We were going to pull off a destroyed Dyke Wall concept for this hole, meandering it through the fairway; plausible given the rail line that runs parallel to the hole. The more we think about it, seize opportunities (that’s how the Dyke Wall concept started), and try to solve challenges, the evolution continues. Now we are looking at putting a “Dune” to the right of the green to reduce noise from the highway (to be moved in the near future) and utilize inferior fill left behind from the previous builder. With this idea, the “Dike Concept” is no longer believable, but a river dunes concept is. One benefit; the new version of Hole 6 allows us to introduce a bit of rolling character to a few of the other low lying holes along the river.
Having built another project along a protected area hard by river dunes I’ve made a close study of them. Our new concept is 100% believable... we just have to do it right, embrace randomness, maximize the drama and be sure to create dunes with a variety of heights, rawness (now is not the time for smooth, dome-shaped piles) and character.
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.
