Nebraska course finishes renovation

2 February 2012

Golf architect firm Lohmann Golf Design and contractor Duininck Golf have completed the second phase of a renovation programme at the Club at Indian Creek on the outskirts of Omaha, Nebraska.

The project, which covers the Red Feather nine, one of three at Indian Creek, began as a bunker renovation, but expanded when it was determined that significant amounts of poa annua had crept into the course’s 20-year-old greens. Existing green surfaces were hot gassed with methyl bromide and regrassed with T-1 bentgrass. 

“Several of the excessively contoured greens at Indian Creek were regraded for better playability,” said Todd Quitno, Lohmann’s senior project architect. In addition, greenside irrigation and fairway drainage have been refreshed. 

Bunkers on the Red Feather nine, originally designed by Frank Hummel, have been rebuilt and in some cases moved. All received new drainage and protective liners to stabilise the sand and minimise future erosion and contamination. In addition, half the fairways have been regraded and recontoured. After several tees were repositioned and cart paths repaired, the construction crew regrassed all nine fairways to a consistent stand of ryegrass. The Red Feather nine is slated to reopen in June. 

Jim Nedro, Indian Creek’s head superintendent, said: “Duininck’s crews got here a couple of weeks ahead of the start date, which gave them the ability to hit the ground running when work began in mid-July. There was a lot of symmetry in the way we do things and the way they prepare for a job. It created an element of harmony in the field.”