I am always on the lookout for unique tools, practices or products that make golf courses stand out. Many of these innovations come from the creative minds of golf course superintendents and their teams. But on a recent visit to Herons Glen Golf and Country Club in Fort Myers, Florida, I came across a particularly clever idea from the green committee chairman.

In the Southeast, most golf courses I visit feature wetlands, ponds, lakes or streams. Red or yellow stakes are often placed along the margin of these “penalty areas” to ensure visibility. These stakes come in various materials and generally range from 12 to 24 inches tall. I’ve noticed some courses increasing their height to as much as 5 feet to improve visibility so golfers can see where the trouble starts or ends.

Recently, I encountered a very effective way to mark penalty areas while helping golfers gauge distances more effectively – the prism stake! By affixing a reflective prism to the top of a red or yellow marking stake, golfers can use their laser range finders to easily measure distances to or over the penalty area with pinpoint accuracy. This simple yet effective modification to the traditional marking stake enhances playability and speeds up rounds by eliminating guesswork.

Herons Glen green committee chairman, Bruce Johnson, proposed the idea to Tim Kortanek, director of golf and grounds, and the maintenance team swiftly put it into action. The results? A more efficient and enjoyable round of golf for players of all skill levels, plus a creative way to repurpose reflective prisms from old flagsticks.

Southeast Region Agronomists:

Jordan Booth, Ph.D., senior director, USGA Course Consulting Service – jbooth@usga.org

Chris Hartwiger, director, Agronomy – chartwiger@usga.org

Chris Neff, agronomist – cneff@usga.org

Mitch Leininger, agronomist - mleininger@usga.org

Information on the USGA’s Course Consulting Service

Contact the Green Section Staff