Sand Valley Golf; Design and Construction Blog

Video of Redesigned Dune Bunker... Now called Hell

2010-11-17T08:33:00.000-08:00

Welcome to HELL. HELL bunker that is.

Tony Ristola
agolfarchitect.com
agolfarchitect@yahoo.com
+1(909) 581-0080

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Final Touches on Sand Valley's New Hell Bunker

2010-11-08T08:48:00.000-08:00

Before.

After.
A rainy November 8, 2010, the new "Hell" bunker is completed.

Before.

After. The soil pile to the left will be spread about in the coming days.

Hell Bunker in its ancient unraked form. Notice the left is lower than the right; ours is reversed.

Hell Bunker in 1950.

Today, Hell Bunker is a barely recognizable from its original form.

Today I was up a little earlier, 05:00... and on the course setting the grass clumps in place an hour later under the lights of a utility vehicle. Not long after it stared raining again, as I was trying to get some shots to document the conversion.

I think it looks pretty good, and adds another dimension to the hole... entering the player's mind on the tee shot. One thing is certain... nobody will be losing their balls here anymore.

Tony Ristola
agolfarchitect.com
agolfarchitect@yahoo.com
+1 (909) 581 0080
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Final Day of heavy lifting at the New Dune Bunker

2010-11-07T08:35:00.000-08:00

The bunker is completed, the grass clumps placed about the bunker and atop the sand. Tomorrow I'll set them in the sand and make any needed adjustments.

I had no idea exactly how this bunker would turn out, but it looks a little like a version of Hell bunker at St. Andrews Old, but in reverse. It wasn't planned that way, like everything else at Sand Valley, it simply evolved.

We cut slabs of sod from the bank of the 7th fairway extension and used them for the back of the bunker and one small section of bunker face and drove sand until noon. Then I let the guys go, figuring I'd tie-in the back of the bunker to the fairway before calling it quits too. Just as I was going to tie-in the outer banks, the bunker rake died, so I took some pieces of sod stockpiled during the first days and placed them about the bunker.

Later I joined some members for a few holes and got to look at the bunker with fresher eyes, and thought the grass clump placement looked pretty good. Tomorrow I'd set them in place.

Tony Ristola
agolfarchitect.com
agolfarchitect@yahoo.com
+1 (909) 581 0080
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Sand, Sand and Rain

2010-11-06T08:31:00.000-07:00

Where we started from in the morning. A layer of new sand can be seen in the distance.

Where we got to before it was too dark to continue. This photo was taken the next morning.

Today we continued driving in the sand. Unfortunately the dumpers couldn't get close to the bunker, even though the fairway is 1.2 meters of pure sand, so the loader had to make 200 to 250 meter runs.

We drove all day, and once it got dark at 16:30 called it a quits... as I couldn't see where to spread the sand. We got most of it installed and it's starting to look like a bunker.

Getting sand up the 3 to 4 meter bunker face was fun...

Thanks Guys... great job.

Tony Ristola
agolfarchitect.com
agolfarchitect@yahoo.com
+1 (909) 581 0080
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More heavy lifting on the Dune Bunker

2010-11-05T08:24:00.000-07:00

Sketches to Tomek, the excavator operator on how to tie the bunker into the Hillock.

Tomek working on the area illustrated. This is the last bit of scraping before sand is driven in.

Today we finished the scraping out of the bunker, and in the evening began driving in sand.

Funny, but at 18:20 the loader died again, and well, it seems the battery was weak and with so much electronics in the system, the lights sapped the battery's energy and we were all left in the dark for a second night.

So it wasn't the soccer game after all! :)

Tony Ristola
agolfarchitect.com
agolfarchitect@yahoo.com
+1 (909) 581 0080
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Grunt Work at the Redesigned Dune Bunker

2010-11-04T08:20:00.000-07:00

The bunker as it looked after Day 1; Day 2 just underway.

Today was a day of heavy lifting. We're using a loader to drive material out, luckily the soil is going a short distance for the extension of the start of the 7th fairway.

It was a miserable day, pissing down pretty much the whole time, but lucky for us it never turned into a heavy rain. Strange though, at 18:00 the loader died on us... just in time for the EUFA Cup soccer game. Guys!?

Scraping out the bunker at night.

Tony Ristola
agolfarchitect.com
agolfarchitect@yahoo.com
+1 (909) 581 0080

Returning for Some Refinements.

2010-11-03T07:17:00.000-07:00

The original Dune Bunker as it looked after the course opened.

Today we started peeling away the "Dune" before the 6th green in an effort to convert it into one big bunker.

The problem is this dune had grown too thick and wasn't the easiest to maintain. Being on the line of play for those who bail left from the tee, it swallowed many golfers shots, and resulted in lost balls. So... enter a bunker.

I'm not sure how the bunker will look like in the end, but I know it'll be big.

Tony Ristola
agolfarchitect.com
agolfarchitect@yahoo.com
+1(909) 581 0080

Clip from CNBC on Sand Valley

2010-01-01T11:46:00.000-08:00

From CNBC while the project was under construction.
Yours truly at the 3:26 mark.

A view of Nr. 12, The Quarry, a short par-5 of 485-meters.

Tony Ristola
agolfarchitect.com
agolfarchitect@yahoo.com
+1(909) 581 0080

The hands of a true Hands-on Golf Course Architect

2009-08-22T01:47:00.000-07:00

One of the most abused claims in the business is "Hands-On" golf course architect. The term now has been dumbed-down to the point where a few site-visits during the project, driving around in an air conditioned truck, and barking out design changes to work completed according-to-plan is hands-on.

It used to mean the architect spent months on-site and was actually involved in the construction, making improvements to the course as, or even before features were being built.

Below are the hands of a true hands-on architect... yours truly. The product of long days with my girlfriends... the shovel and rake, creating the individual bunker forms that set Sand Valley apart.

The left hand looks like it used to when I hit a couple hundred balls a day as a tournament professional... so I've included the right hand too... which has the same three mountains of calluses... which I call Mt. Everest, K2, and Zugspitz.

Back in the old days as a tournement professional my left hand used to look like this from hitting hundreds of balls a day.

But not the right hand... unless I had hit hundreds of balls left handed on a daily basis.
Now these calluses are the product of crafting special golf courses... building them one-at-a-time, being on-site all-day... everyday... in the old and fullest meaning of "Hands-on".

Tony Ristola
agolfarchitect.com
agolfarchitect@yahoo.com
+1(909) 581 0080

Links Golf? Not so fast!!!

2009-08-21T11:41:00.000-07:00

Just to be on record, Sand Valley is not a "Links Course" or an imitation links. Elements from the links have been stolen, that is for sure, but what was taken from the links is the heart and soul. Not the aesthetics.

Honestly, I cannot tell you what type of golf course Sand Valley is. She is schizophrenic. Has multiple personalities. There are holes through forest, in open rolling spaces, along the river, paralleling the rail line, holes with wetlands, with ravines, along ledges, in an abandoned quarry, and through river dunes.

You tell me... anything but Links... please.

Is she modern?
Is she classic?
It will be interesting to hear the opinions.

The following format is from another course I had designed and was written about in 2000, it has been adapted for Sand Valley because it fits here too:

Links Golf? Scottish Golf?

This course is not meant to be a Links-type course. To call it one would be a severe misrepresentation of fact, as most courses marketed as Links-type are.

This course is designed in the spirit of those timeless inland designs from the Golden Age commonly found in America, Canada, England and Australia. Like the Golden Age designs and architects, elements and ideas were adapted from Links Golf; the heart and soul, but not the cosmetics. Modern construction equipment has allowed us to take some liberties in land alteration at Sand Valley that wasn't so easily executed 70-years ago, but the ideas we stole from Links golf are:

1. Wide Fairways. This allows all classes of golfers to enjoy the game, and if the course is hard, fast and windy, the most interesting conditions to play golf, there is room to play. It allows for a whole spectrum of strategies, and as the hole location changes, firmness of ground changes, wind changes direction... often the case at Sand Valley, as there is no prevailing wind, the line of attack changes too. This keeps the game interesting... ideally mystical for years to come.

2. Random, natural bunkering. Placing bunkers for "better players" looks artificial, is a modern occurence and sucks the fun and interest out of the game for many. Ours eat into the fairways, and as some fairways are huge, double most modern courses, bunkers are placed towards the middle.

3. Interesting greens and surrounds. The short game is over 65% of golf. A short accurate hitter with an excellent short game can beat a long hitter with a poor short game on this golf course... guaranteed.

4. Hard and fast conditions are the hallmark of Links golf. By good fortune the native soils are suited for these conditions. It truly is a gift of nature. Some courses have paid millions and do not have the optimal conditions we enjoy... naturally.

5. Greensites which allow bounced in approaches. Our firm fairways permit this, and this allows the weaker players to attack the holes using the ground. Most golfers simply don't hit the ball high enough, or spin it enough to play loft-and-drop golf.

The better players at times will have to choose between bouncing their approaches in, or trusting an aerial attack. It is something sure to cause indecision for them, which is great... anytime you can get between the ears of the expert and cause indecision, you've accomplished something.

6. Affordable maintenance practices. True Links are cost effective to maintain (something faux Links usually aren't), and so is Sand Valley. Do not expect Japanese Garden conditioning, this would defeat the design-intent. Expect the golf course turf to be managed for playing conditions... not color... just as they do on the Links.

This doesn't make Sand Valley a Links Course, anymore than piling up dirt alongside the fairways and building grass-faced or sod walled bunkers qualifies a course as "links-type"... but it does mean Sand Valley has some of the best qualities of the Links, minus the most visual aspect... the sand dunes.

If you would like to read the full length version of the document used as the template for this post, click here:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/5039150/Understanding-Der-Golf-Club

Tony Ristola
agolfarchitect.com
agolfarchitect@yahoo.com
+1 (909) 581 0080
574

Nr. 7 Again Before and after Looking Down the Fairway

2009-08-20T20:28:00.000-07:00

Fairways 6 and 7 were capped with sand... about 1.2 meters worth, and then shaped. What was filled was a triangular area about 300 meters at its base and 150-meters at its sides. The bank to the right of the fairway reveals the amount filled.

No plans were used to create one of these contours, they simply evolved while sitting on the bulldozer. Every roll and hollow, hump and bump is man made.

Originally the area was to be capped with clay, and if you look close you can see a pile of two the previous company delivered. After my arrival we switched to capping the area with sand. It saved installing kilometers of drainage, and all the problems that result from using this inferior material.

We trucked out almost all the clay material brought in, except for a pile that was near the turning point on the 6th. That served as the spark for the ledged/split fairway concept on 6... the high point of the two fairways.

Had we used clay, we still might be trying to finish this hole! In the summer of 2007 we had constant rain, the longest dry stretch being 10 days, and the clay... even if properly sealed would have been an ordeal to shape, drain, install irrigation, cap with topsoil and seed. I say "properly sealed" because not one delivery of material to a greensite, fairway or tee was properly sealed... in the end it didn't matter because all the work the previous company had done delivering material was trucked away.

Hole Nr. 2 Before and After

2009-08-19T20:28:00.000-07:00

Before my arrival, the previous builder spent 10-months making construction error after construction error unhindered. Here they stripped the greensite of organic material and pushed it to the tees as fill for the third hole... a construction "NO-NO". It was one of many that filled 11-pages after my 4.5 day walk through of the property before taking the project... and I still didn't catch them all! All this will be documented in the upcoming book Sand Valley, It's Design, Construction & Future.

This greensite fortunately wasn't mismanaged, but proved to be an interesting adventure, it was a product of evolution, seizing on unforeseen opportunities. Had it been a project that followed plans, the opportunities would have been missed, and the greensite less beautiful because of it.

Before.

After. This greensite took the longest to shape, for a whole host of reasons.

Tony Ristola
agolfarchitect.com
agolfarchitect@yahoo.com
+1 (909) 581 0080

The Bunker Brothers

2009-08-18T21:51:00.000-07:00

These are the two best workers Sand Valley has seen... Period.
They have also been doing one of the toughest jobs... day-in and day-out.

The Bunker Brothers, Maciej (L) and Marcin Jaskot with our Mascot Sonya.

They don't take extended breaks.
They don't sit around picking their noses when finished their work... they find more!
They don't waste time in the thousands of possible ways.
They never complain.
They don't sit around talking like old ladies.
They arrive early for work and are ready to go when it's time to go to work.
They ignore bad influences... guys not doing their jobs.
Because they work hard and do a good job they don't require baby sitting.
They take instruction well.
They are in good spirits.
They elevate standards, because they make the efforts of most others look meager.

You could never have too many like them.

If someone is ever looking to hire these guys... don't hesitate.
They have my 100% recommendation.
My bet is if they don't have the skills needed, they will learn them.
Their computers seem to be wired that way. To perform.

Thanks guys, for giving me one less thing to worry about.

Tony Ristola
agolfarchitect.com
agolfarchitect@yahoo.com
+1 (909) 581 0080

Sand Ahoy!

2009-08-17T22:05:00.000-07:00

Today 6 bunkers were filled with sand. Two bunkers by green 2, and four fairway bunkers on the 4th. It would have been more, but the Bunker Brothers, Maciej and Marcin Jaskot were busy this morning cleaning out a bunker before installing sand. Sounds easy... it wasn't.

Sand installed. No sand pro to be used in these bunkers. It is actually much faster to rake them out by hand. In a previous thread I called these "The Three Bears", but they're really part of "The Bomb Garden".

Bomb Garden references in this blog:
Piecing Together Nr. 4
Design on Land, Not on Paper
4 Bunkers on 4

Tony Ristola
agolfarchitect.com
agolfarchitect@yahoo.com
+1 (909) 581 0080

7th Greensite Development Progression in Photos

2009-08-16T07:09:00.000-07:00

The bunker fronting the 7th green has taken the longest time to bring to completion. I began this work on July 5th, and have worked on it on and off. That's the value of having time to reflect.
July 5 Blog entry: Sunday Spent Edging

Though I liked the general idea, was never happy with the state if things, so... today was another attack.

The Bunker Brothers were doing the hard work of cutting and hauling in the sod slabs, and I spent the day placing them.

Finally I'm satisfied.

This is what the 7th greensite looked like upon my arrival at the end of April 2007.

The greensite has been shaped, the bunkers and hillocks.
That's Chechek Chechek in the bunker, showing its depth.

Edging lines have been loosely marked, and the first bit of edging work underway.

This, and the remainder of the photos were taken today.

Tony Ristola
agolfarchitect.com
agolfarchitect@yahoo.com
+1 (909) 581 0080

Cleaning 11

2009-08-15T07:09:00.000-07:00

The Bunker Brothers went in and cleaned up the bunkers on 11. Then they joined me in the bunkers on 7.

Tony Ristola
agolfarchitect.com
agolfarchitect@yahoo.com
+1(909) 581 0080

Finally

2009-08-14T07:09:00.000-07:00

April 27, 2007 was my first day on-site, and the first entry in this blog.
First Blog entry: Electric Line Discussions

The blog was about the meeting for putting the electrical lines underground.

The investors were given some poor advice, there were mixups with the authorities, but finally the lines are ready to go subterranean.

Tony Ristola
agolfarchitect.com
agolfarchitect@yahoo.com
+1 (909) 581 0080

The Beast

2009-08-13T07:09:00.000-07:00

Would you believe this Beast started out as one medium sized bunker?
True... true.
Reference Blog Entry: Bunker on 8 Evolution

I was egged on to make the bunker bigger, and in the end it was extended and connected to the bunker by the former Monument to Stupidity (the product of the previous builder... long before my arrival to the project). I diplomatically called it The Monument before, but now its full name can surface as the builder is out of business... it truly was The Monument to Stupidity.
Reference Blog Entry: Knocking Down the Monument

We hydroseeded the banks of this bunker but parts of it didn't take, so it was sodded some weeks ago. Most of the bunker had been edged... we have only been waiting for this section to take hold.

Now we've gone in and edged the sodded banks, and other areas in the near vicinity.

After Hydroseeding the banks of the bunker.

Today.

The banks in the foreground have been edged, those in the distance are awaiting edging.

More of the same.

Before. During construction last year.

After: With edging and sand flashed up the faces, this massive bunker come to life.

Before. During construction last year.

After.

Tony Ristola
agolfarchitect.com
agolfarchitect@yahoo.com
+1(909) 581 0080

Grinding Away

2009-08-12T07:09:00.000-07:00

The Milati team came by to sharpen the reels and bedknives of the mowers.

It's amazing what dull equipment does. It rips the grass instead of cutting it, and you get brown tips of grass as a result.

Tony Ristola
agolfarchitect.com
agolfarchitect@yahoo.com
+1(909) 581 0080

Edging 11

2009-08-11T07:09:00.000-07:00

Today the greenside bunkers on 11 were being edged, and then the rain... beautiful rain started falling... for 7-hours. We needed it.

Irrigation was on (see lower photo) just in case we had another false alarm with rain. We have a micro climate here that breaks up incoming fronts, they go around the golf course, raining in the neighboring towns, leaving us dry. Of course there was the wet summer of 2007, but that hit all of Central Europe... even our little bit of California in Poland.

Tony Ristola
agolfarchitect.com
agolfarchitect@yahoo.com
+1 (909) 581 0080

Edging the remainder

2009-08-10T07:09:00.000-07:00

Today it was off to the bunker at the start of the 4th fairway, then to 12, and then the Monster cut into the bank on 18.

The lonely bunker at the start of the 4th fairway.
Before and after edging.

Tony Ristola
agolfarchitect.com
agolfarchitect@yahoo.com
+1 (909) 581 0080

Pekka Guenther: 748 and Counting

2009-08-09T20:59:00.000-07:00

Pekka Guenther, the Grand Man from Kymen Golf, Kotka, Finland dropped by today with friends to play the course. It's his 748th course, and after visiting us he will be on his way up the Baltic coast towards Estonia, bringing his total well over 750, playing 36-holes a day... walking.. in the heat of summer. Pretty impressive, as Pekka is 74 or 75 years young. You can only do these sorts of feats if you love the game, as Pekka obviously does.

Golf is fortunate to have such first-class ambassadors.

Thank you for the enthusiastic comments about the course.

INSERT PHOTO

Tony Ristola
agolfarchitect.com
agolfarchitect@yahoo.com
+1 (909) 581 0080

Open For Business

2009-08-08T04:36:00.000-07:00

Today was the Grand Opening, garden party and tournament. The weather couldn't have been better.

It was a fun day, playing with Timo Hulkkonen (Owner), Marek Majewski (Pension Megi) and Vojciech Szpila (Club Captain). We managed to scrable to a 69, finished fourth, and a few drinks.

Tony Ristola
agolfarchitect.com
agolfarchitect@yahoo.com
+1 (909) 581 0080

Run and Gun

2009-08-07T04:45:00.000-07:00

I've got three crews of three working in various waste bunkers, getting them neat and tidy (for the first time) before the tournament tomorrow.

It's been a longer week than most, and the guys have done a lot of good work in pretty hot weather.

Thanks Guys.

Tony Ristola
agolfarchitect.com
agolfarchitect@yahoo.com
+1 (909) 581 0080

Hell

2009-08-06T06:35:00.000-07:00

It's been hot, the guys have been in the sun fine tuning the waste bunkers, both sweating and drinking gallons.

One of the workers described the work as "Hell". I can't say I disagree, can only thank them for toughing it out.

Cleaning the edges, bringing sand up to them, and raking out the bunkers by hand.

I wasn't sure about these guys (Speedy & Co) when they started, but they became professional bunker finishers, and really caught the team spirit. Hoooooowaaaaaaaaah!

Coming in for another load of spoils.

Tony Ristola
agolfarchitect.com
agolfarchitect@yahoo.com
+1 (909) 581 0080

The Pulpit or Volcano Hole

2009-08-05T04:47:00.000-07:00

The 3rd is a 135 meter par-3, originally planned to be some 50-meters longer, a whole rash of changes took place when designing this hole.

The green is a little like those built by Seth Raynor some 80-years ago.

There are bunkers to the left of the green, buffering the wetland. This bunker, to the front right was edged yesterday evening.

Mr. Peanut attacked this bunker before my arrival, so this is the "before" photo, and what follows are yesterday evening's work. If you want to see more work by the lovable Mr. Peanut that had to be undone, click here:http://sandvalleygolf.blogspot.com/2009/06/attack-of-mr-peanut.html

The following photos's are courtesy of golfclubatlas.com and are from Yeaman's Hall's, also the third hole, and also 130-meters; a product of pure coincidence. It is a Seth Raynor design in South Carolina, built in 1925. I visited and photographed this course about 14-years ago.

The course has several memorable holes, this being one of them. I loved the concept for its simplicity, the daring element of the shot for such a short hole on a flat stretch of ground.

This hole did come to mind when looking at solutions for our 3rd hole, but I didn't reference anything other than my memory bank; wanting our hole to be wholly individual.

The only similarity between our 3rd and Yeaman Hall's is the elevated nature of the greensite, and the length.

Tony Ristola
agolfarchitect.com
agolfarchitect@yahoo.com
+1 (909) 581 0080

Some shots of 12

2009-08-04T01:12:00.000-07:00

Those who have followed this blog will recall part of this hole starting out as a quarry turned garbage dump.

The detail work below can't be accomplished by drawing it on plan, phoning, faxing or emailing it in. The visionary has to be there to lead the way, and get it right. It requires focus, leadership, concentration of effort... and artistic skill.

To make the work look natural, we used native grasses.

The two bunkers in the distance, two of my favorites, required almost no construction, as they were "there", remnants of the old quarry.

Link to the blog showing the construction of some detail work for this hole:
http://sandvalleygolf.blogspot.com/2008/08/some-more-12th-sod-work-completed.html

Tony Ristola
agolfarchitect.com
agolfarchitect@yahoo.com
+1(909) 581 0080

A look back at 17

2009-08-03T21:15:00.000-07:00

These shots are from a couple weeks ago.

Tony Ristola
agolfarchitect.com
agolfarchitect@yahoo.com
+1(909) 581 0080

A Couple New Techniques Discovered

2009-08-02T08:10:00.000-07:00

My brother Jari asks me after every project if I learned anything. He gets the standard reply... "volumes". I always a learn a lot because each project is unique, with a different style, different soils, challenges, and workers... there is a lot to discover... a lot to learn.

Besides learning "volumes" here, I've had some of my strong beliefs reinforced; basically my one-project-at-a-time focus. With a bunch of regular Joes (or Voitek's), and at times a revolving door of them, we've done some pretty neat work. This stuff just can't be mailed in, and especially with guys who know nothing about golf or excellent golf courses.

We are building raw, natural, ragged bunkers, and have used a few different methods to achieve the intended result... but best of all I've added a couple new techniques to my repertoire for achieving the result. Though I can't apply these new techniques all the time, they will certainly have their uses... and best of all... they're really quick!

Sorry, I'm not going to reveal them, but will add that only by spending time with the individuals doing the building on a daily basis has it been possible to experiment and discover.

It's discovering stuff like this that makes all the long days even more fun.

Tony Ristola
agolfarchitect.com
agolfarchitect@yahoo.com
+1(909) 581 0080

Smells like teen spirit

2009-08-01T21:00:00.000-07:00

Here is a picture of the rake and shovel brigade in the bunker on 17. Looks like they're waving at me with one finger... LOL (laughing out loud). I encouraged them to give the one finger salute, and they eagerly obliged.

The guys have done a good job in the heat.

Thanks guys.

Part of the Rake and Shovel Brigade standing at attention and saluting their Captain.

Tony Ristola
agolfarchitect.com
agolfarchitect@yahoo.com
+1(909) 581 0080

The Progression of 16 in Photos

2009-07-31T21:25:00.001-07:00

The 16th is a short and treacherous par-4. At its longest it can be stretched out to 300-meters (330-yards), about 250-meters for members. The fairway is huge, some water left, there aren't a whole lot of bunkers, and none around the green... but the green is what gives the hole teeth.

Beyond locating the tee, turning point and center of the green (which was moved), not one bit of plan was used to create this hole. It was here that a group of visiting superintendents from Hamburg, Germany remarked about the absence of grading stakes. I'll admit, I did use stakes, but only to mark general positions of bunkers and the green as reference after studying the land for weeks and months; not to nail down precise heights.

The green was an evolutionary process, like all of them. It started with an idea, and after some shaping I wasn't very happy with what was produced... it looked like a tee. Then another spark hit and the front of the green with its severe slope was added, the back of the green widened and then a further back section added. (Photos from the front of the green are at the bottom of this post.)

I think this hole will be a lot of fun.

The start; The center of the green, marked by the post, was moved 20-meters closer to the tee.

Some forms are scraped out in a depression we created. Material from this hole was taken to 15 greensite.

Taken yesterday morning.

The following were taken yesterday evening.

There is still a little work to be done to the right of the bunker collection in the distance.

Tony Ristola
agolfarchitect.com
agolfarchitect@yahoo.com
+1(909) 581 0080

Kleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeen

2009-07-30T20:50:00.000-07:00

Bunkers are being cleaned and sand should be going in right away, but we're waiting for delivery... coming soon. Then they'll be part of the maintenance team's ever growing program.

Tony Ristola
agolfarchitect.com
agolfarchitect@yahoo.com
+1(909) 581 0080

From Edging to Cleaning

2009-07-28T20:46:00.000-07:00

We've gone into Goat's Valley to get the spoils moved and create a walkway... Team Koparka (Excavator) has been assisting our loader to get the nooks and crannies cleaned. There are easier jobs.

Later on I went in and edged a couple more areas... to improve the aesthetics.

Next step is to bring in the sand.

The Team Salute. Good job guys.

Tony Ristola
agolfarchitect.com
agolfarchitect@yahoo.com
+1(909) 581 0080

Cleaning the waste along 6 fairway

2009-07-27T20:49:00.000-07:00

After using the cultivator, ripping out the weed, it was brought in today with the sand pro and Team Koparka (Excavator)... the shovel and rake brigade and the loader.

Together we got rid of the growth, cleaned the spoils from the edges and started smoothing out the sand and bringing it tight to the banks.

Now the maintenance team has to do somewhat regular maintenance in the area to keep it somewhat weed free.

The goal isn't to have this area perfect, but to have the odd clump or clumps of native vegetation establish itself.

Some of the bunker sole was cleaned in the winter and sand added, but the banks hadn't been edged, or cleaned. Now we're getting to cleaning the spoils along the edges, and bringing the sand to the bunker's edge.

Tony Ristola
agolfarchitect.com
agolfarchitect@yahoo.com
+1(909) 581 0080

Cultivator Ahoy

2009-07-26T20:54:00.000-07:00

Today was spent spinning around the large waste bunkers on 6 and 13, ripping out the weed for the last time.

Once cleaned they will start their standard maintenance program.

Tony Ristola
agolfarchitect.com
agolfarchitect@yahoo.com
+1(909) 581 0080

Edging the last Witch on 4

2009-07-25T20:58:00.000-07:00

Edged this bunker today, the Witch furthest from the tee.

This bunker was holding a little water, and as it is built on fine sand I didn't install any drainage.

Figuring the bunker surface was silted over I'd few days ago I dug a couple of holes, and sure enough... the water drained away.

Before we install sand we'll build a couple dry wells and fill them with gravel, to ensure the water moves faster through the surface.

Tony Ristola
agolfarchitect.com
agolfarchitect@yahoo.com
+1(909) 581 0080

In the Dunes

2009-07-24T21:03:00.000-07:00

A couple years ago I visited this area and wrote a blog about it. Today I returned and shot some photos of the eroded areas in the dunes.

Our bunkers are a creative exercise of such areas, and have to say I was pretty pleased with what i saw and what we are doing.

Tony Ristola
agolfarchitect.com
agolfarchitect@yahoo.com
+1(909) 581 0080

And they're off

2009-07-23T20:51:00.000-07:00

Today Timo Hulkkonen, The Chief Hulkonnen of the investment team was out with his buddies, Jussi Huttunen, Antero Pailamo and Keijo Pöyry gave the course a test drive, getting a head start on learning the local knowledge.

Timo

Jussi

Antero

Keijo.

Tony Ristola
agolfarchitect.com
agolfarchitect@yahoo.com
+1(909) 581 0080

Going into Goat's Valley

2009-07-22T21:58:00.000-07:00

This was a slash out of the landscape when I in arrived in April 2007. It was the first place we began working, and was supposed to be a long cut up the 18th fairway. Well, as anyone reading this blog knows by now... the original plans were trashed, and the scheme for this hole too.

We moved the green, we moved the tees, and the long cut never materialized. Instead I took the start of the cut, and turned it into a wild, rugged canyon, called Goat's Valley. It's called Goat's Valley because the plan is to have the goat's on the hill near Green 1, and in this valley which connects to it.

Today we're in Goat's, edging the forms, hauling the spoils and getting it ready for sand.

A view of Goat's from left of fairway 1 before edging has begun.

Starting the edging. Looking from 17 fairway.

Looking back from 18 fairway.

Tattoo at work in Goat's.

Tony Ristola
agolfarchitect.com
agolfarchitect@yahoo.com
+1(909) 581 0080

Sods are Us

2009-07-21T21:39:00.001-07:00

It's that time, and we've got a 2-man crew at it.

The course has grown in to the degree where we are going back to sod the washouts on the fairways.

It doesn't make a whole lot of sense to fix them as the course is growing-in, especially when there isn't a whole lot of them and they aren't too deep. Better to let the course grow, wait until there is grass to slow the flow of water, and then go back with sod and fix them... which is what our guys are doing.

After a week, it's difficult to see where they've done their handiwork.

Tony Ristola
agolfarchitect.com
agolfachitect@yahoo.com
+1(909) 581 0080

Clean-up on the way

2009-07-20T21:45:00.000-07:00

Most of the bunkers have been edged, and now it's time for guys to go in, shovel out the spoils and cart them away. On the larger bunkers we'll use the mini excavator to load the material out... saving some back-power.

Once this is done, the sole of the bunkers will be smoothed to perfection and 10 cm (4 inches) of sand installed. Which means more shoveling and raking.

Of course, I will tinker with some of the bunker lines a little... as they are being cleaned.

Tony Ristola
agolfarchitect.com
agolfarchitect@yahoo.com
+1 (909) 581 0080

The Three Bears

2009-07-17T21:01:00.000-07:00

Edging this cluster of bunkers to the left of the par-5, 4th hole tee shot occurred today. They are three small and nasty little places to be. None really provide a good option for a long recovery. To the right of them are the Two Witches, equally undesirable, but with a little better option of moving the ball down the fairway.

The options are to either hit your tee shot down the right along the birch tree which can bring the Witches into play, or try to place your tee shot between the Three Bears and the Witches. The final option is to play shot of all the trouble, but take yourself out of position to go for the green in two.

There is a ton of fairway, must be 70 meters of it, so the final option might be to aim for the Witches, knowing you won't hit it straight, and play on from there. See bottom photo.

The raw material

Mama Bear and Baby Bear have been edged.

Done. Now to take out the spoils and fill with sand.

How they appear from further out. Baby Bear is hidden.

To the right are The Witches, yet to be edged... with a worker to the right of them. It gives an indication of the massive fairway made more interesting by the Bears and Witches.

Tony Ristola
agolfarchitect.com
agolfarchitect@yahoo.com
+1(909) 581 0080

Too Hot for Toi Toi

2009-07-16T20:56:00.000-07:00

For those unfamiliar with the term "Toi Toi", it's the European term for Portolet... Portable Toilet. The mini excavator looks like one on tracks.

Our mini excavator has found the heat of the last couple days not to its liking, and while scraping out the spoils for the large bunker fronting the 17th green... it died. Seems like a fuel pump related problem. In any event, some warning signal kept screeching too, the damn thing sounded like a McDonald's frier... telling us the French Fries were ready... or as they call them here... Fritki.

Toi Toi Kaput

Tony Ristola
agolfarchitect.com
agolfarchitect@yahoo.com
+1 (909) 581 0080

Beginning the bunker fronting 17 green

2009-07-15T21:04:00.000-07:00

This is a pretty large bunker set about 15- meters back from the front of the green, and is a prominent feature on the golf course. There's no screwing up this baby. It represents the dying out of the the long sandy waste running through the middle section of the golf course.

So the edging began today by hand, first picking off the easy forms and then working to find the connections for the remainder.

The process here is to edge some, go back and look, edge some more and go back and look... the same as most bunkers. I didn't finish edging the bunker today, nor did I want to. I wanted the chance to sleep on what has been done, and go back with fresh eyes tomorrow.

The bunker on the par-3, 17th before edging began. Had we not built the bunker to the right (part of Goat's Valley) the hole would have had some bail-out room. The hole reminds me a fair bit of the par-3, 4th at Riviera CC in Los Angeles, though it wasn't my intention to replicate the hole. Fact is, our bank to the right of the green, past the bunker, is more effective at kicking balls into it than it cousin in LA.

I've called the bunker "Carry Me", because you have to. It doesn't look too imposing in the photo, so next time I'll get someone standing in it.

To the right is its sister bunker, with no name at the moment (perhaps "Screw You" is fitting) which will undergo its own edging program simultaneously. I'll hop from one bunker to the other... to give me time to think about the work being done to Carry Me.

For comparison purposes, the 215 meter, par-3, 4th hole at Riviera CC in Los Angeles, host of the Los Angeles Open on the PGA Tour, and former host of the US Open and PGA Championship. It is a course I've been fortunate to play on many occasions.

More than a decade has passed since I last teed it up there, and as noted, the hole wasn't used at a reference. It really didn't register as we built our hole. Memory being what it is, I totally forgot about the bunker to the right;, and what's also interesting is the ugly cart path to the left of the hole. We have our main maintenance road to the left too, but it is largely out of view, and will be maintained as a waste bunker.

Tony Ristola
agolfarchitect.com
agolfarchitect@yahoo.com
+1 (909) 581 0080

Edging the Beast

2009-07-10T20:56:00.000-07:00

From about 100 meters from the green and leading into it we've begun edging this beast of a bunker.

It will be a process a lot like sculpture; edging, evaluating and going back to refine... until happy. It's nothing you can draw on plans; someone has to be on-site leading the way.

The fun has started.

Tony Ristola
agolfarchitect.com
agolfarchitect@yahoo.com
1 (909) 581 0080

A look down 1 Fairway

2009-07-09T20:33:00.000-07:00

Building this hole was fun.

When I arrived here after the previous builder was fired and the project started anew, the landscape looked like a war zone. There was no topsoil for this hole, the adjacent 18th and 5th in the distance. There was a lot of erosion, old drainage was busted, and inferior material was stockpiled for the greens and fairway contours.

All the crap was taken away, used in the buffer wall, as we started to repair the damage left by the previous inhabitants.

I didn't use detailed plans to build this or any hole, green or bunker; we had ideas and built upon them... seizing opportunities daily to improve the concepts as we went along.

It's a faster way to build than following sticks and waiting for the infrequent site-visits of an architect. It's not only more faster, it allows all the opportunities to improve the product to be seized.

The first hole in the evening.
The place is starting to look like a golf course.
The hole looks bunker free, but Goat's Bunker awaits behind Goat's Hill to the left of the green.

Tony Ristola
agolfarchitect.com
agolfarchitect@yahoo.com
+1 (909) 581 0080

Rain

2009-07-08T21:08:00.000-07:00

Well, we've been pretty fortunate with the weather. I know other parts of central Europe have been getting rain for the past couple weeks on a regular basis, but we've been nice and dry... until yesterday. We really got hammered. In fact CNNi gave a weather warning for Tuesday... rightly so as trees were toppled here and there, but none on the golf course.

Today we had rain in the morning, and it poured buckets at noon while working on the bunkers in the vicinity of green 15. We trudged on, completing the work and coming in like drenched rats... then called it a day.

Would have taken pictures, but would have needed a waterproof camera.

All in all, the course needed a good thorough rain. Now there is no question whether we have moisture in the ground for the young grass growing in.

Tony Ristola
agolfarchitect.com
agolfarchitect@yahoo.com
+1(909) 581-0080

"Design and construction are not separate jobs, but different parts of the same job... and that is Design." TR

Building the Wee Bunker on 15 in Photos

2009-07-07T20:54:00.000-07:00

The Wee Bunker has had little growth, so to help things along it was constructed today... one of several bunker jobs on the go.

Have to admit, the beginning doesn't look like much... more like a mess.

But the finished product looks a hell of a lot better.
In fact this little devil has character... and that's our goal. To create bunkers with a common thread, yet chock full of individuality.

Not something the architect can do by simply shipping plans to the site, making the odd visit and walking away.

Tony Ristola
agolfarchitect.com
agolfarchitect@yahoo.com
+1(909) 581 0080

Scraping out the greenside bunker on 7 then off to 15

2009-07-06T21:11:00.001-07:00

The greenside bunker on 7 has been scraped free, and in the next days sod will be added to refine the raw forms.

We've got a river dune near the 15th green we're doing some edging and bunker work on too. It 's a fair bit of heavy lifting, as we're sodding the fairway side of the bunker running along the base of the dune.

Tony Ristola
agolfarchitect.com
agolfarchitect@yahoo.com
+1 (909) 581 0080

Sunday spent Edging

2009-07-05T21:15:00.000-07:00

Today, another hot one, was spent edging the greenside bunker on 7.

This is a big bunker that blends into the wetland/lake running along the right of the hole.
The job here is to edge and look, edge and look, edge and look.

After the soil and excess grass has been scraped away, there will be more edging, and finally sod added to enhance the forms.

Rough forms have been staked, but are by no means the final form.
Once the forms have been edged, the excess material will be scraped away, and then looked at from 180 degrees. Then the refining process of edging will and island creation will continue.

Hand work, to be followed by the mini-excavator.

Edged and ready for the excess to be scraped away.
It's not the easiest or fastest manner to finish bunkers, but if you want individuality and harmony, there is nothing like spending time to labor over them and reflect upon them... just like anything of value.

Tony Ristola
agolfarchitect.com
agolfarchitect@yahoo.com
+1(909) 581 0080

Happy July 4th!

2009-07-04T21:47:00.000-07:00

It's Independence Day back in America.... has me craving for some BBQ and wanting to go to a baseball game... but I'll pass on the peanuts (see June 29th post).

Tony Ristola
agolfarchitect.com
agolfarchitect@yahoo.com
+1(909) 581 0080

Shots of the 2nd

2009-07-03T20:59:00.000-07:00

Still a fair amount of cleaning in the waste bunker on the 2nd, but the forms are pretty clear.

There are some really square edges, but this is preliminary work, the fine work will be accomplished by hand... with shovels and rakes.

Tony Ristola
agolfarchitect.com
agolfarchitect@yahoo.com
+1(909) 581 0080

Shots of the 4th

2009-07-02T20:50:00.001-07:00

The spoils have been removed, the next step is to clean up the bunker of tire marks, and get the last details attended to... like rounding out some of the square edges.

The starting point some days ago.

After edging, formalizing the interior forms with sod and getting rid of the spoils.
There is still the final raking out, and fine tuning the edging to be done.

Tony Ristola
agolfarchitect.com
agolfarchitect@yahoo.com
+1 (909) 581 0080

The Attack of Mr. Peanut Revisited

2009-07-01T21:27:00.000-07:00

Before...

After Edging the bunkers, and eliminating the Mr. Peanut Effect. Some of the forms are difficult to see.
There are likely to be additional changes to the bunker forms before cleaning the bunker bottoms and spreading the sand.
That's the beauty of having time to reflect on the work being accomplished. Improvements can be made after reflection.

Tony Ristola
agolfarchitect.com
agolfarchitect@yahoo.com
+1(909) 580 0080

After the edging comes the spoils

2009-06-30T22:14:00.000-07:00

Edging the bunkers is the fun part... finding the forms. The tough work is getting rid of the extra material, especially when the bunker runs some 300 meters in length as is does on the 2nd hole.

It's tedious work, but thanks to machines it's made a fair bit easier... even in the hot humid weather we've had the past couple afternoons.

Tony Ristola
agolfarchitect.com
agolfarchitect@yahoo.com
+1 (909) 581 0080

The Attack of Mr. Peanut

2009-06-29T04:15:00.000-07:00

As noted earlier, someone felt the need to start tooling with some of the bunkers during my absence... what possessed them... I don't know, and it doesn't matter. What's done is done. We can only deal with the future and how best to fix the situation(s). The Finns have a saying for this which I love:

"When the shit is in the pants, it is too late."

In some cases the "attempts" have made my work easier, in others more difficult.

Working on the 5th today I noticed a strong resemblance from one bunker to the next... it was the Attack of Mr. Peanut!

The Attack of Mr. Peanut!
I can say we've had a few laughs with the boys about this.

Yours Truly, the architect in the field, shovel in hand... undoing the work of Mr. Peanut.
This is the early in the process with only small sections of the bunkers starting to evolve into more rugged characters.

Tony Ristola
agolfarchitect.com
agolfarchitect@yahoo.com
+1(909) 581 0080

Concepting

2009-06-28T07:06:00.000-07:00

I often sit around in the field and stare at a bunker to be edged off and on... for days. Now I don't just sit and stare but also work on others that are easier to conceive while contemplating what to do for the one or ones on my mind.

I'd stared at this for a couple days while working on bunkers in the vicinity before hitting it with the spade.

I'm still not happy with the right side of the bunker, so I came back and did a little graphics magic to see how the right side would look with the sand flashed higher. I won't do this often, and really didn't need to do it here (my instincts being impeccable :) ... but thought it would be a fun experiment.

The result is it does look better, but a portion of the right side is a little off still.

I won't take this photo in the field, but go out and find the forms, feeling my way through the process.

The right side looked too low with the height of the bank... so...

After some graphics magic my instincts were confirmed.
I won't build it exactly like this, but the right side will be higher.

The final product as edged in the field.
Sand has been added by a graphics program.
It is amazingly similar to the though graphics illustration I did not take into the field.

Tony Ristola
agolfarchitect.com
agolfarchitect@yahoo.com
+1 (909) 581 0080

Follow the mouse

2009-06-27T22:00:00.000-07:00

I've built grass faced bunkers, flashed faced bunkers with different degrees of wildness, but never "cookie cutter" bunkers.

In any event, with the raw/wild forms people have asked how I develop them; Fact is, there are truly numerous ways to accomplish them.

One source of inspiration when the entire bunker face has been grassed is to follow the trails mice leave in the grass. Of course this can't always be used... sometimes there's not enough mice!

During the past winter, the mice had been active under the snow (it was a cold Central European winter last year), and leave little highways about 2.5cm wide. You have to look close to find them through the grass, but they work well as a source of inspiration now and again.

I guess it brings a whole new meaning to Mickey Mouse bunkers.

During the spring someone tried their hand at creating bunkers, and... well... they look like those found on thousand of uninspired courses around the world. These are the bunker styles the architect can simply let anyone do, requiring little input... which is great for the architect when he has multiple projects (he doesn't have to attend to any details!)... but not so great for the investor of millions as his course has little visual differentiation.

After edging and removing most of the sods taken.
In many ways it left a more challenging job as 30cm (one foot) or more of turf was lost in the process.

With a little art rendering program the final outcome will look something like this.
The small far bunker has lost its symmetrical circular form and has taken on far more character.

A small section of the work partially inspired by Mickey Mouse and friends.

Tony Ristola
agolfarchitect.com
agolfarchitect@yahoo.com
+1 (909) 581 0080

Bunker work impossible to draw in plans

2009-06-26T21:21:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I spent the day working alone, getting a feel for the process we would be using for this waste area, and others. Today I plucked a new associate... assistant Chief Strong Back (Piotr) to continue cutting sod and delivering it.

Below illustrates the process. It's not something you can mail in or make the odd site-visit to do. It's specialty work... getting a feel for what is and can be done, and keeping in mind how it can and should be maintained. It's why I only build one-golf-course-at-a-time... to get all the detail possible, and seize on all the opportunities.

Remember we're getting the basic forms accomplished, and the interior of the bunker where weed and grass has taken over will be covered in sand in.

Starting point.

To the right you can see where the sods won from the bunker edge have been to good use shaping the interior of the bunker.

The bunker interior formalized. Once the bunker is completed, we will go back, and clean out the grass and weed, and add sand to that which exists.

Tony Ristola
agolfarchitect.com
agolfarchitect@yahoo.com
+1 (909) 581 0080

And the bunker work starts

2009-06-25T20:53:00.000-07:00

After walking through and photographing the remainder of the holes, the bunker detail work started on Hole Nr. 4

I don't build cookie-cutter bunkers, why be here to build bunkers if they will look like those found on 10,000 other golf courses. I have ideas for what we will accomplish, but finding the style for the golf course is an evolutionary process.

Here some basic edging has been done for the waste area; these banks will be simple and formal. The inside features of the waste area will take on another character.

It starts with this.

Then basic edging begins. We will be using the sod taken for other areas to crate bunker edges within the waste areas. This bunker edge will have simple, clean lines... serving as a transition from golf course to waste area; the interior bunkers/dunes of the will be another matter.

Tony Ristola
agolfarchitect.com
agolfarchitect@yahoo.com
+1 (909) 581 0080

Back for Bunker Work

2009-06-23T21:57:00.000-07:00

It was cloudy, not too warm and rained yesterday, not a bad thing for grow-in. The last thing you want is scorching heat.

Today we had it clear, warm, and little windy.

It's been 8-months since I've been here last and the challenges of grow-in are all obvious. It's not the prettiest stage of development, waiting and babying the grass to get knit together, but it is what it is.

Some areas have come along fine, others, usually the more exposed and sandy areas need more TLC (tender loving care)... which means water, fertilizer, and in some places overseeding or sodding.

Grow-in just might be the toughest job in the business... I'm happy to only design and build these things.

The maintenance/grow-in crew, along with the latest in Soviet evening wear to the far right.

Sand Valley Artwork

2009-02-01T07:18:00.000-08:00

Giclee copies of this painting of the 6th greensite are available through Sand Valley Golf Club.

Acylic on Canvas.
25cm x 60cm.

The top photo is the reference for the painting below.

Tony Ristola
agolfarchitect.com
agolfarchitect@yahoo.com
+1(909) 581 0080

The Mixing Bucket

2008-10-25T16:31:00.000-07:00

The mix for what the grass will grow on the tees and greens is a mix of sand and peat moss.

The Mix Recipe: Evenly split between sand screened from our quarry, and sand imported from a quarry 40 minutes away. Our sand and the imported sand is made up of 2mm particles but ours has a bit more fine material.

Mixing can be done in several ways. Through a power screen, by loaders, or tractor with a tiller. We've opted for another method, using a "mixing bucket".

The material is measured and placed in a big pile, like a mix of ingredients for a cake. Then the excavator stands atop it and begins the mixing process. The operator leaves a 30cm (1 foot) buffer of mix to prevent native unscreened material from contaminating the "cake mix".

Loading the dumper from atop a mixed pile. A pile requiring further mixing is in the foreground.

Mixing bucket is used during loading.

A look at the back of the bucket's mixing wheels.

The backside again.

Into the bucket.

Close up.

Tony Ristola
agolfarchitect.com
agolfarchitect@yahoo.com
+1(909) 581 0080

Fuel Usage

2008-10-20T02:30:00.000-07:00

About May 27, 2007 the diesel station below was delivered.

In the last 17-months 209,321 liters were used... from this machine.
This during a time when fuel prices skyrocketed.

That wasn't the total fuel used either.

We had a subcontractor with the same station service its two machines, a dumper and excavator for about 8 weeks, along with additional fuel supplied in barrels.

The fueling station worked perfectly during the entire project.

Tony Ristola
agolfarchitect.com
agolfarchitect@yahoo.com
+1(909) 581 0080

Sand Valley on CNBC TV

2008-10-16T07:02:00.000-07:00

The day the guys were supposed to shoot was sunny and warm.
Beautiful.

They CNBC crew couldn't make it in time to catch the great evening light, so we rescheduled for the next day.

Unfortunately it rained buckets the whole night... and the course was saturated.
Usually we would have had guys working, but it was simply too wet.

youtube.com/watch?v=8tnNqpUkuNc

Good times were had by all, and we were lucky to get the shoot in before it started raining again.

Tony Ristola
agolfarchitect.com
agolfarchitect@yahoo.com
+1(909) 581 0080

Some Photos of Hole 1

2008-10-10T05:59:00.000-07:00

Before and After
What the property looked like when I inherited it in April 2007... and...

Now... It's starting to look a little like a golf course!

Tony Ristola
agolfarchitect.com
agolfarchitect@yahoo.com
+1(909) 581 0080

Due to Popular Demand... More Cartoons

2008-10-07T05:06:00.000-07:00

We are busy doing finish work, installing the last of the irrigation... testing the system and seeding.
Same grind... different day.

This series comes from the European championship soccer game between Poland and Austria. Austria was awarded a penalty in the last seconds of extra time and scored... eliminating the Poles from the tournament and winning me 5-beer from Jin Ling and Martin (finger extended).

The joke was, if Poland could not beat a small village of Yodellers and goat farmers, they had no business qualifying for the second half of the tournament.

The natives were not impressed.

Jin Ling, who threw his phone after the tie (defeat... lost bet)... breaking the display... sees a long day of work ahead.

Martin... still with the "fighting spirit".

The beer tasted great!

Below is a cartoon of Josef... who did a little tinky-winky in the excavator.
It was worth a few days of cartoons.

Josef walks his Porta-potty (in Europe either Toi Toi or Dixie) back to the yard.

Tony Ristola
agolfarchitect.com
agolfarchitect@yahoo.com
+1(909) 581 0080

One of many cartoons during the project

2008-10-06T02:02:00.000-07:00

The cartoons aren't quite a daily event, but almost.
They're a good way to poke fun at each other.

Below is a cartoon about Speedy.
He was talking when he should have been listening at the local disco on the weekend.
Hence the toon.

Speedy, shiner and all.

Tony Ristola
agolfarchitect.com
agolfarchitect@yahoo.com
+1(909) 581 0080

Photos from last month

2008-10-05T01:46:00.000-07:00

The start of the short par-4, 5th.

A view from the left of the fairway; near the tees on Hole 2.

Looking back towards the tee from alongside the long bunker that runs along the right of the 2nd hole.

Tony Ristola
agolfarchitect.com
agolfarchitect@yahoo.com
+1(909) 581 0080

Rootzone in...

2008-10-04T01:33:00.000-07:00

...finish work on green 6 is finished and 16 is almost done.

Let the seeding begin guys... or as Petri likes to say... "seeeeeeeeeed.... seeeeeeeeed..."

Tony Ristola
agolfarchitect.com
agolfarchitect@yahoo.com
+1(909) 581 0080

More photos

2008-10-03T00:51:00.000-07:00

1 and 2. A view from behind the Back Tee on 10.
3. Testing a sprinkler head on 9 green.
4 and 5. Tomek tracking in the seed on the surrounds of the 2nd green.
6. A cluster of fairway bunker down the right side of the landing are on the par-5, 4th.

Tony Ristola
agolfarchitect.com
agolfarchitect@yahoo.com
+1(909) 581 0080

Photos from the last days

2008-10-02T00:16:00.000-07:00

From the top down:
1. Jin Ling walking the front of the par-3 9th green.
2. Inspecting sprinkler head.
3. The Irritation Team; Jin Ling and Martin
4. Same guys posing for the camera.
5. Part of Team Tania. We have a number of the opposite sex raking out the features... and doing a good job.

Tony Ristola
agolfarchitect.com
agolfarchitect@yahoo.com
+1(909) 581 0080

Rootzone on 6 and 16

2008-10-01T00:13:00.000-07:00

The sixth and 16th greens are getting their rootzone.

The 6th is a long haul and a challenge to get to, whereas 16 is a breeze.

Tony Ristola
agolfarchitect.com
agolfarchitect@yahoo.com
+1(909) 581 0080

Focus on 11 fairway

2008-09-30T00:10:00.000-07:00

We're cleaning up the fairway, and working a flow line so the water drains to its disappearing point.

After that it should be all systems go for seeding.

Tony Ristola
agolfarchitect.com
agolfarchitect@yahoo.com
+1(909) 581 0080

10 Green Rootzone compacted

2008-09-29T00:05:00.000-07:00

The rootzone is the mix of sand and organic matter used for growing grass on the greens.

After it has been installed by Tex using an excavator, it's smoothed out some and then compacted with Petri using his tractor.

From there the finish work for the greens ensues with the surrounds. The two must be "tied" together seamlessly.

Finishing a greensite takes about a day.

Tony Ristola
agolfarchitect.com
agolfarchitect@yahoo.com
+1(909) 581 0080

It's Sunday...

2008-09-28T00:01:00.000-07:00

... and Petri is finishing the tees... doing his thing pretty much alone.

Tony Ristola
agolfarchitect.com
agolfarchitect@yahoo.com
+1(909) 581 0080

Tees, tees and more tees

2008-09-27T23:58:00.000-07:00

Petri has been busy finishing the tees on 8, 11 and 17 the last couple days.

They're all in fairly close proximity to one another, and as he's cleaned up the area... it's looking good.

Tony Ristola
agolfarchitect.com
agolfarchitect@yahoo.com
+1(909) 581 0080

Connecting the irrigation to 9 Green

2008-09-26T23:55:00.000-07:00

With this accomplished, we will be flushing the lines, installing the heads, cleaning up the work where the sprinklers were installed... and seeding.

This should all happen in short order.

Tony Ristola
agolfarchitect.com
agolfarchitect@yahoo.com
+1(909) 581 0080

Out with the Old

2008-09-25T23:49:00.000-07:00

Road that is.

We had a haul road cutting through the 9th fairway, but a new road... one for the residential project is being cut and will be used in the near future.

It means the old road will get ripped up, loosened, and the fairway finished.

Tony Ristola
agolfarchitect.com
agolfarchitect@yahoo.com
+1(909) 581 0080

Petri Mestari (Master) in Photos

2008-09-24T01:57:00.000-07:00

The master of finishing work slipping down the banks of the 9th green.

Note to future members and guests: It's not wise to miss this green left.

In the TV series Knight Rider with David Hasselhoff, he had his car full of tricks called Kit. Well, Petri and his Kita 4200... actually a Kubota 4200, and he, not Kita is the bag of tricks.

Mestari.

Petri's TG Grademaker, with accessories (shovel).

Getting ready to descend the slope left of 9 green.

This is how Petri spend a good part of his day. With his head turned around looking at the grader. He really should have a set of eyes in the back of his head.

It looks benign, but this slope is steeper than it appears.

Eyes backwards, tractor forwards.

Tony Ristola
agolfarchitect.com
agolfarchitect@yahoo.com
+1(909) 581 0080

Drizzle Drizzle

2008-09-23T09:53:00.000-07:00

Talk about lucky.

We had a couple days of rain as if it came from a misting machine. Kept things moist, no risk of run-off... simply perfect for germinating seed and immature grass plants.

Something like that every couple days would be ideal. You don't want burning sun or lots of wind. Calm, moist and warm are the best conditions.

Like a greenhouse.

Tony Ristola
agolfarchitect.com
agolfarchitect@yahoo.com
+1(909) 581 0080

17 Green

2008-09-22T03:53:00.000-07:00

Greens and surrounds were seeded today.

The bunkers are just about ready for seeding, and once done the remainder of the hole can be grassed.

There isn't a lot of fairway here. It's a par-3 with two gaping bunkers forcing golfers to hit long iron or fairway wood approaches... virtually all in the air.

You can carry the bunkers and feed the ball onto the green, or work the ball off the slopes to its right. Once the bunkers are cleared, there are no further hazards around the green.

It's a demanding hole, one of the most demanding on the course.

Tony Ristola
agolfarchitect.com
agolfarchitect@yahoo.com
+1(909) 581 0080

2 is about ready to go

2008-09-21T11:24:00.000-07:00

Today finishing the surrounds of the 2nd green was complete.

There is some cleanup for the remainder of the hole, and then it's on to seeding... and waiting for it to turn green.

Tony Ristola
agolfarchitect.com
agolfarchitect@yahoo.com
+1(909) 581 0080

Rootzone to 6 green

2008-09-20T11:57:00.000-07:00

This is a big green, some 850 square meters, and has some larger undulations.

We started driving rootzone to this far corner of the property... it should be about a day to day and a half's work.

Tony Ristola
agolfarchitect.com
agolfarchitect@yahoo.com
+1 (909) 581 0080

2 New bunkers

2008-09-19T22:50:00.000-07:00

We had a small drainage challenge to the left of the third green, and had planned one larger bunker there. Between the left of the green and the wetland.

Instead we elevated the problem area slightly and shaped one larger bunker, which then became one larger and one very small bunker.

I like this setup as much or more than what was initially planned.

All this took about an hour with the dumper bringing in a few loads of sand and the excavator rough shaping the new bunker, followed by 6 hours of hand work; raking out the forms and tying in the slopes to the bank of the green.

The 2 bunkers could be called the 3-F's... "Form follows function".

Now the hole is ready to be seeded.

Tony Ristola
agolfarchitect.com
agolfarchitect@yahoo.com
+1(909) 581 0080

Rootzone on 2 green

2008-09-18T22:11:00.000-07:00

Today the second green had rootzone installed and means the corner of 2, 3 and 4 is ready for seeding once the area has been graded. It's a lot of fairway as the 2nd and 4th holes are connected.

We are waiting for the delivery of a critical component to finish the last section of fairway 4...

Tony Ristola
agolfarchitect.com
agolfarchitect@yahoo.com
+1(909) 581 0080

On the verge... Part 2

2008-09-17T21:56:00.000-07:00

The fourth greensite has been floated, the tees for the 3rd and 4th finished, and the rootzone will be going in to 2 green tomorrow. This greensite will be quick to get to finish grade, ready for seeding. Some hours work to flush out the lines and install sprinkler heads and Bingo! We're ready to turn the area over to the superintendent for seeding...

... but it will require a day of running over the 2nd and 4th with the grader... but before that...

...we are waiting for a critical piece of material to get the corner of holes 2, 3, and 4 done. Once this is located and installed, we will be seeding the entire area.

So.. it really should be done by the 19th and in the superintendent's hands.

Tony Ristola
agolfarchitect.com
agolfarchitect@yahoo.com
+1(909) 581 0080

On the verge of escaping another dastardly corner

2008-09-16T21:34:00.000-07:00

Finish work is getting swiftly and expertly accomplished by Petri, our Finnish finisher, and some helping hands.

The 3rd green and 4th tees are done, the 4th green will be done today.

Then it's a matter of shaping the remainder of the bunker that runs the length of the 2nd fairway, fixing up some bits of road before getting the connected fairways cleaned up for seeding.

It'll be nice to turn this corner over to the superintendent.

Tony Ristola
agolfarchitect.com
agolfarchitect@yahoo.com
+1 (909) 581 0080

Rootzone on 4

2008-09-15T21:53:00.000-07:00

This was the toughest greensite to get to logistically.

Low lying, only one access road that was open only when weather permitted, and having to cross the fairway for the last 70 meters made it a tough go. Instead of using our articulated dumper to bring rootzone to the edge of the green, we opted for the tractor with manure spreader... a slower operation, but a lighter footprint.

Now it's pretty easy sailing to get the remainder of the greens done.

Tony Ristola
agolfarchitect.com
agolfarchitect@yahoo.com
+1 (909) 581 0080

Zoom'in Right Along

2008-09-14T11:14:00.000-07:00

Today the 3rd green and surrounds was finished.

After a final pass with the bunker rake over the greens, then it's a matter of installing the sprinkler heads and getting the small amount of fairway prepared.

Tees will be done tomorrow, and this hole can start growing-in.

Probably Tuesday.

Tony Ristola
agolfarchitect.com
agolfarchitect@yahoo.com
+1(909) 581 0080

Getting out of the corner

2008-09-13T11:20:00.000-07:00

The 1st, 18th fairway, 2nd tees, and 5th fairway and green are seeded. It's a corner of the course we will be closing to traffic shortly.

The grass has started popping up by the first tees.

Tony Ristola
agolfarchitect.com
agolfarchitect@yahoo.com
+1(909) 581 0080

Enter Petri

2008-09-12T11:25:00.000-07:00

To fill out the finishing team... we have Petri from Finland. A Finnish finisher.

He uses a Kubota tractor without cab, with a Tee Gee Grademaker attached. The Kubota's profile sits lower to the ground and is more stable than our John Deere. His doesn't have a cab, so it's easier to use, and to go forward or reverse is one pedal; press towards the toes and you forward, heel is backward.

The John Deere has a seperate pedal for forward and backward. Another feature that's better with the Kubota. His bunker rake is a John Deere. (Nothing runs like a deer, nothing smells like a John... sorry couldn't resist a little industry humor).

Tony Ristola
agolfarchitect.com
agolfarchitect@yahoo.com
+1(909) 581 0080

All happeneing quick

2008-09-11T11:22:00.000-07:00

We had been knocking down weeds in the fairways for weeks waiting for the ideal seeding window to come along. So, the fairways have been run over with the finish grader several times. Once the green and surrounds are completed, it doesn't take long for the fairway to be ready for seeding.

So, we are speeding along.

September 11 is a solemn, unforgettable date.

Tony Ristola
agolfarchitect.com
agolfarchitect@yahoo.com
+1(909) 581 0080

Tees on 7 are being floated

2008-08-30T00:46:00.000-07:00

Floating is the process of taking the bunker rake with a box attached and driving in circles or a circular fashion to make everything flat and smooth.

The challenge of finishing work is getting the transition area from rootzone to native soil compacted.

Tools of the trade:

All-wheel drive Smithco SuperStar bunker rake, showel and rake.

A great blade with a leading edge of hardened steel. It's manually operated... no hydraulics here.

The rake. Under the blades are screws with bolts which help pull out weed and break up the soil.

Cultivator. This really loosens the soil. It's also good for knocking down small piles. The teeth are normally straight, but I've used it in a couple areas with rocky soil, hence the bent metal.

The "box". Homemade, this fills in depressions when driven in a circular fashion. It can also strengthen of soften slopes. Softening when driving down the slope, steepening when driving up the slope.

Early in the floating process. The connection between the soil and rootzone hasn't been worked too much. That's coming next.

We'll be using a tractor with TG Grader with laser in the near future to get the grades nailed down faster, followed by the sand pro and hand work.

Tony Ristola
agolfarchitect.com
agolfarchitect@yahoo.com
+1(909) 581 0080

Flattening out stockpile dirt

2008-08-29T00:42:00.000-07:00

It's amazing how knocking down dirt piles changes the perspective of everything. Views open up, space is created where it once seemed confined.

We don't have much left in this department, only by 17 green do we have stockpiled material, and once the greens on 1 and 5 have rootzone can we rid ourselves of these monsters of dirt too.

Tony Ristola
agolfarchitect.com
agolfarchitect@yahoo.com
+1(909) 581 0080

2nd Cut

2008-08-28T00:37:00.000-07:00

The short course greens have been cut for the second time, and the course itself is being cut with regularity.

Tony Ristola
agolfarchitect.com
agolfarchitect@yahoo.com
+1(909) 581 0080

The last of the barrier for Dr. Noise

2008-08-27T23:52:00.000-07:00

Dr. Noise was Kai's first nickname.

Due to proximity of the Warsaw-Gdansk road, which will be moved in the coming years, Kai was hell bent on reducing the noise as much as possible. I obliged, creating a pretty massive wall that is camouflaged to look like a hillside.

We're finishing the last bits of the barrier, and should be done in a day or so.

Some before and after shots.

End of April 2007.

The height and width of the wall are drastically different today.
The green section of wall just in front of the tee requires a little work and will be done after the gravel blanket and rootzone are installed in the tees.

April 2007.

Again, the dramatic change in the wall is evident by the trees in the background. It will be planted with bush, making it appear even higher and helping further to hide the artificial work.

Tony Ristola
agolfarchitect.com
agolfarchitect@yahoo.com
+1(909) 581 0080

That's it

2008-08-26T23:21:00.000-07:00

All the tees have rootzone in place, with the par-3 9th and back tee for the par-4 9th being the last such jobs.

For those that are new to the blog, the 9th is designed as both a par-3 and par-4.

There is a discussion about this hole on golfclubatlas.com:
http://golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php?PHPSESSID=972444c822a8c77b3fa6e61f14589b57&topic=35000.0

Sketch of the 9th from the par-3 tee.
The green is on the plateau framed by the gap in the trees.

Tony Ristola
agolfarchitect.com
agolfarchitect@yahoo.com
+1(909) 581 0080

After the rain

2008-08-25T23:18:00.000-07:00

We're busy cleaning up some areas after the rainfall.

One of the tasks is for guys to clean all the silty buildup around the catch basins so we'll be prepared for the next rainfall.

Hey! When are those hay bales coming!?

These square bales will be placed around the catch basins to prevent silt from clogging the gravel.

Tony Ristola
agolfarchitect.com
agolfarchitect@yahoo.com
+1(909) 581 0080

A look back

2008-08-24T23:07:00.000-07:00

The sketch is from May 11, 2007. I'd been on site for a couple weeks.

The tees Sand Valley are largely rectangular or box shaped, but my thought was to have tees interconnected so the angle of play would vary more and would be easier to maintain. Hence the "Continuous Mowing Tees" caption for the sketch.

With this concept the tees could be mown with a minimum of lifting the cutting units.

With the material we had at hand would have been easy to construct, and virtually ideal for the concept.

The tees on 8 are surrounded by sand, but certainly don't resemble this sketch... though their banks will.

Tony Ristola
agolfarchitect.com
agolfarchitect@yahoo.com
+1(909) 581 0080