PROJECTS

I have been fortunate enough to have experienced extensive golf course construction projects.  Being able to manage construction and renovation projects is a key component of success as a golf course superintendent.  The golf course is an ever changing environment and always requires constant review and adjustment to maintain its integrity. The ability to complete the project on schedule and under budget is what members want to see and ultimately expect.  I have been directly associated with numerous projects, both large and small, with in-house staff and hired contractors that give me confidence in being able to lead the club through any project they wish to complete.

Some of the projects include 3 complete grow-ins, bunker and tee rebuilds, greens expansions and rebuilds, irrigation/ drainage installation, and three complete grow-ins.

Several images are provided below that showcase my construction and restoration experience.

PROJECT DETAILS

hudson national restoration

While at Hudson National Golf Club I worked with Architects Tom Fazio and Tom Marzolf to achieve their vision of the Restoration of the golf course.  I was integral in every aspect of the $8 million project.  This included construction of 19 new USGA Spec Greens, a complete bunker renovation with additional fairway bunkers in landing areas, fairway expansions, extensive drainage and a brand new irrigation system course wide.  The golf course was gassed to a newer variety of Bentgrass 007XL to provide the membership with the confidence in their expectations of having the best golf course.

INNESS GROW-IN

Formerly the Rondout Golf Club, Tad King and Rob Collins were contracted to create the 'Sweetens Cove' of the Northeast.  Some of the former golf course was converted into a new 9 hole golf course with wild undulating and expansive greens that test current architectural thought.  Greens are sand based, with A1/A4 bentgrass.  Fairways/Tees are a combination of creeping ryegrass and low mow bluegrass.  A Toro two-wire irrigation system was installed.  Mother nature dealt us a big challenge during grow in, but we were excited to open our doors in June 2021.

The Creek Restoration

The club underwent a $5.5 million complete golf course restoration under direction of Gil Hanse.  La Bar Golf Restorations did the construction.  The purpose was to bring back features that have been lost over the years or features that had never made it into the golf course, detailed by blueprints from Charles Blair MacDonald.  3 Greens were rebuilt with original mix and then seeded, while the remaining 16 were stripped and then seeded with no contour changes.  Tees were rebuilt with a 6” depth 70-30 mix, laser leveled and seeded with T1 Bentgrass.  Greens were stripped, fumigated and seeded with V8 Bentgrass.  Fairways were aerified and verticut with 2 applications of round-up before seeding with T1 Bentgrass.  Bunkers were all reshaped and drainage installed, utilizing sod as a natural rock liner.  Sand used in bunkers was a 66-33 mix of 2 mil and crushed quartzite, respectively, to provide a firmer surface and still blend in with the natural feel of the property.  Once all construction was done, grow-in phase began.

The Creek Irrigation System / Pump Station

 In March 2016, our old well pump motor got struck by lightning and needed replacement.  We installed a 150 hp motor, new well pump and brand new Watertronics pump station.  Once the restoration got approved by our board, Tanto Irrigation was hired to install a brand new PVC main/ HDPE lateral irrigation system designed by Brian Vinchesi of Irrigation Consulting Inc.  Rainbird and Watertronics, we feel, communicate well together, hence the decision on both companies.  Mainline install began in April 2017 and once the course closed, began lateral pulling and installation of new heads.  The system was complete by mid-September 2017.

The Creek Frost Creek Erosion Stabilization

 Due to incoming tidal rises and falls, and certain storms, we have had some major erosion on the banks of Frost Creek which surrounds our 11th green, 10th Fairway and back of our 12th Tee.  The purpose was to get the bank stabilized and lessen the disturbance of the incoming tide cycles on the current soil erosion.  With a permit provided by the DEC, we placed large boulders at the level of mean high tide.  Then smaller rocks were placed above those larger boulders and covered with an environmentally friendly liner and sand to stabilize the bank.  We then hydro-seeded a native salt tolerant blend of grasses on top of and below a coconut fiber mat which was anchored to the top of the slope.  Also planted some switchgrass along the bottom of the coconut fiber mat.

The Creek Waste Area Expansions

 On our lower holes, there were a decent amount of areas that have become overgrown with vegetation and were poor drainage areas that held water.  Looking at old blueprints we restored them to their original integrity.  First step was to strip off vegetation, then we brought in fill where needed, then capped it with 2mm sand and plugged fescue and bluestem into them and let them grow naturally with very little maintenance.