18TH BROOMFIELD REALIGNMENT PROJECT

In conjunction with our course architect plans were drawn up to minimize the risk of golf balls hitting adjoining properties of which there had been a number of instances. This consisted of making the hole a dog-leg, with the fairway moving slightly to the right. This should result in players having  to hit their tee shots further away from the course boundary.  Mounding, 2 bunkers and a long hollow also made up part of the plan. The existing 18th tee will also be moved slightly to the left of its current location.

the view from the fairway prior to work commencing.

Russell Talley our architect  marking out the position of the new bunkers.

Work started on Monday 9th November. The first task was to cut and lift the turf from the main work area. We stacked the turf on pallets and then moved them to the side using forks on the loader of our Kubota tractor.

 Starting to lift the turf.

 Moving the pallets of turf.

Some of the stacked pallets of turf.

All the turf removed.

We then had to remove all of the topsoil. The soil only amounted to roughly 4 - 6 inches in depth, so to make this task easier we used a tractor mounted rotavator to loosen it first, we then  moved it using our front loader and stock piled the soil in one corner for re-use later.

 Rotavating the work area.

Stockpiling the topsoil.

Once this was done we then had the job of contouring the sub soil to the desired shape. We created a hollow to the right hand side into which the fairway would later be cut. The subsoil that was removed was then used to form mounding to the left hand side. The highest mound was built to 1 metre above the original ground level which still allows the green surface to be seen from the tee.

Moving subsoil to form the new mounding.

 2 new bunkers were then built into the mounding, these were revetted in the usual manner and are positioned at the left edge of what will be the new fairway.

 The positions for the 2 new bunkers.

 One of the bunkers built.

Once all of the contouring and bunker work had been completed then the stockpiled topsoil was spread out evenly over the entire area. Firming and raking then took place in readiness for re-turfing.
Fertiliser to help with root development was then spread and raked into the soil, then the turf was re-laid.

 Laying turf around the 2 bunkers.

 Turfing in progress.

Turfing around the bunkers and fairway complete.

 The finished bunkers.

The view from the fairway after completion.

Once complete the area was tidied up and we rolled the area with one of our turf irons. When weather conditions allow we will apply a number of topdressings to the fairway area which will help to smooth it out further. All the work to the fairway took 2 weeks to complete from start to finish.
 In the Spring when grass growth returns the left hand side of the hole together with the area behind the new bunkers will be allowed to grow into more penal rough. The out of bounds will also be moved over, in line with the hole, which in turn will encourage golfers to aim up the right hand side.

Les Rae,

First Assistant,

Montrose Golf Links Limited.