LAS VEGAS, NV – After a typical bunker renovation project is completed, players will find a golf course that is more playable and enjoyable. Golf course superintendents will find a golf course that is easier to maintain. And golf course owners will see a bottom line that reflects more revenue and fewer expenses.
It’s that type win-win-win situation that is now taking place at Red Rock Country Club in Las Vegas. Pro Turf International, which maintains the three courses at Red Rock, recently completed a bunker renovation project that involved 18 fairway bunkers on the private Mountain Course.
“The purpose of this renovation project was two-fold,” said George Folopoulos, PTI Head Golf Course Superintendent. “First was to fix bunkers that had contaminated sand and poor playing conditions. But also, we reshaped some of the larger bunkers to help minimize the work load/maintenance of them.”
In each renovated bunker the old sand and liners were completely removed, drainage was either repaired or replaced, and faces and slopes were softened up and reshaped before new sand was installed with a 4” depth on the floor and 3” on the side slopes.
Sticking with company philosophy, the PTI crew recycled a lot of the material pulled from the bunkers to enhance other areas of the course. For instance, material was used to fill in three sand bunkers that were converted to grass. And sections of five other bunkers were filled in and sodded, reducing their size, thus trimming maintenance costs in the long run.
“I think the project went great,” said Folopoulos, whose crew used 900 tons of sand. “One of our challenges was hauling the sand from one bunker to the next. Most of the material that we removed from the bunkers was used in other areas as fill, so we were challenged with transporting it all from one hole to the next. But we managed, and it turned out to be a successful project.”
Members at Red Rock Country Club agree.
“Our bunkers went from damn near unplayable with the clay bottoms riddled with rocks, exposed liners and drainage to pristine playable fairway bunkers that look nice and play like bunkers should,” said Jed Feller. “The greenside bunkers have plenty more sand now. I no longer fear the skulled concrete shot. Thanks to PTI for all the great work improving our course for the better.”
And former club president Marc Bingham added, “The conditions have gone from poor/fair to excellent. Our bunkers now reward a player for a well executed shot instead of inhibiting the swing with debris and hidden liners.”
Since PTI is under contract to manage all aspects of golf course maintenance at Red Rock, this project was far less expensive for the club than it would have been if maintenance were handled in house.
“This is just a another in a long list of benefits for clubs like Red Rock that contract out their maintenance to PTI,” said Mickey Brown, CEO of Pro Turf International. “It is not only more cost effective, but it also leads to a better result, as the crew working on the project is actually part of the team that nurtures the course on a daily basis. We are very familiar with the issues being fixed because we deal with them day to day.”
ABOUT PRO TURF INTERNATIONAL
Pro Turf International is a family owned construction, landscape and golf maintenance company with over 30 years of hands-on experience in the Southwest. They proudly serve the golf, sports and landscape industry to enhance quality and improve conditions in a safe, environmentally friendly manner. For more information call (702) 315-5121, or visit www.ptigolf.com.
ABOUT RED ROCK COUNTRY CLUB
Members of Red Rock Country Club have access to three golf courses, all maintained by Pro Turf International. Arnold Palmer’s two signature courses, the private Mountain Course and the public Arroyo Course, offer a prism of challenge, beauty, and escape. The Siena Course, designed by Brian Curley and Lee Schmidt, is a very playable layout that provides a peaceful setting surrounded by the towering Spring Mountains. The 44,000-square-foot clubhouse is the center stage for a full social calendar and special member events. Visit www.redrockcountryclub.com.
Contact:
Mike Jamison (407-474-0531)
mike@jamisongolf.com
