PORTFOLIO: PROJECTS

The ability to manage golf course improvement projects is an important role of the superintendent. The golf course is an ever-changing environment and requires constant review and adjustment to maintain proper conditions.

 have had the opportunity to be associated with several large scale renovations, and many smaller in-house projects as well. My wide range of experience in course construction gives me the confidence required to lead a club through any project they wish to complete successfully. Below are a few examples of my work.

PLAYING SURFACES REGRASSING

CYPRESS CREEK COUNTRY CLUB

I was hired one week into a renovation of greens and regrassing of tees quickly planned by the outgoing superintendent.  I was tasked with ensuring the greens regrassing to Champion Ultradwarf was successful, guiding the completion of an ongoing project to bring effluent water to the course and oversight of cart path repairs, removal of 182 trees and conversion of tees to Celebration bermudagrass.

AVILA GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB

All greens were stripped, fumigated, and converted to Champion Bermudagrass. The project saw completion of no-till conversion of all fairways, tees, and approaches to Celebration Bermudagrass. In addition, the complete reconstruction of hole #3 was undertaken and selective tree pruning and removal was implemented in many areas to alleviate shade issues.

COURSE RENOVATIONS

SAUCON VALLEY COUNTRY CLUB

During my time at Saucon Valley, I took part in many projects on the courses.

OLD COURSE

Reconstruction of 96 bunkers, addition of 17 new tee boxes, altered 7 fairways, installed new irrigation on all reconstructed surfaces. Extensive tree pruning and removal along with installation of over 2 miles of subsurface drainage were part of the project.

WEYHILL COURSE

1700 linear foot stream bank restoration that vastly reduced flood damage and improved  drainage of the flood plain minimizing course closure due to rain events. It also re-established riparian buffers and increased wildlife habitats with planting of native species and introduction of off-limits, environmentally sensitive, out of bounds area.

In addition, a complete sympathetic restoration of the golf course was implemented.
40 acres of native grasses and plants added to reduce maintenance costs, improve aesthetics, and reduce environmental impacts. It reduced area of bunkers by 40%, increasing playability and reducing maintenance expenditures. All greens were rebuilt
to USGA specifications and collection areas were added around 13 of the greens.

TREE MANAGEMENT

SAUCON VALLEY COUNTRY CLUB

Managed high profile trees to prevent insect or disease issues, including performing canopy and trunk sprays, trunk injections, and soil nutrient injections. I quickly became an experienced climber and managed all tree removal and pruning prior to 2009 Women’s Open. I also gained extensive experience transplanting trees using tree spades and other methods, using canopy reductions or canopy thinning to reduce shade issues on turf.