N
othing is more exciting than
walking on a beautiful site
and imagining what a golf
course architect will create. Good
designers will leverage the natural
features Mother Nature provides,
crafting a design and experience that
golfers will appreciate.
Enhancing the natural beauty of
the landscape is truly an art in the
hands of a good designer. But taking
extra consideration to protect the
natural environment is critical to
the sustainability of the golf course
industry.
Architects can extend a friendly
hand to Mother Nature in many
ways, including: designing terrain to
work with forces of nature, a key for
water management on a golf course;
selecting plants that provide the
desired look and playability, while
becoming a positive influence on
the environment; analyzing the soils
to understand what amendments
are needed to help it sustain plants,
conserve water and withstand
compaction from people and
machines, and; protecting exposed
soils to prevent erosion and runoff
during construction, while providing
fast and effective germination and
establishment of the plants.
This was the approach taken by golf
course architect Jason Straka, ASGCA,
while working on a major upgrade
to one of two 18-hole courses at the
JW Marriott Camelback Golf Club in
Scottsdale, Arizona.
The Ambiente course, which
featured in the 2013 Design
Excellence Recognition Program,
originally opened as Indian Bend in
1970, and had never undergone a
significant renovation. Straka teamed
up with course builder Integrity
Golf and contractor Sunwest Golf
& Reclamation, and brought in
Profile Products as a consultant and
materials supplier to assess and
address the unique features of the
course, which rested on an Army
Corps of Engineers flood plain. It
was critical for the design to work
with the natural flow of water across
the property.
Straka and his team were sensitive
to properly selecting native plants
and grasses for the site, and elected
to utilize Profile Porous Ceramics
to improve the sand for the right
balance of porosity, nutrient
retention and water holding
properties. Testing of the root zone
mix was completed by Hummel
Labs and a blend of 90 percent sand,
10 percent Profile was selected to
ensure optimum performance.
To assure soils stayed in place
and plants germinated and thrived,
Straka specified effective hydraulic
mulching products to stabilize
slopes, promote vegetation, and
improve the long-term viability of the
plants. Fairways were hydro-sprigged
with Bermudagrass and Profile’s
Terra Wood mulch, while the
perimeter areas were hydroseeded
with native grasses. A wildflower
mix was used in select areas to
blend and enhance the beauty of the
landscape. Typically, native grasses
and wildflower seeds will require a
hydraulic mulch that boasts a good
functional longevity, protecting
the surface for several months to
allow these seeds to germinate
and establish before the mulch
decomposes and becomes a part of
the soil.
“The native areas germinated and
grew in quicker than we expected,
largely in part due to the excellent
performance of Profile’s Terra Wood
product,” said Straka. “The putting
greens were exceptional for a first
year course.”
Selecting the right product is critical
for any course looking to stabilize a
Soil and seed
|
Joe Betulius
Working
with nature
EXPERT VIEW
12
|
By Design
Seed establishment and erosion control are
critical success factors for golf course projects.
Joe Betulius explains how Profile Products
works with golf architects to let nature thrive.
