Issue 23 | Summer 2015 BY DESIGN Excellence in Golf Design from the American Society of Golf Course Architects incredibleThe story of Chambers Bay Also: Returns on renovation • An unconventional course • Succeeding with soil • Affordable golf Elite courses like Pebble Beach Golf Links have discovered the power of IC Systems. See what IC can do for you at www.rainbird.com/ICsystem. Taking an easier path to world-class conditions. That’s intelligent. Rain Bird® IC Systems™—pinpoint control and diagnostics for every single rotor. With a control module built into each rotor, IC Systems from Rain Bird give you an innovative solution for field control—one that eliminates the challenges of satellites and decoders. Now you can manage your system rotor by rotor and track advanced diagnostics down to every individual head. Because achieving elite playing conditions isn’t about working harder—it’s about working smarter. Rain Bird is the official irrigation supplier of Pebble Beach Resorts®. Integrated Pebble Beach®, Pebble Beach Golf Links®, Pebble Beach Resorts®, The Lone Cypress™, The Heritage logo and their underlying Control Module distinctive images are trademarks, serivce marks and trade dress of Pebble Beach Company. Used by permission. R461-038681 IC System Print Ad Pubs: Golf Course Industry, Golf Course Management, By Design Size A: Bleed: 8.75" x 11.25" Trim: 7.875" x 10.5" Live: 7" x 10" 4/C Swanson Russell B 100 100 60 100 100 70 70 30 30 100 100 60 100 100 70 70 30 30 100 100 60 100 100 70 70 30 30 100 40 100 40 40 100 10 40 40 20 70 70 70 70 40 70 40 40 0 0 0 0 3.1 2.2 2.2 10.2 7.4 7.4 25 19 19 50 40 40 75 66 66 100 100 100 80 70 70 100 FOREWORD A very public success CONTENTS ne of the great joys of being a golf course architect is the opportunity to turn land that is offering little to the community Digest 5 into something that is living, breathing and having a positive A round-up of some of the latest O news from the golf industry, including impact on people’s lives. In this issue of By Design, award-winning golf writer Brad Klein tells us development news from Cuba, a the story of the Chambers Bay, and how Robert Trent Jones, Jr. and Bruce number of new renovation projects Charlton, ASGCA Past Presidents, and their design team have transformed and honours for Jack Nicklaus, an abandoned sand and gravel quarry into a public golf course that is fit ASGCA Fellow, and Doug Carrick, ASGCA Past President. and ready to host a major championship. When the competitors for the 2015 U.S. Open tee off on June 18, I for one will be fascinated to see how they cope with a golf course that Chambers Bay 8 demands strategic thought and imaginative execution of golf shots. Brad Klein shares the incredible story But whoever wins the championship, perhaps the greatest success of of Chambers Bay’s transformation Chambers Bay is what it offers to the people of Pierce County in Washington. from a sand and gravel quarry to a U.S. Open venue. A beautiful coastal setting where the public can experience wonderful golf, or simply take a walk through the trails—and enjoy what nature has to offer. Elsewhere in this issue, we find out about The River Club, an innovative Return on renovations 16 design that should encourage growth in participation, discover the results Do renovation projects pay? We of a study into the financial return on renovation work, and much more. learn from the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Enjoy the read! A flexible facility 20 An insight into an innovative facility designed by Billy Fuller, ASGCA. Succeeding with soil 22 How new applications can help get the most from depleted soil. Affordable golf 24 Steve Smyers Richard Mandell, ASGCA Associate, President on the importance of expert advice. American Society of Golf Course Architects COVER Publisher: Toby Ingleton Editorial contributors: Sean Dudley; Rebecca Gibson; Bradley S. Klein; Rebecca Lambert; Richard Mandell, ASGCA Associate; Steve Smyers, ASGCA President; Marc Whitney Design: Bruce Graham ASGCA Staff: Chad Ritterbusch; Therese Suslick; Mike Shefky; Aileen Smith; Marc Whitney Photography: USGA/John Mummert Subscribe to By Design at www.tudor-rose.co.uk/bydesign © 2015 American Society of Golf Course Architects. All rights reserved. www.asgca.org By Design is sponsored by: The 15th hole at Chambers Bay, Washington Place, Seattle. Photograph courtesy of USGA/John Mummert 03 When your reputation is on display each and every hole, you partner with those who bring the most to the table. Profile Golf™ offers the industry’s most comprehensive line of erosion control, turf establishment and soil amendment products. We provide environmentally friendly and sustainable solutions to ensure your course becomes a long-term success. Through our team of experts and global distribution, we provide: • On-site support anywhere in the world • Root zone testing and analysis, and soil amendment recommendations • Erosion and sediment control, and vegetation establishment solutions Contact us for project support: [email protected] www.profilegolf.com (800) 207-6457 A000-037362-4_GolfSolutions_SzA.indd 1 11/13/14 3:33 PM A000-037362-4 Golf Solutions Print Ad Size A Color: 4/color Pub: By Design (Digital Magazine) Trim - 8.5" W x 10.98" H Bleed - 8.74" W x 11.22" H Live - 8.26" W x 10.74" H ISO 12647-7 Digital Control Strip 2009 3% A 100 60 100 70 30 100 60 100 70 30 100 60 100 70 30 100 40 40 100 40 100 40 70 40 70 40 40 40 70 40 40 70 40 70 40 40 3 10 25 50 75 90 100 B 100 100 60 100 100 70 70 30 30 100 100 60 100 100 70 70 30 30 100 100 60 100 100 70 70 30 30 100 40 100 40 40 100 10 40 40 20 70 70 70 70 40 70 40 40 0 0 0 0 3.1 2.2 2.2 10.2 7.4 7.4 25 19 19 50 40 40 75 66 66 100 100 100 80 70 70 100 DIGEST Renovation Industry leaders gather for Donald Ross Roundtable Major work begins at Harbour Town ASGCA recently gathered industry leaders for the first The Harbour Town course at the Sea Pines the redesign and will oversee the project as Donald Ross Roundtable to Resort in South Carolina has closed for part of the Love Golf Design team. discuss major issues facing renovation work. “Davis, Mark and I plan to build a course the golf industry. Like many The project will see fairways regrassed that players will fall in love with and want to golf discussions, water and with Celebration bermudagrass, while the play over and over again,” said Sherman. “To the environment were the greens will be resprigged with Tif-Eagle. accomplish this, we will rethink and rebuild main topics. A further project at the resort will get everything—even some slight re-routing of “Water is a significant issue underway in October 2015 and will see the the existing layout. We’ll build features and the game is addressing,” redesign of the Ocean Course. create a strategy that will lead players around said ASGCA Past President Architect Scot Sherman, ASGCA is leading the golf course and help them have fun.” Lee Schmidt, who led the discussion. “With the ideas and technologies provided by architects, manufacturers, irrigation designers and others, the golf industry is providing solutions that are benefitting golfers, golf course operators and entire communities.” Schmidt noted that golf courses that are well-designed, built and maintained are increasingly part of the solution to communities grappling with “Our goal is to water issues. build a golf course Roundtable members – that players will fall including representatives in love with,” says from Profile Products, Rain Scot Sherman, Bird and Toro – were ASGCA unified in their belief that architects and other Renovation industry professionals can help clubs manage their budgets wisely, and Eckenrode completes renovation address today’s challenges work at Quail Lodge and opportunities. Nicklaus awarded The back nine holes at Quail Lodge & Golf Congressional Gold Medal Club in Carmel, California have recently Jack Nicklaus, ASGCA reopened for play following renovation Fellow, has been awarded work by the design firm of Todd the Congressional Gold Eckenrode, ASGCA. Medal—the highest civilian The newly designed course features fully honor Congress can renovated tees, bunkers, fairway features, bestow. The recognition is chipping areas and lakes. Many bunkers the most recent and one of have been placed in new strategic locations the highest for the golfing while the introduction of short-cut chipping strategic and varied golf experience for the legend. Nicklaus joins areas around every green is expected to members, and can’t wait to complete the Arnold Palmer, ASGCA enhance the short game by increasing other side,” said Eckenrode. Fellow, as the only other playability and variety of play. “I am excited Work is now well underway on the front golfer, and just one of seven to present a much more interesting, nine holes of the course. athletes, to earn the medal. 05 ™ Chapter 1 INTRODUCING TORO® INFINITY™ SERIES GOLF SPRINKLERS Countless Benefits. Infinite Possibilities. The opportunities are limitless with the new Toro INFINITY Series golf sprinkler. From immediate convenience, compatibility and labor savings to extra capacity for future technologies, INFINITY keeps you ahead of the game for decades to come. It’s simple Turfonomics.