LATEST
NEWS

Richard Humphreys
/ Categories: News

Rockland CC reopens following bunker renovation

Rockland Country Club in Sparkill, New York, has reopened its course following a comprehensive renovation overseen by golf course architect A. John Harvey.

Harvey’s master plan, approved in February 2019, called for the renovation or creation of 76 bunkers, a new green at the first hole and significant regrading on the first landing area and approach on the eighteenth.

The project was required due to a deterioration in quality over the 23 years since the last renovation, which was undertaken by Harvey while he was with the Roger Rulewich Group.

“At that time, the bunker liner industry was really in its infancy and incorporating liners in the construction was not even discussed at the time,” said Harvey. “Over time, bunker sand had become contaminated with sub-soils, drainage gravel and organic material. One important factor that the club wanted to address was deepening the greenside bunkers to allow more of a ‘blast’ shot from new lowered sand elevations to the green surfaces. We've been rebuilding the first green to soften the surface slopes to create more usable pin areas, while redesigning the eighteenth hole to promote enhanced strategic options off the tee and approach shots on this par five also help bolster aesthetics in an exciting culmination to a round of golf at Rockland.”

Harvey continued: “It has been really enjoyable working with Matt and the club again as we recaptured the spirit of the golf course with a delicate and sincere purpose to everything we did, setting the stage as a nice refreshing test of golf for the membership for years to come.”

Construction on the 2019-20 project began in late September.

Better Billy Bunker liner has been installed in all sand hazards.

“Prior to the installation of gravel on the approved bunker floor, the contractor sodded the surrounds of the bunker to help protect feature from stormwater erosion,” said Harvey. “Once the gravel was installed and the weather conditions were right for spraying, the contractor would spray the gravel floors. After adequate drying time, the specified bunker sand was installed and compacted to the depths determined by my plan.”

“Overall, I’m very pleased with the results. We’ve had a great team and a really wonderful partnership with the club with Matt Ceplo as the project owner’s representative, Turco Golf Course Construction and AJH Golf as the renovation architects. All the feedback that we’ve received to date from the pro Bobby Everett, board members and a few members has been very positive. Optically, the course is more visually stimulating!”

The course reopened on 1 April with only two pot bunkers on the eighth needing to have a PermaEdge bunker revetment system installed.

“As the project was winding down the course was still closed but enough bunkers were built that you could get a ‘taste’ of what things were going to look like,” said Ceplo. “You could walk around but not play. To be honest I was extremely surprised to see so many members taking the time to walk the entire course and look at the work being done. All the members commented on how good things looked and everyone loves the changes that John has made. Because of John’s design style and Turco’s attention to detail this has definitely brought a sense of excitement to the club.”

Previous Article “The government made the right decisions early on”
Next Article LedgeRock targets May reopening for new hole
Print
3241 Rate this article:
No rating
Slideshow HTML
  • Rockland

    Rockland Country Club has reopened its course following a renovation by A. John Harvey

  • Rockland

    Harvey’s master plan called for the renovation or creation of 76 bunkers

  • Rockland

    Better Billy Bunker liner has been installed in all sand hazards

  • Rockland

    The course reopened on 1 April

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