The Chaska, Minn., site of the 2016 Ryder Cup upgraded its bunkers, which were previously prone to wash-outs and cost $50,000 per year in repairs.
The bunkers at the Hazeltine National Golf Club have been renovated as part of the club’s preparation for the 2016 Ryder Cup, Golf Course Architecture reported.
The Chaska, Minn., course was originally designed by Robert Trent Jones and has previously hosted the US Open, PGA Championships and US Women’s Open, Golf Course Architecture reported.
Ahead of the club’s hosting of the Ryder Cup’s 41st edition, Hazeltine turned to Duininck Golf to rebuild its bunkers which were previously prone to wash-outs, Golf Course Architecture reported.
In order to reconstruct almost all of the 107 bunkers on the Hazeltine course, Duininck Golf excavated down to the existing subgrades and provided detail shaping to return the bunkers back to their original design and shape. The team also installed new Prinsco drain tile, placed the gravel liners and installed the Better Billy Bunker system, Golf Course Architecture reported.
Work started at the course in mid-September, and the bunker renovations were completed by early November, Golf Course Architecture reported.
“We had a short completion window, and it was a big benefit for us to get the bunkers rebuilt this fall,” said Chris Tritabaugh, the club’s superintendent. “We wanted two full golf seasons under our belts before the Ryder Cup arrives in 2016.”
“The bowl-like shapes that had eroded over time have been returned to the look that the Jones organization intended for them,” said Tritabaugh of the bunkers. “The sand follows the slope of the new liners perfectly. Over the long term, it will be much easier for us to maintain the shape and integrity of these rebuilt bunkers.”
“We were spending upwards of $50,000 per year on bunker repairs,” said Tim Rainey, a member of Hazeltine’s Ryder Cup executive committee. “The bunker renovation was the right thing to do.”
The 2016 Ryder Cup will take place at Hazeltine from 27 September – 2 October 2016, Golf Course Architecture reported.
Tell Us What You Think!
You must be logged in to post a comment.