Should a regulation length, 18 hole golf course be the objective of every golf course developer?

No. There are many circumstances that warrant a shorter course. This is usually market driven. A course developed as part of a retirement village, for instance should probably be shorter than regulation, perhaps even an executive length. An executive length course is an interesting design problem, because it offers even more flexibility in hole lengths and composition than a regulation length course. The par of an 18 hole executive length course can be from 58 to 68 and from 3,000 to 5,500 yards long. ... more