By Design – Issue 53, Summer 2021

22 and historical context of Billy Bell’s bunkering and Teton Pines draws inspiration from the surrounding mountain ranges – but both at their core are about maximizing playing interest while working within a limited scope and budget.” Trimming turf Clubs can also improve operational efficiency, and the golf experience, by reducing the amount of maintained turf on their golf courses. This in turn reduced the applications and resources required, and can help a golf course to sit more in harmony with its environment. Palm Aire Country Club in Sarasota, Florida, hired Michael Benkusky, ASGCA, earlier this year to renovate its Champions course. “We’re looking to remove 12 acres of turf and incorporate crushed shells in many areas,” says Benkusky. “The plan is to create playable areas under trees and in areas where it is difficult to grow turf. Removing turf that isn’t needed will also allow the club to expand its cart traffic areas by using shells as paths.” Benkusky says that the biggest advantage that clubs like Palm Aire will get from reducing turf is that it will “eliminate water and the need to mow these areas, as well as creating better course aesthetics by adding another texture to contrast with the grass, trees and bunkers.” Erik Gowdy, director of agronomy at Palm Aire, says “there are multiple offsets into turning out- of-play areas, which were once weak turf areas at best, into shell areas. It cuts down expense in three major areas of our budget: labor, chemicals and irrigation, while increasing minimal expense in annual shell purchase. Florida is a perfect environment ergonomically and environmentally for these transition areas to be adopted as these areas fit the overall Florida landscape motif.” Florida’s climate and associated high water costs mean that clubs located in the state stand to benefit greatly from projects designed to conserve water. At both Quail Ridge Country Club and Ponte Vedra Inn & Club, Bobby Weed, ASGCA, LESS IS MORE At Quail Ridge Country Club in Florida, Bobby Weed, ASGCA, has reduced maintained turf areas by 15 percent