Sand Valley Golf; Design and Construction Blog: 15 Tees and surrounds

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.

Thursday, May 29, 2008

15 Tees and surrounds

We started working here, ringed the tees, stripped out the topsoil (surprising how much) let it sit a while, and now have gone back in after having some time to think of the what would be best.

Now we've gone in, ripped out some of the soil banks that were filled by some clever farmer years back. With them went some basket willows too. Then bunkers were gouged from natural locations.

This area has received a lot of good reviews before this work... now it looks even better. We aren't finished yet, as we'll go in and expand the area past the tees.

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

Construction photos do no justice. This is from behind the Member's tee on 15.
Below a sketch of the area.

Tony Ristola

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Short Project History; The Good and Bad

Thursday, May 29, 2008

15 Tees and surrounds