Sand Valley Golf; Design and Construction Blog: The Buffer Wall

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.

Friday, August 17, 2007

The Buffer Wall

Today was a day of putting little things together. Stripping small areas, driving material to and away, and shaping the Driving Range. The most noticeable result though was pushing up the mass of fill stockpiled on Hole 5; not a small job.

The Buffer Wall, (now it should be called The Hillside on Hole 5) grows in height and volume, and it is now to the point of creating the illusion that it was always there. In the future, when the plantings of bush on the buffer wall mature, the illusion will be complete.

This sandy ridge divides a local farmer's property. The landscaping has been done by Mother Nature. Predominantly a mix of birch, white thorn, black thorn, pine; all native. This "scheme" is a great model for what the "Buffer Wall" could look like; camouflaging its artificiality.

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

Tony Ristola

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Short Project History; The Good and Bad

Friday, August 17, 2007

The Buffer Wall