Bunker Renovation Project
The Longshore Golf Course Bunker Improvement Project began September 12th! The construction phase of this long awaited and exciting improvement to our golf course is finally here!! The project will include the redesign, elimination and addition of bunkers for improved playability and maintenance, installation of bunker liners, and the installation of new sand.
Although we will be working closely with our architect, Doug Smith of Golf Design Unlimited, and Turco Golf Inc., our construction team, to minimize the impact to golfers, we will be providing discounted greens fees while construction is taking place Mondays through Fridays. 18 hole rates will be discounted $5, Mondays through Fridays and 9 hole rates will be discounted $2 Mondays through Fridays when work is being conducted on holes #1 through #9.
We appreciate your patience while we work to improve your golf experience here at Longshore!
Monday, December 4, 2017
Holes # 3 - 5, 7 - 9, 12 - 14 are completed and sodded.
The remainder of Hole #6 will be sodded by Thursday, December 7th. This hole will be a bit different than before. The first sand bunker on the left was moved to the left and additional fairway is being added for better playability for all levels of golfers. The second fairway bunker on the left was removed and the right side fairway sand bunker was softened for better playability and a new view to the putting surface. It was very difficult to see over it before. This hole will have no fescue grass on it – it is difficult enough.
Hole #2 has been shaped. Once golfers walk around the big mound on the right they will be quite surprised. The right side sand bunker was completely filled in and a beautiful fairway/chipping area has been created that will speed up play and give the golfers quite a variety of shots and club selection if they miss the green short and to the right.
Hole #1 has been shaped and is ready for drainage, fabric and sod. The 3 fairway sand bunkers on the left are now 1 sand bunker with more aesthetic mounding. The new single sand bunker begins at the 150 yard marker (approximately 200 yards out from the back tee). The left greenside sand bunker was pushed back allowing for better ingress and egress to the green and the right side sand bunker has been moved closer to the green for better playability and aesthetics.
Our goal is to complete the entire front nine within the next 2 weeks.
Weather this week (Tuesday rain) may affect sod delivery and next week the temperatures will drop that may affect sod delivery and actual construction. We will see.
We will stop construction after #1 is sodded and start again in 2018 - likely sometime in March.
I hope you all will agree that the course is looking great so far and that the quality and timing of the construction has gone smoothly.
Douglas Smith, A.S.G.C.A.
November 8th, 2017 Update
Holes # 4, 7, 9, 12, 13, 14 are completed and sodded. Hole #8 is half sodded and portions of #5 too. The left side of #8 will be final shaped, drained and sand installed once it naturally drains out better.
The remainder of holes #5 and #3 are being shaped now and will be sodded next week.
That will complete 9 holes so far (#3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14) before the end of the next week (weather depending).
We will continue with Hole #6 then #2 then #1 (in that order) as the next grouping.
The goal is to have the entire front 9 (along with #12-14) completed by sometime in the month of December.
We will obviously keep going with #10, 11, 15 – 18 as long as the weather is cooperative. Hole #18 will be the last to be completed because of the amount of imported fill necessary to design and build the large proposed berm on the left side.
Douglas Smith, A.S.G.C.A.
October 20, 2017 Update:
Holes #9, 12, 13 and the majority of 14 are completed and sodded. Half of #7 is sodded as well.
The remainder of holes #7 and #8 are being shaped now and will be sodded next week.
That will complete holes #7, 8, 9, 12, 13 and 14 before the end of the next week.
We will continue with holes #3 thru #6 (not in that order) as the next grouping followed by Holes #1 and #2. Hole #4 will be shaped first next week
There is so much new sod (about 1.5 acres so far) on the course and we ask that you be very careful if you have to walk on it to retrieve your ball. Please do not hit off of any new sod. The staff is doing everything possible to water the new sod as we are experiencing a virtually rain free September and October. Please note that certain sod will be “spongy” in the lower areas and is subject to damaging footprints if you are not careful.
The fescue sod portions highlighting some of the new sand bunkers and adjacent mounding will not be 100% noticeable until late Spring 2018. It all looks the same at this point (both bluegrass sod & fescue sod) so look for the transformation then.
Douglas Smith, A.S.G.C.A.
October 13, 2017 Update:
Holes #9, 12 & 13 are completed and sodded.
Hole #14 left side fairway sand bunkers (2 of them) and entire green complex are shaped and sod will be laid next Tuesday completing the majority of the hole. The right side fairway sand bunker is being shaped now and the entire hole will be sodded by the end of next week.
The remainder of Hole #7 is being shaped now and will be sodded next week.
Hole #8 will be shaped by the end of next week and possibly sodded.
That will complete holes #7, 8, 9, 12, 13 and 14 before the end of the month.
We will continue with holes #3 thru #6 (not in that order) as the next grouping followed by Holes #1 and #2.
The weather so far has been favorable. We hope that continues.
Douglas Smith, A.S.G.C.A.
September 27th Update:
Hole #12 will be completed before the weekend. All sand and sod will be installed by Friday, September 29th.
Hole #13 will be final shaped and the sod and sand will be installed next week.
All of hole #9 is being shaped at the present time. The hole should be completed by the end of next week with sand and sod.
Hole #14 is next after number nine. Hole #14 should be shaped by the end of next week also.
Holes #7 and #8 will be next after #14.
The weather so far has been great. It looks like it will continue into next week also.
Douglas Smith, A.S.G.C.A.
Architect's Notes for Week 1:
The bunker renovation project has commenced. I am very excited to be a part of this long overdue endeavor. The assembled group of Westport’s Parks & Recreation staff, Brightview, Jon Janik, PGA, Turco Golf and the selected committee members of Longshore have been wonderful to work with.
We are starting with Holes #12 and #13 (in that order). The golf course has been divided into 5 separate work zones. Zone #1 comprises Holes #12 and 13. The plan is then go to Zone 2 (#7, 8, 9 & 14), Zone 3 (#10, 11, 15 & 16), Zone 4 (#3, 4, 5 & 6) and conclude with Zone 5 (#1, 2, 17 & 18).
Next week (Sept. 18th-22nd) we will likely be completed with the shaping of both #12 and #13. After the sand bunkers (and corresponding mounds and berms) are “shaped and approved” by the golf course architect, the drainage is then installed (both in and out of the sand bunkers). It is then followed by the bunker blanket, sand placement, and sod.
All sand from the existing bunkers is being hauled to the area on Hole #18 on the far side of the fairway’s landing zone. This hauled material will eventually be shaped into a large aesthetic berm as soon as the required amount is met.
There will always be a temporary green somewhere on the course during construction. Hole #12 will likely remain as two par 3’s. This will allow us to close an entire hole on any given (and approved) weekday and still be able to post a full 18-hole round.
The 5 zones described above are all weather dependent. This order is strictly a guide and may change circumstantially along the way.
- Doug Smith
