Sand Valley Golf; Design and Construction Blog: Hunting for Nature and finding it near an Oil Refinery

Short Project History; The Good and Bad

This blog reveals a snippet of the daily challenge of building a special golf course. The only value in something like this for future investors and golf architecture aficionados is to tell the truth; warts and all.

Before arriving at Sand Valley the project was being constructed according to the "detailed plans" of another golf architect using a "golf course construction company" that had built a number of courses. They broke ground in June 2006. After 10-months the builder had proceeded to rape 14-holes and was fired.

I have been brought in to fix the problem, using locals to build the course. In the process all plans except the general routing scheme have been abandoned. The current course is being designed in the field, seizing every opportunity to improve the course as we go. That's the value of time. You can see the project from all angles, in all conditions, you have time to think about the problems and come up with the best solutions, and then refine them with the guys doing the building... in real-time. This is how many of the great courses were constructed. It only makes sense. More time, more input, more communication produces the best possible result.

That's why Sand Valley, though it had a rough start (using the "Typical Method") should have a fantastic finish.

Sunday, May 13, 2007

Hunting for Nature and finding it near an Oil Refinery

I’m always on the lookout for inspiration, and visual aids to help get my views across. Sometimes they’re photos, sometimes sketches, sometimes scratches in the dirt or sand box sculptures. On the way to the Danzig airport I saw a beautiful stretch of constructed wetlands near the highway leading into the city. It reflects a portion of the general scheme we are aiming to accomplish with our constructed wetlands.

This bit of constructed wetlands is in front of the modern Lotos Oil Refinery on the outskirts of Danzig. Not exactly where you’d expect to find inspiration, but if you’re looking, you can find it in the oddest places. You’ll pass this fine work if you take the A7 highway into the city.

Tony Ristola
agolfarchitect.com
+1 (909) 581 0080

Tony Ristola

Associated Blogs

Blog Archive

Short Project History; The Good and Bad

Sunday, May 13, 2007

Hunting for Nature and finding it near an Oil Refinery