Golf Course News - Winter 2008

IN THE NEWS.....

Greg Martin made a presentation to the Heart of America Association of Golf Course Superintendents in December '07. This presentation, in Kansas City, Missouri, was part of the annual "COMMON GROUND' meeting, and focused on strategies for improving drainage. In January of 2008, Greg traveled to Wheeling, West Virginia, to conduct a class on Master Planning to the National Institute of Golf Course Management. This conference provides educational opportunities to improve a wide variety of golf course management skills from operations and marketing to policy and procedures. Greg highlighted the necessity to review golf course improvements with a broader vision and the implementation of a Master Plan.

Greg Martin and John Gurke, Superintendent at Aurora Country Club, co-authored an article for the Environmental Institute For Golf. This article related how the golf improvements at Aurora Country Club improved water quality while improving play. Greg has also provided an article for boomergolfnews.com about designing for challenge and playability. This article will be highlighted in the 'Architects Corner'.

Greg Martin, Bob Lohmann and Rick Jacobson were highlighted in the recent Golf Issue of the Chicago Tribune. This yearly publication featured "The Architects of Your Fate", an article briefly outlining personal design philosophies. A common theme by all three architects was the interest and need to accommodate more varied play and a wider golfing audience.

NEW AND ONGOING PROJECTS

Construction Complete @ Aurora Country Club Aurora Country Club has recently completed master plan improvements by fully renovating tees, bunkers and fairway contouring for the golf course as well as installing a new irrigation system.  This project was two years in planning.  Wadsworth Golf Construction and Liebold Irrigation provided the construction services for this project.  Construction was completed late last fall.

The tees and fairway bunkers at Prestwick Country Club have been renovated, beginning the first of two or three improvement phases for this beautiful golf course.  Length was added where reasonable and tees surfaces were expanded to provide more varied play opportunities.  Fairway bunkers were reconstructed to provide more strategic play and challenge for better players. Hollembeak Golf Construction provided construction services for this project.

DR Horton / Cambridge Homes Martin Design is completing two more projects for DR Horton / Cambridge Homes as part of their Carillon Communities.  A 3-hole par 3 golf course at Carillon Lakes in Romeoville has been very popular.  Due to this popularity, DR Horton / Cambridge Homes is proposing the same at Carillon Club, in Naperville and in PIngree Grove at Cambridge Lakes. These golf courses are planned with large greens and multiple tees, so golfers can play again and again.  The design allows different views and adjusted challenges from tee to tee.    At each project, the golf course improvements were planned in to work with the stormwater management and engineering requirements of the project.

Martin Design has concluded its assessment of Riverside Golf Club to determine the optimum renovation strategy. This century old golf course has numerous unique and complex development and golf related issues that require a thorough assessment. Martin Design will begin construction on phase I this year, and systematically implement the Master Plan as planned.

Martin Design has completed a Master Plan for Mount Prospect Golf Course. The Mount Prospect Park Distict selected Martin Design to provide Master Planning expertise for its 80 year old faciltiy. Martin Design completed its review and audit of the golf course this winter.

Fox Bend Golf Course, in Oswego, Illinois will be undergoing renovations in the next few years. Martin Design will begin this transformation by addressing a variety of issues, including problematic greens, circulation issues, tree cover, bunkers and tees. A Master Plan will be developed to determine the optimum improvement strategy. Construction will begin in 2008.

The Joliet Park District is reviewing improvement options for Wedgewood Golf Course. Wedgewood, one of three golf facilities for the Park District, can be considered the 'flagship' golf course for this public entity. Improvements to the irrigation system, bunkers, tees, and slight routing modificaitons are being reviewed. Changes to the clubhouse area and improved practice facilities are also under consideration.