Written by Jack Creveling, our Golf Course Superintendent.

Week One

The golf course bunker renovation began the week of September 14, 2014 and many things were planned to be completed in conjunction with this project. The sod stacked bunkers on holes 4 and 13 were to be rebuilt to restore the original design the architect created. The first step in the process was clearing out the old material that had lost its stability and was washing out.

Step one was clearing out the old material.

Week Two

The crew was right on schedule during week two with the golf course bunker renovation. The plan was to have all the bunkers complete and ready for golf play the last week in October. During week two, members began to see the new sand additions, beginning with holes 1 and 9. The crew then worked through the front nine before moving to the back nine and practice holes. The team that excavated the bunkers worked on the back nine holes. In the picture you can see the team from Sadler’s Site Works excavating one of the greenside bunkers on hole 4.

The Sadler’s Site Works crew working hard to complete the bunker renovation.

Week Three

During week three, the crew was still progressing right on schedule with the bunker renovation. While they could not get the job complete without the help of outside contract labor, the Golden Ocala Golf Course Maintenance staff played an instrumental role in getting this project done on time and successfully.

Golden Ocala golf maintenance crew hard at work.

Week Four

The Bunker Renovation was on schedule during week of October 5th and it now looks great. The new sand is now a cleaner and brighter white and is going to provide true and consistent conditions throughout the course. All the bunkers are under repair and not to be played from until the rakes are returned around the traps. With dryer weather in the future forecast, we were hoping to have the front 9 complete, rakes returned and that half of the course bunkers open for play.

The new sand is now a cleaner and brighter white.

I would like to thank all of our members and guests for their patience while we completed this project. I would also like to take this opportunity to recognize our staff and all their hard work.

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