible Spaces
Don’t limit your floor plan with designated rooms for specific activities, such as one room for dining and another for events. Make your golf clubhouse multipurpose by building in easy customization options from the beginning. Clever customizations that increase flexibility include:
- Retractable awnings to ensure outdoor space can be utilized no matter the weather
- Removable glass doors to allow the beauty of nature to enhance indoor events
- Having the bar between family-friendly and members-only dining to ensure great service to both sets of customers
- Creating multipurpose rooms for seasonal activities, from kids’ camp to wedding prep
3. Subtle Storage
Don’t settle for unsightly garages for golf carts or event supplies. A great architectural designer will incorporate functionality into your golf clubhouse’s design. Whether creating a hidden yet accessible area for storage or making sure your pro shop doesn’t stick out like a sore thumb, the space needed for your employees should get the same design treatment as the space created for your members.
Factors to Consider for Golf Clubhouse Design
The architecture firm you hire to design your next golf clubhouse should take several factors into consideration, including size, function, location, clientele, design, and style.
Size & Function
Expect to receive a questionnaire for your designer about the size and scope of your project. However, to ensure the best design for your golf clubhouse, your designer should take a tour of your current clubhouse or the land being set aside for development. Some things simply don’t translate on paper or in emails, such as the spot with the best view or the flow of customer traffic in the current dining space. The main functions of your clubhouse and the size of your project will determine what your architecture firm prioritizes to create a masterful design.
Location & Clientele
Who is the target clientele for your clubhouse? What opportunities does your clubhouse’s location provide? What types of customers will your new design attract? What is open to the public, and what is members-only?
Your designer should understand who the clubhouse will serve to create a design that’s tailored to your specific needs. Whether you’re a small clubhouse serving diehard members or a multipurpose event venue open to the public, your designer needs to see your vision for your space in order to create a design that not only matches it, but surpasses it.
Design & Style
Your designer should take into consideration your design preferences as well as any design realities that need to be faced if renovating an existing structure. Design and style should reflect the factors previously listed: the size of your project, the desired function of the space, the opportunities and challenges of your location, and your existing clientele as well as target audiences for expansion.
What style do you want your clubhouse to convey? Is it a VIP, luxury experience for members, or a laidback, family-friendly environment for a casual round of golf? Does your golf course elevate the relatively flat, rural surroundings, or is it a treasure carved out of the surrounding forest? Whatever your desired style, an experienced golf clubhouse designer should be able to incorporate elements that celebrate nature, your members, and the game itself.
What to Look for in a Clubhouse Designer
Choose a golf clubhouse designer who will work with you to discover what you want. Especially when starting from a completely undeveloped property, property owners and developers can quickly become overwhelmed by planning decisions. Working with a designer who knows the right questions to ask, understands your needs, and aligns with your style will set you up for success.
42º North has experience making clubhouse visions more concrete with beautiful 3D renderings. If you’re looking at renovating your current space with a complete structural overhaul, our team can help with that, too! We’ll assess your existing space to determine what you like and dislike. We’ll also learn about what you’d like to see happen with the space so we can provide a transformative design.
Be sure to consider the reputation of your designer before hiring as well. Experienced architectural designers will have plenty of reviews from satisfied past customers. Our design team has won a number of awards and received many testimonials singing our praises.
When you can work closely with your designer, you’ll avoid costly design mistakes down the road. You’ll be able to budget effectively, and the end result will be what you imagined it would be—or better!
