Sand Valley Party 07-07-07…Jackpot!

Even though the rain has put a temporary halt to the project, the Sand Valley Company had a great fiesta. Great food, music, and the weather cooperated. It was a fun time, and for some it was way too much fun (hangovers). It was just about the perfect medicine to get our minds off of the waiting game.

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

“I am a father”

That is the text message many received from Tomek at 20:21 this evening, the proud father of a baby girl.

Everyone here wishes all the best for Tomek, his wife and baby daughter.

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

Not a Creature was Stirring …

… on site. We got rain again last night to ensure the ground remained saturated. The guys took the morning to take care of their machines. Other than that, no machines touched the site; only a few guys out cutting trees near the clubhouse site.

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

Road Repairs

A section of road has been overflowing with water, so we decided to drain the problem area; putting pipe under the road. We brought in large and small drainage pipe; the large to prevent the small from getting crushed and us having to start all over again. It took about an hour and seems to have helped, except we got hammered again with showers and had to quit at the same time as yesterday. Everything is saturated, and relief doesn’t seem to be coming anytime soon. The 6th and 7th are days away from getting the sand cover they need. Once in place we will begin shaping.

Anyone with connections? Please send sunshine and wind.


The photos reveal one of the funniest sequences out here. Miatek and Janek playing The Keystone Cops of Polski Drainage System. Janek broke too much wall, the water flooded out and the pipe used as a sleeve for the drain line was flushed away, and was referred to there after as Moby Dick. On a crappy day, this was a much needed laugh.

Gifts from England

South Sweden has been inundated with water, washing out bridges and railroad tracks. Much of continental Europe is getting the remnants of what hit England. What it means for us is the work on Holes 6 & 7 had to be halted at 15:00. To continue would mean the construction roads would take a beating, trucks would be moving slowly anyway, so why not stop and spare ourselves more work repairing the roads. Some will be needed. Waiting is frustrating, but sometimes the best medicine.

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

New Mechanic

There is the pop group Mike and The Mechanics, this is Martin the Mechanic, the newest addition to the Sand Valley Squad. Asked if he was any good when I heard we’d hired him 6 weeks ago (he had to finish a job in England), Tomek told me… "good? He can make dynamite from shit.”

INSERT PHOTO OF MECHANIC

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

STOP!

Last night we had tremendous showers, which puts us about where we were last Tuesday. Fortunately it’s Sunday and only Chechek was working. I planned to do some work on the 7th and 16th greens but decided to wait until things dried out a little.

The good thing is the sun and wind are out, it feels like summer again, and not Scottish summer. Another half day of this and we should be able to get back into the 6th and 7th and finish pumping (driving) in the sand. Let’s hope the weather holds.

I’ve been in contact with an architect from Texas during the past days, and poor guy. His projects are under an ocean of water. They must face quite a delay, and the potential for serious damage to work completed. Puts things in perspective, our few liters.

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