By Design - Spring 2019

DIGEST 7 Renovation D rew Rogers, ASGCA, has completed course refinements at Valencia Golf and Country Club in Naples, Florida. “It’s funny that some folks don’t even realize that there are daily fee courses in Naples,” said Rogers. “That’s part of what makes this project so special and why I was eager to take on the work with my client there. Definitely a new challenge for me.” Course renovations were originally motivated by the owner’s desire to convert turf type. Rogers began work in April 2018 with contractor GCID and project manager Rob Corbett, with involvement from golf course superintendent Dominic Wanchena and director of golf Nick Stokke. “Because the turf was to be replaced, the door was open to make some really beneficial adjustments, and for minimal additional investment,” said Rogers. “We added work on the tees—enlarging and laser- levelling—as well as significant bunker refinements and removals, and adjustments to soften the green contouring, without rebuilding. “The greens had very active contouring and poor tie-ins, so our focus was to effectively ‘melt’ those contours down as more manageable surfaces with expanded cupping areas and more flowing transitions along the perimeter edges, for increased short grass recovery opportunities— while retaining the primary characteristics that had always made the greens so identifiable.” Plans for turf replacement at Valencia G&CC gave Drew Rogers, ASGCA, an opportunity to make design adjustments Photo: Drew Rogers, ASGCA Rogers refines daily fee course in Naples HERE ARE LINKS TO OTHER RECENT “TARTAN TALKS”: • ASGCA Past President Dr. Michael Hurdzan, ASGCA Fellow, discusses safety, security and risk management . • Kevin Ramsey, ASGCA, discusses the wild — and rewarding — aspects of introducing golf in new places . In the latest podcast from Golf Course Industry ’s Tartan Talks series, ASGCA Past President Rick Robbins talks about integrating practice facilities with revenue and his work at Compass Pointe Golf Club in Leland, North Carolina. Robbins said that over the last three years he has at least six commissions to work on short game practice facilities. “These days I’m seeing a lot more demand for them,” said Robbins. “Clubs would have a putting green and a driving range, and that was about it – but there are so many more shots in the game that affect your scoring. I’m seeing more demand from clients for chipping greens and places where you can practice sand shots.” He has worked on a project at Compass Pointe, where there is a par- three nineteenth hole, a nine-hole putting course, a chipping green, and a sand play green. This has led to the club to having a ‘short game skills challenge,’ which is a fun event for golfers that the club holds 4 to 5 times a year and has been a good revenue stream. “We get 48 to 60 golfers playing the challenge from eighteen different positions,” said Robbins. “It is a social event, even beginners can get involved.” Listen to the full Tartan Talk at golfcourseindustry.com . “I try to duplicate the short game area with the golf course, so a player has real shots” ASGCA PAST PRES I DENT R I CK ROBB INS