LATEST
NEWS

Richard Humphreys
/ Categories: News

Minneapolis Golf Club begins re-grassing project

Minneapolis Golf Club in Saint Louis Park, Minnesota, has started work on a re-grassing project alongside consulting architect Jeff Mingay.

“Earlier this year, following a harsh winter that caused significant damage to poa annua throughout the course, members voted overwhelming in favour of a re-grassing project,” said Mingay.

“While this project is driven by improving turf conditions, it’s also presenting an exciting opportunity to enhance the architecture at Minneapolis. The course is smartly laid out over perfectly rolling terrain, without too much elevation change to make walking a chore. And, the variety of holes is remarkable.”

The club was established in 1916 with a nine-hole course laid out by Willie Park Jr. During the mid-1920s, Donald Ross expanded the course to 18 holes, which also included relocating the clubhouse.

While over 1,500 trees have been removed in recent years to improve turf health, the poa annua turf has not fared well in recent harsh winters.

Members approved the re-grassing project in May, with the course closing in July.

Led by golf course superintendent Jared Keller, poa annua on tees and fairways has been eliminated with two Roundup applications. Rough is being chemically treated to eliminate both poa annua and bentgrass.

“Revised fairway patterns have also been established, as part of this re-grassing project to enhance playability, emphasise strategies and improve the overall look and feel of the golf course,” said Mingay. “Fairways will be replanted with a variety of bentgrass, including Dominant X-Treme, Flagstick, 007 and SR 1150, grasses that can handle Minnesota winters much better than poa annua. Adjustments to fairway patterns also involved some additional tree removal and modification to bunkering at the fourth, eighth, fifteenth and seventeenth.”

Poa annua has also been stripped and removed from all greens. “In this process, we’ve also restored the greens with the aim to take the putting surfaces back out to original parameters designed by Willie Park Jr. and Donald Ross,” said Mingay.

Working with Keller and contractor Duininck Golf, Mingay has also overseen the grading of all greens with intent to preserve the original character of 16 holes. The exceptions are the first and thirteenth greens, where a four-to-five per cent slope has been reduced to nearer three per cent to accommodate increased speeds. Greens and tees are being replanted with an equal mix of 007 and 777 bentgrass.

“Taking the green surfaces back out to their original parameters as part of this re-grassing project is going to restore some very interesting pin positions, and revised fairway patterns and recent tree removal are showing off some beautiful terrain,” said Mingay. “Most importantly, the course will be more enjoyable and more interesting for every golfer, regardless of handicap.”

The practice green has also been expanded and XGD subsurface drainage systems has been installed on all greens.

Keller and his staff are scheduled to begin replanting the golf course in mid-August, after the greens have been fumigated with Basamid and grading has been finished.

The course is scheduled to reopen by July 2020.

Previous Article Infinite Variety progresses with renovation work at New Zealand GC
Next Article Tee levelling work completed at Arizona National
Print
5347 Rate this article:
No rating
Slideshow HTML
  • Minneapolis

    Minneapolis Golf Club is under way with a re-grassing project, alongside consulting architect Jeff Mingay

  • Minneapolis

    Poa annua has been stripped from all greens and tees, which will be replanted with bentgrass

  • Minneapolis

    Fairways will also be replanted with bentgrass

  • Minneapolis

    The course is scheduled to reopen by July 2020

Richard Humphreys

Richard HumphreysRichard Humphreys

Other posts by Richard Humphreys
Contact author

Contact author

x
Spring 2025 issue of ASGCA’s By Design magazine is out now
Magazine, News | Fri 14 Mar, 2025

Spring 2025 issue of ASGCA’s By Design magazine is out now

New issue asks whether the golf boom has led to an increase in municipal golf investment

The January 2025 issue of Golf Course Architecture is out now!
Magazine, News | Fri 17 Jan, 2025

The January 2025 issue of Golf Course Architecture is out now!

Projects covered include Golf Club Föhr, Brautarholt, Cabot Citrus Farms, Somabay and more

FEATURE
ARTICLES

Bob Harrison: Wizard of Oz
Konrad Borkowski
Interview | Adam Lawrence

Bob Harrison: Wizard of Oz

The Australian designer has had a long career and, like many of his countrymen, has spent much of it away from home. Adam Lawrence listened to his tales from the road

Jim Wagner and Rusty Mercer discuss Kinsale design and build
Kinsale Golf Club
Interview | Richard Humphreys

Jim Wagner and Rusty Mercer discuss Kinsale design and build

Florida course is a tribute to the Golden Age designs of Raynor and Macdonald

Are bunkers getting too pretty for their own good?
Larry Lambrecht
Feature | Adam Lawrence

Are bunkers getting too pretty for their own good?

Is the beauty of bunkering being over-emphasised at the expense of its function, asks Adam Lawrence

Good Read: The Prairie Raynor
Grant Books Ltd
Good Read | John Moran and Rand Jerris

Good Read: The Prairie Raynor

John Moran and Rand Jerris share insight into their book about Seth Raynor’s design at Chicago Golf Club

Vinpearl Golf Léman: New pearls for Vietnam
Vinpearl Golf Leman
Report | Richard Humphreys

Vinpearl Golf Léman: New pearls for Vietnam

The first of two Golfplan-designed courses at club near Ho Chi Minh City has opened for play

Seven Canyons: Desert drama
Brad Klein
Report | Bradley Klein

Seven Canyons: Desert drama

Brad Klein reports on a Phil Smith Design renovation in Sedona, Arizona

Golf Club Föhr: Reinvented for a new century
Stefan von Stengel
On site | Adam Lawrence

Golf Club Föhr: Reinvented for a new century

Adam Lawrence reports on a visit to the far north of Germany where Christian Althaus has completely rebuilt the 27-hole course over the last 15 years

Nauka Nayarit: Welcome to the jungle
Harris Kalinka
Report | Richard Humphreys

Nauka Nayarit: Welcome to the jungle

Ten holes of a new Fazio Design course on Mexico’s Pacific coast have opened for play

Brautarholt: Oceanic connection
Tony Ristola
On site | Adam Lawrence

Brautarholt: Oceanic connection

One of the world’s best 12-hole courses is being extended to 18 by architect Tony Ristola. Adam Lawrence reports from Iceland and says he expects the finished course to make quite a splash

The Club at Quail Ridge: Delivering the dramatic
Evan Schiller
Report | Richard Humphreys

The Club at Quail Ridge: Delivering the dramatic

Florida club unveils results of North course redesign, completed by Fry/Straka and NMP Golf Construction

Addison Reserve: Return on investment
Gideon Heller
Report | Toby Ingleton

Addison Reserve: Return on investment

One of southeast Florida’s premier residential communities has completed a project to redesign its three nines of golf

Gopher Watch Competition – January 2025
Gopher Watch, News | Fri 17 Jan, 2025

Gopher Watch Competition – January 2025

Which course has Sandy the gopher visited this month?

MOST
POPULAR

FEATURED
BUSINESSES