LAS VEGAS, NV – There is no doubt that Rancho Manana Golf Club in Cave Creek, AZ, is one of the most popular courses in the Phoenix, AZ, region. Since opening in the late 1980s, the course has become known as one of the most scenic in all of the southwestern USA.
The bunkers, however, had become a major problem. Poor drainage had led to inconsistent lies throughout the golf course.
“Our bunkers had never been redone since we opened in late eighties,” said General Manager Dale Samar. “The sand had gotten pretty hard, and rocks were coming up from bottom and sides as they caved in from drainage problems. Lucky enough, the owners decided to let us have them redone.”
Just as important as the decision to refurbish the bunkers was the decision on which company to do it. And Rancho Manana chose BunkersPlus™, a division of Pro-Turf International, Inc. in Casa Grande, Arizona.
“We took bids from three different companies, and we were very happy with our choice,” said Samar. “I was familiar with work they had done at other courses, and they priced the job reasonably.”
BunkersPlus™ utilizes Linebacker™ bunker liner, and Samar sang the praises of that material.
“Their Linebacker™ was new and different than liners I had seen,” he said. “It wasn’t like fabric…more like a material that formed with the bunkers. They covered most of sides and left the bottoms of the bunkers open so we could install new drainage. The newly installed liner will help keep rocks from collapsing in from sides of the bunkers.”
There was one major challenge relating to the time of the year when the work was done – right in the heart of the golf season at Rancho Manana. But BunkersPlus™ overcame that.
“They actually did the project during our peak season, and they were able to work around golfers,” said Samar. “We never had any complaints about the ongoing construction. They did a very nice job of working around the golfers.”
BunkerPlus™ officials were thrilled to secure the job at Rancho Manana.
Kip Wolfe, Director of Operations for Pro-Turf International said “We have been in the golf construction and renovation business for over 20 years. We have used all the different bunker liners available from glue to fabric. We decided to formulate our own liner that would provide the golf course bunkers solid protection from dust, rocks and soil erosion at a price that is affordable. We are proud of our accomplishments that we were able to give to Rancho Manana and to fulfill the high expectations of General Manager Dale Samar.”
The regular players are just as thrilled with BunkersPlus™ effort.
“We are definitely happy with the work,” said Samar. “Our golfers have commented on a daily basis on how much better the bunkers are now.”
About BunkerPlus™
BunkersPlus™ is a wholly owned subsidiary of Pro-Turf International, Inc., a Nevada corporation specializing in the golf industry for over 20 years. The company offers construction, renovation and maintenance programs, and is a member of the Golf Course Builders Association of America.
For more information, visit www.bunkersplus.com.
Contact:
Mike Jamison
407-328-0500, ext. 1
mike@jamisongolf.com
