27 TEE BOX Golfplan completes renovation of greenside bunkers at Brookside Golfplan has completed work on greenside bunkers at Brookside Country Club in Stockton, California. “The club was happy with the look and style of the course but wanted to upgrade and modernise the bunkers so they were more playable and easier to maintain,” said Kevin Ramsey of Golfplan. “Years of deferred maintenance had taken its toll and there were very few bunker edges remaining, and what little sand remained was contaminated long ago and did not drain.” Golfplan also decided to remove, or reduce the size of, some bunkers that were no longer in a location fit for the modern game or had become irrelevant since the course first opened in 1991. Reconstruction work introduced liners from Better Billy Bunker and new sand. “Our initial study showed that of the 37 existing greenside bunkers, five could be eliminated without any change in character or strategy,” said Ramsey. “By eliminating five bunkers and reducing the size of the rest, we were able to reduce sand areas by 53 per cent, not only saving on construction cost but also reducing maintenance and allowing club staff to be more time efficient. With the cost of labour and maintenance in general increasing every year, this was an important component of the project. “The reduction in cost also allowed us to add sub-surface irrigation system to keep the south- and southwest-facing slopes moist during the hot summer months. We felt this was critical to the long-term success of the bunkers.” The work was completed in early 2022. And in 2023, the club will move onto fairway bunkers. “In the end we kept the bunker style but enhanced the visibility and technical aspects of the bunkers,” said Ramsey. “This may not be as romantic as building a new course in the sand dunes on some long-lost site, but it is the reality many golf course owners are facing now. Addressing it properly is the key to success.” Photo: Golfplan
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