Golf Course Architecture - Issue 59, January 2020

The constant inclement weather magnifies the vulnerabilities in the drainage and ground conditions, so a comprehensive plan was required to provide a long-term solution to remove the rainfall quickly, which in turn will offer consistently firmer and drier playing conditions. The objective was create an infrastructure that will combat the west of Scotland’s wet weather, allow the team to have more control over course conditions and set up, to be more effective, efficient and sustainable with maintenance inputs and costs, construct new forward tees to offer even more golfing variations for all golfing abilities and age, and ultimately provide the members and their guests with all-round better, more consistent playing conditions. This will also help safeguard and protect the club’s business from course closures or long delays. The initial project was well received, so last winter, Cole, along with principal contractor Esie O’Mahony of GolfLink Evolve, reconstructed the rest of the back nine of the course (along with the ninth hole). The team returned this winter to complete the renovation. The work includes installing a totally new irrigation system, re-grassing all fairways and primary roughs, increasing tee sizes and adding new forward tees, rebuilding bunkers and, most importantly, entirely renewing the huge drainage infrastructure. Touring the course in November, it was easy to see the benefits: the rebuilt holes were dry and firm even at this time of the year, while those still awaiting renovation were soaking wet. O’Mahony says: “Because the site is so wet, we have had to plan the work very carefully to maximise efficiency and minimise the negative effects on the rest of the property. It is said that, during the original construction of the golf course, the builders lost a piece of earthmoving Drainage trenches are lined with geotextile to prevent, as far as possible, the ingress of fine particles into pipes. On fairways, new turf is being laid over a 20-25cm layer of sand-cap Photos: David Cole 66