Sand Valley Golf; Design and Construction Blog: Drainage in the Gorge

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.

Saturday, May 24, 2008

Drainage in the Gorge

Before we get any rain, the drainage drew went in and cut a drain line, inserted perforated pipe and filled it with pea gravel. Now when it rains, the water has an escape route.

Tex was along the edges of The Gorge flopping out material for Chechek to push into Goat's Hill right next door; the two tie into each other.

The idea behind Goat's Hill is to have Kai soon to be collection of 97 goats on the hill adjacent to and overlooking the 1st green. From there they can go into the gorge cutting across 18... through a tunnel, and into the expanse between holes 18, 10 and 17. Just don't hit your ball into The Gorge. You'll be in company with Kai's buddies... 194 steely eyes.

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

Looking from the South. The Gorge before shaping. First the bottom will be elevated, banks slashed, gouged... shaped, and then the drainage installed. There will certainly be some shaping after the drainage is installed too. Stay tuned.

Looking from the North. The Gorge has been gouged... rough shaped. Now we have to wait for some rain to soften the material so we can rake it out. The hollows, ridges, spines will be converted to a mix of sand and grass. Below is a conceptual illustration.

Tony Ristola

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Short Project History; The Good and Bad

Saturday, May 24, 2008

Drainage in the Gorge