Pro Turf International Efforts Help Camelback GC’s Ambiente Course Reopen After Flooding
When company officials at Pro Turf International received the call from Camelback Golf Club in mid-October they quickly realized this wasn’t your everyday request for a project.
The normally bustling 36-hole semi-private golf club in Scottsdale was in dire straits. The Padre Course was closed for overseeding and the other, Ambiente, was suddenly rendered unplayable due to flooding from a massive rainstorm. The courses are built in a “floodway,” so heavy rains in the area occasionally cause flooding issues.
“The urgency of the situation was obvious,” said Doug Long, PTI Vice President of Construction. “Over four inches of rain had created a real issue for Camelback and they needed help right away. We reorganized our crews so we could be there the next day.”
The folks at Camelback were ecstatic that PTI Golf reacted so quickly.
“I know PTI always had lot of projects going on, so the fact that they pretty much put everything aside and came to help us was appreciated,” said Bill Newton, Head Superintendent at Ambiente. “That was a huge move on their part.”
An eight-man crew headed by Long and PTI Principal Kip Wolfe swiftly moved into action on the Jason Straka-designed Ambiente, joining with Newton’s staff to focus on the 60,000 square feet of bunkers, most of which were under mud and water. Nearly 400 tons of sand was brought in for the job.
Some of the bunkers needed to be rebuilt, so half the crew worked on that, excavating the mud that had settled in the bottom of the bunkers. The remainder of the team began skimming off the silt from the less-affected bunkers.
Adding to the dynamics of the job was the fact that near the end, the course was re-opened for tournament play that had been pre-scheduled. So the crews had to work around golfers firing shots into the beautiful greens of Ambiente.
Despite the obstacles, the job was completed on time and under budget, much to the delight of the Camelback staff and their members.
“Kip’s experience really helped out in dealing with the stress and urgency of the situation,” said Newton. “He was terrific in dealing with issues that arose. Overall, PTI was excellent to work with – both the managers and the crew members.”
ABOUT PRO TURF INTERNATIONAL
With offices in Las Vegas, NV, Phoenix AZ and La Quinta, CA, Pro Turf International, Inc. is an innovative golf course maintenance, construction and renovation company that offers solutions to protect and improve the appearance, functionality, playability and value of our clients’ golf courses. From complete turnkey daily golf course maintenance programs to bunker refurbishing to full-scale construction and renovation projects, Pro Turf International has the expertise to deliver on time and under budget. PTI has been improving golf courses, resort landscaping, park districts and sports facilities for over 25 years, with a team of industry professionals with over 75 years of collective industry experience to handle the most complex maintenance, construction and renovation projects – whatever the project scope. For more information, visit www.ptigolf.com, or call (702) 315-5121.
ABOUT CAMERBACK GOLF CLUB
The Camelback Golf Club is one of Arizona’s original gems featuring 36 holes of championship golf and located three miles from the JW Marriott Scottsdale Camelback Inn Resort & Spa . Two scenic courses, Ambiente and Padre, boast native grasses, lakes, lofty trees and mountain views. The terrain, with its elevation changes, bunkers and water holes, challenges golfers of all skill levels. The Ambiente is a Hurdzan Fry Environmental Golf design by Jason Straka. It challenges players with several striking features: eye-catching elevation changes and rolling fairways with significant drops. The Padre, designed by world-renowned golf course architect Arthur Hills, features towering trees, subtle landforms and impressive bunkering to sharpen your game.
Contact:
Mike Jamison (407-474-0531)
mike@jamisongolf.com
