Golf course architect Kevin Norby is leading a major renovation project at the Inver Wood Golf Course in Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota.

Norby has been tasked with improving the course’s conditioning and playability, as well as the pace of play at Inver Wood.

Bunkers across the club’s 27 holes will be renovated as part of the US$2.2 million project. A number of bunkers will also be removed as part of the work, and many will be reduced in size. This will help with the club’s maintenance costs, and avoid the need for regular repair work.

“We are maintaining a similar cape-and-bay style of bunkering but we are eliminating much of the flashed sand and implementing more grass faces,” Norby said. “We’re reducing the square footage of bunkers from 103,000 sq ft to 54,000 sq ft. The smaller bunkers will be easier to maintain and by hand raking the bunkers instead of using a sand pro, the sand will last longer and be less prone to contamination.” 

A new irrigation system is also being put in place, with Norby working alongside Erik Christiansen, an irrigation consultant at EC Design Group. Work will also take place to help enhance the club’s practice facility.

The renovation work on the Inver Wood courses, which were designed by Garrett Gill and opened in 1992, was approved by the City earlier this year.

The initial funds are being borrowed from the City of Inver Wood Heights’ central equipment fund, and the additional revenue expected from the course over the next 25 years following the work’s completion will be used to pay that amount back to the City.

Construction work is being led by Duininck Golf, and began back in August 2016. The course is remaining open for play throughout the work, and the project is expected to be completed in early November ahead of the 2017 season.