Tripp Davis and Associates is overseeing a bunker restoration project at The Powelton Club in Newburgh, New York.

The firm plans to rebuild the bunkers in Devereux Emmet’s slender style with steep grass faces and strategic positioning, while reducing the overall square footage of bunkers to make them more manageable.

“We were honoured to be selected for this renovation and restoration work at The Powelton Club and it was because of our knowledge of Devereux Emmet and our overall reputation for historical work and a track record of staying on budget,” said Davis.

Powelton, located in the heart of the Hudson River Valley, was founded in 1892 originally with a five-hole layout. The layout was subsequently extended to nine holes which, in 1926, were revised by Emmet, who also extended the course to eighteen holes.

Since then, the most notable change was in 1985, when Geoffrey Cornish and Brian Silva designed a new seventeenth hole, made necessary by the nearby highway expansion.

Davis, along with golf course builder Frank O’Dowd of Intergolf International, is installing new drainage, bunker liners and grade of sand in order to improve playing quality and maintenance.

“Once we have completed our work, the members are going to see their golf course suddenly look ‘older’, with a more classic bunker style but with much better sand,” said Davis. “Even though bunkers are supposed to be places to avoid strategically, I am really looking forward to seeing the members play out of them.”

Construction started in October 2018 and is expected to be complete by spring 2019.