By Design - February 2019

16 | By Design E lmhurst Country Club in Addison, Illinois, regularly suffered flood damage. Salt Creek, which runs through the center of the layout, would frequently overflow, taking the course out of play and leading to a loss of revenue and customers, while heaping pressure onto operations and maintenance staff. In 1985, the club sold the land to the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County, which has been trying to manage the flood risk since. In 1994, raised banks were built on the sides of the creek, but floods would still breach them and destroy acres of turf. One year, the course—renamed Oak Meadows—flooded four times. The volume and intensity of Salt Creek flooding continued, worsened by upstream development, and the clubhouse burned to the ground in 2009 following a lightning strike. Continued market pressures and playability issues led the Forest Preserve District to review alternatives for the preserve and golf course. In 2015, ASGCA Past President Greg Martin was tasked with creating a layout that would be environmentally beneficial for the community, as well as attractive for golfers. Martin’s design saw 27 holes converted to 18. Planning, design and permitting involved 19 separate agencies, a process which resulted in more than $5 million in grants. Martin moved four holes from flood prone areas to more upland positions while other holes close to the creek floodway were raised above specified flood elevations. The remainder of the site was graded to allow Salt Creek to expand and contract during rain events and provide upland sanctuary. “Most vital to the success of the project was the Salt Creek reconstruction,” says Martin. “Salt Creek was diverted through a temporary channel for 18 months to allow for the removal of two low-flow dams, creek realignment, stream-bed reconstruction and bank erosion control techniques, as well as expanding wetlands.” Adjacent to the creek, 35 acres of wetlands were created to accept overflow and 40 acres of prairie ground were established. 1,500 low- quality mature trees were cut down. This reconfiguration holds an additional 20 million gallons of stormwater from Salt Creek during flood events while also minimizing flood damage to the course. The project to rebuild the course— now named The Preserve at Oak Meadows—has led to an improvement in water quality and plant and animal diversity, and more than 100 acres of restored upland habitat. “The Preserve at Oak Meadows will provide a great golf experience, significant environmental benefit and access to a beautiful and revived Illinois landscape, and act as a high functioning, quality landscape by improving water quality, expanding wetlands, creating wildlife sanctuary and providing increased substantial stormwater management capabilities,” says Martin. The Preserve at Oak Meadows Location: Addison, Illinois Golf course architect: Greg Martin, ASGCA Past President www.martindesigngolf.com Project summary: The Oak Meadows golf course regularly suffered flood damage from Salt Creek, which runs through the center of the layout, leading to loss of revenue and customers. ASGCA Past President Greg Martin was tasked to create a layout that would attract golfers and manage floodwater on behalf of the community. Partners: Wadsworth Golf Construction (construction); Rain Bird (irrigation); Better Billy Bunker (bunker liner) ASGCA DESIGN EXCELLENCE THE PRESERVE AT OAK MEADOWS An environmental success Redesign of Illinois course leads to reduced flooding while improving animal and plant diversity Photo: The Preserve at Oak Meadows