Due to a number of factors, we've decided to try something a little different with our hazard markers for the upcoming golf season. Instead of purchasing new composite stakes to replace broken, damaged, and missing markers, we are building our own markers out of PVC piping. One of the main reasons for this change is the rising cost of our current markers. A new stake made from composite material can run roughly seven dollars per stake! It is inevitable that each season there will be stakes that are ruined by mowers, golfers, and Mother
Nature, not to mention that fact that it seems like some just grow legs and walk away. To maintain a supply on hand as well as ensure that there is an adequate number of markers on the course can become a very
costly venture. Another problem we have with our current system is the fact that markers are moved by both golfers and maintenance crew members and then not returned to their proper location. This can become a bigger problem in the winter when we do not paint the hazards and golfers rely on a stake to stake line of sight to define hazard boundaries.
Due to a number of factors, we've decided to try something a little different with our hazard markers for the upcoming golf season. Instead of purchasing new composite stakes to replace broken, damaged, and missing markers, we are building our own markers out of PVC piping. One of the main reasons for this change is the rising cost of our current markers. A new stake made from composite material can run roughly seven dollars per stake! It is inevitable that each season there will be stakes that are ruined by mowers, golfers, and Mother Nature, not to mention that fact that it seems like some just grow legs and walk away. To maintain a supply on hand as well as ensure that there is an adequate number of markers on the course can become a very costly venture. Another problem we have with our current system is the fact that markers are moved by both golfers and maintenance crew members and then not returned to their proper location. This can become a bigger problem in the winter when we do not paint the hazards and golfers rely on a stake to stake line of sight to define hazard boundaries.
The new markers that we're making will be very similar to the 100 and 150 yard markers in the fairways, except they are made from plastic instead of metal. To make our concrete form, we use the leftover one gallon pots from last year's annual flowers that would otherwise be disposed of. Once we've filled the pot, we place a seven inch long piece of 1 1/4 inch PVC in the concrete and let it dry over night, this will be our sleeve. For the markers themselves, we use 1 inch PVC cut in 30 inch long pieces. We place a cap on top of the pipe and then paint it the appropriate color. The major benefit we see with this new system, besides cost savings, is that the markers can only be put back in one spot and they won't be moved all over. We've began the process of transitioning to the new system in order to have it fully in place by the beginning of the golf season. In the coming months, we would like to hear your comments, both good and bad, as we move forward with this transition. 
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