New turf, tees, and bunkers will improve the playing experience
while requiring much less water
Carmel, Calif. (March 24, 2016) – The Preserve Golf Club, in association with the Santa Lucia Preserve Community, has begun a renovation project that will result in new turf in the fairways, redesigned bunkers, new tees, and with all that, a marked decrease in its water use-by as much as 35 million gallons a year.
The fairways of the highly regarded golf course located just minutes from the Pacific Ocean and the iconic California coastal town of Carmel-by-the-Sea, are being changed from bent grass to Santa Ana Hybrid Bermuda grass. The replanted fairways will be firmer and faster, and provide more consistently superior playing conditions, thereby enhancing shotmaking, playability, and enjoyment for all players.
The club has also contracted with Tim Jackson and The Fazio Group to undertake a complete renovation of its bunkers. Some holes will receive strategically located new bunkers, other bunkers will be redesigned, with both changes adding to the overall beauty and challenge of the course.
Furthermore, new tees will be added to seven holes, adding length and variety, and creating additional shot choices for players.
Taken together, these changes will create a more exciting and enjoyable experience, and will keep The Preserve Golf Club among the top courses in the country.
The renovations have another benefit. Working together, the club and The Santa Lucia Preserve Community were able to realize a marked reduction in water use by improving and increasing the course’s ability to collect and store drainage water. The course could reap savings of 22 million gallons of water per year initially, and when all the efforts are complete, savings could be as much as 35 million gallons of water annually.
One retention pond, which was built and funded by the Santa Lucia Preserve Community Services District, is complete and has the potential to hold eight million gallons of stored water. The club is also looking to expand a second pond, which will hold another 7.8 million gallons, as well as add a third pond capable of holding 9.7 million gallons. Adding and enlarging the ponds will continue through 2017.
The Santa Lucia Preserve Community also is studying methods for slowing the evaporation of both existing and planned ponds, which will help keep healthy water supplies on hand.
Furthermore, the new grass being planted in the fairways, Santa Ana Hybrid Bermuda, needs less water than the bent grass it is replacing, is more drought resistant, and goes dormant (changing color from green to white or brown) in cooler temperatures, further reducing water needs. The new grass will need 30% to 50% less water while meeting the needs of this top-quality golf course. The out-of-play rough areas are being converted to native grasses, also saving water.
The process of changing the turf at The Preserve Golf Club begins later this month and is scheduled to continue into the middle of June (weather and other conditions permitting), followed by a grow-in period. The club’s driving range also will be re-grassed with less water-intensive Santa Ana Hybrid Bermuda.
The 365-acre golf course, designed by Tom Fazio, wanders by towering oaks, through rolling savannahs, around wetlands, and across seasonal streams framed by the majestic Santa Lucia range. It is ranked on the prestigious Golf Digest list of America’s Top 100 Golf Courses.
The Preserve, a majestic private community of only 300 home sites situated on 20,000 acres approximately the size of Manhattan, is the only community in America with a perpetually endowed, 18,000-acre nature conservancy. This conservancy supports a rich mosaic of coastal habitats winding through the home sites and creates opportunities for residents to experience nature and recreation second to none. For the residents who embrace a variety of lifestyles and ages, The Preserve reflects a unique blend and ethos of community, culture and conservation.
For additional information on The Preserve Golf Club or Santa Lucia Preserve, access the web site at www.santaluciapreserve.com or call 831/620-6700.
Contact:
Karen Moraghan
Hunter Public Relations – East
908/963-6013
kmoraghan@hunter-pr.com
Kristen Hunter
Hunter Public Relations – West
831/375-1747
khunter@hunter-pr.com