Some guys we hired worked for the old contractor and learned some bad habits. Breaking the guys of them requires more than just talk. Talk is cheap, money catches everyone’s attention.
While sitting on a hill watching the dumpers unload their 30 cubic meters of sand for fairway 6, the instructions were for them to stay on the construction road. The only reason the road was built was for them and their heavy loads. The dozer operator, not wanting to make such long pushes had the dump truck drivers commit Crime Nr. 1; Driving onto the fairway with 40 plus tons of load and truck. Having warned him before (talk is cheap) and upon seeing this faux pas for a second time, I set into action. I told the dozer operator that every time I see a dumper leave the road to deposit its load, it would cost him 5% of his paycheck. I told him it was no joke, that he gets a bonus for keeping the equipment in good running order, and I consider the golf course 'equipment' too. There was some protest; that he couldn’t keep track of all trucks. Horse-hockey I said, as you are right there watching them. Then I made sure he understood there is a big difference between his current employer and his former employer: 1. We are not in the construction business to make a profit but to protect the project, and use best methods… so, we are not going to use the destructive methods of the previous builder… 2. It is YOUR responsibility to ensure the trucks dump from the road. If you don’t think so, just watch how fast 5% of your paycheck dissolves into thin air. Then I closed by saying with a smile, there’s a new Sheriff in town. We all had a laugh, and then got back to work
Tony Ristola
agolfarchitect.com
+1 (909) 581 0080
Tony Ristola
- www.tonyristola.com
- A rarity in golf course architecture: Working with the builders, crafting the details of my designs in the field on a daily basis.
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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.
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.
