Golf Course Architecture - Issue 58 October 2019

27 Located six miles away from the new Región de Murcia International Airport, the design duo have aimed to create a sustainable golf course. Martin said: “Earthmoving on the site is mainly conducted to catch most of the runoff water coming from the infamous ‘Gota fría’ – heavy rains that can bring more than 10 inches of water in less than 24 hours, just one day of the year.” The course has been grassed with Pure Dynasty paspalum. “We decided to minimise the grassing area and, at the same time, work with a well-defined landscape plan to maximise the playability and fun for all levels of golfers,” said Martin. “The creativity of the green complexes, gentle shaping on fairways, and wide desert and waste areas surrounding the fairways make a real frame design for every hole.” GTM Golf is handling construction, with work on the second nine now under way. Photo: Stirling & Martin Golf Architects Photo: Städler Golf Courses Photo: Gary Lisbon “The maintenance costs are way down. Virtually no chemicals are required to combat insects or diseases, and once the turf is established, it is virtually weed free. Mowing frequencies are down over 50 per cent which means machinery can last longer and less fuel and parts are required and the big-ticket item that is becoming a global issue is less water requirements. As water is becoming scarcer and more valuable, the more this turfgrass is going to be in high demand.” Städler Golf Courses has overseen a greens renovation at Golfclub Hannover in Germany. The focus of the renovation – which was overseen by project architects Christoph Städler and Philipp Fleischhauer – was to renew green complexes and expand the water supply. Work began in November 2018, on the course originally designed by Dr Bernhard von Limburger. “Our planning did not only include the renewal of the actual green areas, but also the extensive redesign of all the surrounding areas,” said Städler. “In general, the greens were shaped relatively softly, but through changing slopes and clearly distinguishable green sectors, the green complexes are now much more varied and aesthetically more appealing than before.” The club made use of sand from their own golf site for the construction of the greens, including the rootzone layer. “This was unavoidable because the only access road to the golf course leads through an open-air recreational site where no permit would have been granted for the transport of several hundred sand laden trucks,” said Städler. “Therefore, suitable sand had to be taken from the golf course site, which fortunately was available.” Construction was completed in late August ahead of the greens being back in play for the 2020 season. Städler completes greens renovation at GC Hannover