Issue 34 | Summer 2017 BY DESIGN Excellence in Golf Design from the American Society of Golf Course Architects golf Nature’s gift to golf

1 | By DesignAlso: Alice Dye, ASGCA Fellow • Manor • John Sanford, ASGCA 1 ADARE MANOR

A world of firsts at Adare Manor The golf course at Adare Manor in , , will reopen in 2017. Stacie Zinn Roberts and Sabrina J. Russo find out more about the project, and discover how Profile Products has contributed to its success.

n Limerick, Ireland, there is a golf drainage systems and greens “From day one, Mr. McManus said course rejuvenation underway, constructed with a rootzone blend he would play the Pro-Am here,” I the likes of which the Emerald of sand and Profile Porous Ceramics says Marzolf. “The course is set up Isle has not seen before. Tom Fazio, were strategically designed to keep for hosting large gallery events so ASGCA, and ASGCA Past President greens fast, firm and dry in even the part of our design was to lay out Tom Marzolf, ASGCA, of Fazio Golf wettest Irish weather. Iconic Adare locations for skyboxes, grandstands, Course Designers, Inc., renovated Manor is poised to become the most and seating.” the course at historic Adare Manor technologically-advanced golf course Large-scale tournaments require Hotel & Golf Course—originally facility in Ireland. a great deal of infrastructure to designed by ASGCA Past President When J.P. McManus, known for support their operation, but Fazio Robert Trent Jones, Sr.—with the goal world-class golf projects such as and Marzolf were meticulous in of hosting world-class golf events. in , purchased their planning to ensure that Adare’s Rumors of a bid for the Adare Manor from its previous owner, layout could accommodate seating, landmark property are backed up by Tom Kane, in 2015, he already had corporate pavilions, and access infrastructure and design methods that ensure the highest level of playability when the course opens later this year. The largest project built in Europe The construction methods included hydraulically applied mulch on this year, Adare Manor’s renovation is one of fairways that held contours in place and protected fragile grass the most extensive in the history of Irish golf seed during the harsh Irish winter. Infrastructure was built into the big plans for the future of the course. roads for semi trucks. While cutting- course with the intention to make McManus’s goals demanded the edge fiber optic and underground televised golf matches an integrated creation of a course that could host electrical wiring certainly establish part of the layout, as opposed to the JP McManus Pro-Am and other a seamless and elegant solution to an afterthought. Buried television- major events and, potentially, the hosting large, televised events, a cables and wide roadways rather Ryder Cup itself. Adare Manor was tournament is only as good as the than cart paths were designed already the number one parkland course where it is played. to accommodate trucks moving golf course in Ireland, when the Fazio Fazio’s design for Adare Manor grandstands and TV towers. Massive team was brought in to redefine it. retains the original routing of the RTJ

22 | By Design Photos: Adare Manor Adare Photos:

course, but virtually nothing else of the former design remains. Every inch of soil was turned over and recontoured, redesigned, reimagined. But it took more than just creativity to make the beauty of the course functional. Innovative products and unprecedented construction methods were key. According to Marzolf, when Mr. McManus purchased Adare Manor he knew he wanted to create something remarkable. A resident of himself, he dreamed of bringing well-paying jobs and an exciting new way of life to the place he’d come to love. To elevate the rainfall of 55 inches, the weather The entire course was seeded with already-renowned Adare Manor, whose in Limerick was an unavoidable cool-season grass varieties. Tees and castle-like was built in factor in the construction of the golf fairways were seeded with perennial 1832, McManus knew that he had to course. In the near-constant mist ryegrass. Greens are Pure Distinction overcome the obstacles created by the and rain of Ireland, a well-draining bentgrass. The course is designed with volatility of playing a game outdoors course is a unique design challenge. no rough, with Augusta-style fairways in Ireland’s changeable weather. In order to create optimal playing ‘shaved down’ to the edges. According to Marzolf, McManus conditions, the entire course was To hold the grass seed in place, “wanted to have no rough, low cut turf, sand-capped and graded to drain the seed was applied through a no fescue, no tall grass. Mr. McManus quickly so that it would stay fast and hydroseeder using Flexterra® High had some goals for the presentation firm, no matter the weather. The new Performance-Flexible Growth of the property that were fast and firm design incorporates 77,000 meters of Medium™ from Profile Products to and a well-drained golf course.” drainage spread over just 150 acres of promote germination on fairway The largest project built in Europe land—that’s one drain every 15 feet. and semi rough areas. Over 120 tons this year, Adare Manor’s renovation “This is the most drainage Fazio Golf of Hydromulch 2000 wood fiber is one of the most extensive in the Course Designers has ever put into a hydraulic mulch, also from Profile history of Irish golf. With an annual course,” Marzolf says. Products, were used to keep the seed

23 ADARE MANOR Photo: Adare Manor Adare Photo:

Hydromulch from Profile Products helped the Fazio team get to a playable golf course faster, by holding the seed in place until it was ready to germinate in place and stabilize slopes in the course is set to open this summer, it’s increase drainage and playability. This outer rough areas. actually been playable since this past was another design first, established “We knew that we’d be seeding spring, aided by the hydromulch that to promote drier conditions in swales through the fall and winter time, held the seed and soil in place. and landing areas. so the decision was made to use a “It’s been a great product,” he In order to oversee the project’s hydromulch to protect the seed,” says continues. “We never had any erosion progress, Marzolf moved to Ireland Marzolf. “We might be doing some anywhere on the site, which is kind from his home in Greenville, South seeding during the dormant part of of hard to believe. I never thought Carolina. He spent about 250 nights the year, and we thought the Profile I’d be saying that in my life! The on site during construction in 2016 product might hold the seed in place hydromulch is great. It holds the and returned for 10-day periods on top of the sand cap, reduce the grade. No washouts, no repairs. On throughout the winter. He says the erosion and allow us to have a better- 135 acres of applied area, we might developer kindly provided a home finished grade.” have had 10,000 square feet of minor, and vehicle for his use during the The Flexterra was mixed in a minor touch ups.” project, which was a tremendous help tank and sprayed across 135 acres, On greens, Fazio’s design includes to him, working so far from home. coating and nourishing the seed 570 tons of Profile Porous Ceramic After 34 years with Fazio Golf through germination. Flexterra soil amendment blended into the Course Designers, Marzolf says is comprised of a wood pulp that sand root zone mix at an 85:15 he’s surprised to have experienced adheres to the surface it lands blend (sand to PPC) “to provide a so many firsts at this, his 84th golf on, and appears green in color to permanent improvement to the root course project. Slated to open in indicate where it has been applied. zone, improving infiltration rates, autumn, Adare Manor isn’t so much The process worked. water and air porosity percentages, a renovation as it is a rebuild, the “We never lost grade anywhere, it and water and nutrient retention,” culmination of McManus’s vision and was an amazing thing to see. It saved explains Gavin Kelly, who is based in Fazio’s renowned ability to innovate. us a lot of time and helped us get to a Ireland and consulted on the Adare Of his experience helping to bring playable golf course faster by holding Manor project for Profile Products. the golf course at Adare Manor the seed in place until it was ready to The greens mix was extended 120 to life, Marzolf says: “It’s been a lot germinate in the conditions here in feet beyond the greens in all directions of fun and a lot of hard work. It’s Ireland,” Marzolf notes. Although the in an 8-inch sand cap, Marzolf says, to been amazing.”• 24 | By Design