Sector reference · Updated 7 August 2026
Drone surveys for golf courses
Survey-grade drone data for golf clubs across England's Golf Coast — contour mapping, drainage analysis, bunker volumes, architect support and hole-by-hole marketing imagery.
Short answer
Image Surveys Limited (CAA Operator ID GBR-OP-K3GKP2JCP5DJ) works with golf clubs, course architects, greenkeeping teams, drainage contractors and agronomists across Lancashire, Merseyside, Cheshire and North Wales. We cover links and inland courses, championship venues and members' clubs.
Typical outputs include contour plans as the basis for drainage schemes or redesigns, photogrammetric as-built plans of bunkers and features, coastal dune erosion monitoring, LiDAR terrain data for surface water flow modelling, and high-resolution hole-by-hole marketing imagery for websites and tee-time platforms. Most full-course surveys are completed in a morning.
Who we work with
- Golf clubs and course managers
- Course architects and designers
- Greenkeeping teams
- Drainage contractors
- Agronomists
- Land agents and rural surveyors
- Planning consultants for course development
- Links and coastal clubs
Problems we solve
- Surface water flow and drainage catchment modelling
- Contour mapping as the basis for redesign or drainage schemes
- Bunker and feature as-built areas and volumes
- Coastal and links dune erosion monitoring
- Before-and-after capture for committee presentations and stakeholder reporting
- Clubhouse and building roof inspections without scaffolding
- Planning application imagery for course development projects
- Hole-by-hole marketing imagery for websites and tee-time platforms
Frequently asked questions
How long does a full course survey take?
Most full 18-hole course surveys are completed in a single morning, including pre-flight checks, the flight programme and data verification. We aim to minimise disruption to play and can programme the survey for early morning or an agreed low-traffic period.
Can drone data support a drainage redesign?
Yes. LiDAR terrain data reveals surface water flow paths, catchment boundaries and low points across the course at a level of detail impossible to achieve with ground survey alone. The resulting drainage model gives contractors and drainage engineers an accurate basis for specifying new drainage infrastructure.
What marketing imagery formats do you deliver?
High-resolution JPEG and TIFF stills optimised for web and print, plus 4K video for YouTube, social media and course guide use. We can produce hole-by-hole sets with consistent framing, colour grading and naming conventions ready for your web team to upload directly.
Can you monitor coastal erosion on links courses?
Yes. Repeat survey at regular intervals allows precise measurement of dune movement, tee and fairway erosion and shoreline change. We establish ground control to ensure surveys at different dates are directly comparable — essential for a defensible erosion management case with statutory bodies.
Related pages
Sectors & coverage
Survey your course
Tell us the club name, what you need and when. We'll programme the survey to minimise disruption and provide a fixed written price.