Greens and Grounds
Golf: Greens and Grounds |
Bunker Refurbishment Report as presented by Greens & Ground Convenor, Ian Oliver
After a long, but necessary process of consultation and comparative quoting, the bunker refurbishment program is underway. The process started with the appointment of a Golf Course designer and architect, Sean Quinn. Sean is a Nicolas Design Associate and also represents Golf Data Design and Construction here in SA. Among others, Sean was responsible for the design work on Serengeti, Simola, Gardener Ross, Stein City, and Houghton. He was also consulted on the refurbishment of Durban CC, Glendower and CCJ.
His experience in SA conditions and knowledge of our golf course made him the ideal candidate for us in this venture. Our original brief to Sean incorporated the potential effect of the proposed “sluit” project on the course strategy together with a 3 to 5 year program of course improvements.
The main issues we faced regarding the bunkers were drainage and aesthetics, with many of the bunkers having unsightly exposed vertical lips and high fronts that have built-up over years due mainly to bunker rake access.
In some cases there are bunkers that serve no real purpose or are out of position due to the improvement in golf equipment technology. In other cases it was apparent that the bunkers could be more aesthetically pleasing if they were connected.
The bunker style recommended and settled on is a compromise of a soft easily maintainable grass roll over to the exit edges and a more gradual 30 degree sand face that will reduce the amount of wash during storms while remaining visible to approach shots. In most cases this will mean re-shaping the base of the bunkers to get rid of the current “bowl” shape and depth, to one which is flatter and inclined towards the greens. The base of the bunkers will be brushed with cement to help delay contamination from the underlying soil and promote better drainage. A major component of the project will be re-shaping the earth around the bunker complexes to help promote better drainage of storm water away from the bunkers.
The timing of the refurbishment was difficult as we ideally needed to start during winter which means the new grass verges will take longer to grow-in and be unsightly until the rain season. We apologize for the inconvenience during the construction period which should take between 10 and 12 weeks.
Work has started on the front nine and a summary of the planned refurbishment follows, although we can anticipate some minor changes due to potential unseen obstacles beneath the surface:
Hole 1
The fairway bunkers on this opening hole were a little short for today’s game. The best angle for the tee shot is down the right side to have the best approach angle in. The fairway opens up past the bunkers, so longer players had a distinct advantage over their shorter counterparts.
The greenside bunkers do a good job strategically.
Proposal
• Fill in the first fairway bunker and widen the fairway.
• Reconstruct the 2nd bunker, filling in the left side to widen the fairway slightly for mid range players.
• Add a small bunker on the right side at 270‐280m to tighten up the long landing area.
• Reconstruct the existing greenside bunkers.
Hole 2
The fairway bunkers on this hole are a little short, but do set up an interesting short par 4 strategy. The 280m landing area is extremely tight, so the safe play is a lay-up with a full club in.
The first bunker left is only at 210m, it highlights the safer lay up area so should stay.
Proposal
• Fill in front half of first fairway bunker on left side.
• Partially fill in front of fairway bunker on right side, lower the entry edge and flash sand higher onto the mound to improve visibility thereof.
• Lower the fronts of greenside bunkers to improve visibility thereof and reshape to conform to the green shape.
The area between the left side bunkers will be lowered and drainage added to help with storm water.
Hole 3
Comments
The trees really define this tee shot, the bunker left is at 240m and the trees do a good job of narrowing the 280m landing area. However, the combination of the tree in the fairway and fairway bunker makes it tough for the average player to negotiate.
The green side bunkers encourage an approach from the left however visibility of all the bunkers is disappointing.
Proposal
• Fill in front section of the fairway bunker to create a larger target area and trim back the blue gum tree short of the bunker and the trees past and to the left of the bunker.
• Connect two front greenside bunkers as one to improve visibility.
• Reconstruct all other bunkers in current locations.
Hole 4
Proposal
• Reconstruct all bunkers in current locations.
Hole 5
Comments
This par 5 has only one fairway bunker short right of the green. The two bunkers short left and two back bunkers right could be connected to create two larger more visible bunkers.
The bunker short right of the green on the side slope requires a bit of reshaping to alter the flow of water around the bunker so as to reduce the sand wash.
Proposal
• Connect the front left green side bunkers.
• Connect the back right two green bunkers.
• Reshape the fairway bunker surrounds short right of green.
Hole 6
The short right bunker serves no real purpose on this hole where we have highway related safety issues.
Proposal
• Fill in short right bunker.
• Reconstruct the greenside bunker short left.
Hole 7
Comments
The fairway bunker on the right is well positioned however aesthetically it’s poor. The fairway mowing lines could be adjusted so as to relate better to the bunker. The mound on the left of the fairway (where the old bunker was
located) will be removed so the fairway can be widened.
The greenside bunker on the right is very effective. The best angle to approach the green is from the left.
Proposal
• Reconstruct the right side fairway bunker with more support.
• Remove the mound left side of the fairway and widen the fairway.
• Add a small bunker on the right 280‐290m landing area.
• Relate the greenside bunker better to the green edge.
Hole 8
Comments
The 2 fairway bunkers are very short at 180m and 215m. They could however be made more visible as they act as carry bunkers indicating the best line for the tee shot.
The greenside bunkering is very strong, again the best angle of approach would be to fly the fairway bunkers and come in from the right.
Proposal
• Connect the two fairway bunkers as one long bunker.
• Flatten the mound behind the bunkers and widen the fairway to the edge of the slope, this will reward a shot that carries the bunker and flirts with the slope and will also provide the best angle to the green.
Hole 9
Comments
This hole has no fairway bunkering, and doesn’t require any. The greenside bunkers need some reshaping to improve aesthetics.
Proposal
• Fill in the far left greenside bunker.
• Connect the 3 left greenside bunkers as one to improve aesthetics.
In the next issue I will give you the proposed overview for the back nine. The grass edges to the bunkers will not be trimmed until the grass has taken growth over the sand. This is to prevent the trimming process from damaging the new edges and creating exposed vertical lips so they will appear a bit messy for a period of time. Please remember that while every effort will be made to compact the new bunker sand through the application of water, it will take a while for the sand to settle so you can expect some difficult lies. Please do your part by ensuring that the bunkers are raked properly after play.
 |  |
Events: September 2010
Newsletter
Weather in Johannesburg
6 September 2010
Fair 17°C
Humidity: 13%
Wind Speed: 11 KMH
Wind Direction: SW (230°)
Barometer: 1027 mb
Dewpoint: -11°C
Heat Index: 17°C
Wind Chill: 16°C
Visibility: 11 km