Peter Chamberlain completes three-year bunker project at Ljunghusens

Golf course architect Peter Chamberlain has completed a bunker renovation project at Ljunghusens Golf Club on the south-west tip of Sweden.

Following a trial in 2016, the club has installed synthetic revetting from Durabunker on 71 bunkers on its main 18-hole course.

“The golf course is a hybrid of linksland and heathland, I suppose it would be categorised as a heathland links if we wanted to put it in such a box, but it really is an incredible piece of land on which the golf course has thrived,” said Chamberlain.

Chamberlain said: “The inclusion of Durabunker in the gradual refurbishing of the course seemed a natural decision because of the club’s goals to strengthen its ‘linksy’ presentation. The finished result looks crisp and clean in appearance and feels very stable whilst still promoting an old-style bunker look.”

The course has been prone to the effects of coastal erosion, with several holes located on the coastline. Bunkers have been particularly susceptible, suffering flooding because of rising sea water.

“The course’s exposed position in relation to winds and sun that normally shortens the life of traditional turf revetting was also a major reason in order to improve bunker maintenance costs,” said Chamberlain.

Simon Manson, course manager at Ljunghusens, said: “The project had already started when I began my tenure here as course manager. By that stage, the Durabunker team had already visited twice to begin the project in the first phase and then to subsequently work with our green staff. Durabunker construction manager, David Deere, visited the site a third time, to work with myself and the team in 2017, after which we felt confident that we could proceed with the remainder of the project by installing Durabunker ‘in-house’.”

Rhydian Lewis, founder of Durabunker, said: “Not long after completion of the first phase, rising sea waters burst flood defences and caused a major flood at the golf course, which also effected the clubhouse, causing significant damage.

“The bunkers built were also completely flooded but withstood large volumes of water and the corresponding forces exerted on the bunker walls, foundations and surrounds. The bunkers we had built, came through the test with flying colours and were entirely unaffected. This is not only a testament to the product itself, but also the quality of build by our own team, which ensured exact specifications, along with precise construction methodologies were followed.”

The club decided to go with Durabunker’s traditional construction method with standard structural backfill. “We discussed the different construction options that Durabunker offer, one with standard structural backfill, the other with a soil stabilised backfill using a small percentage of porous cement. We felt more comfortable with the traditional method, we have used it from the outset and even during significant flooding there have been no ill effects” said Manson.

“We completed 26 bunkers this autumn and winter to bring the project to completion. Durabunker has proven to be a great investment already with little to no maintenance required and such an authentic look.”

“For a linksland course such as ours, the classic Durabunker revetment complements the golf course so well and you really would not know that the bunkers were synthetic, they blend in so naturally,” said Manson.

“The Durabunker team ensured that effective construction principles were put in place such as the dishing out of bunker bases and having a subtle gradient running up to the start of the bunker faces, meaning that from a playing perspective, balls entering the bunkers did not settle right beneath the bunker walls.”