My brother Jari asks me after every project if I learned anything. He gets the standard reply... "volumes". I always a learn a lot because each project is unique, with a different style, different soils, challenges, and workers... there is a lot to discover... a lot to learn.
Besides learning "volumes" here, I've had some of my strong beliefs reinforced; basically my one-project-at-a-time focus. With a bunch of regular Joes (or Voitek's), and at times a revolving door of them, we've done some pretty neat work. This stuff just can't be mailed in, and especially with guys who know nothing about golf or excellent golf courses.
We are building raw, natural, ragged bunkers, and have used a few different methods to achieve the intended result... but best of all I've added a couple new techniques to my repertoire for achieving the result. Though I can't apply these new techniques all the time, they will certainly have their uses... and best of all... they're really quick!
Sorry, I'm not going to reveal them, but will add that only by spending time with the individuals doing the building on a daily basis has it been possible to experiment and discover.
It's discovering stuff like this that makes all the long days even more fun.
Tony Ristola
agolfarchitect.com
agolfarchitect@yahoo.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.
