Detroit Golf Club in Michigan has completed the first phase of irrigation work in preparation for a Tyler Rae renovation of the North course.

Contractor NMP Golf Construction completed installation of new mainlines and valves on the Donald Ross design in the winter of 2024/5, working alongside the club’s head of agronomy Sam Moynihan.

“The decision to install irrigation and storm drain systems ahead of the 2025 renovation has been key,” said Darryl Bartlett, chief development officer for NMP. “We have created a solid infrastructure that allows the team to focus on constructing course features with great efficiency.

“This approach also provides essential tie-in points and precise elevations for fairway drainage and the two-inch lateral drainage systems. On a very flat site, having known and accurate elevations is invaluable. It enables Tyler and our shaping team to set exact bunker floor grades, locate fairway basins and fine-tune other surface features with confidence and efficiency.”

All greens will be rebuilt to their originally intended scale and height, and feature new drainage and bentgrass. They will also have a rootzone mix from Profile Products.

“The bunker style will be the main eye-catcher since Ross installed high, sand-flashed bunkers that were very rare during the early stages of his career for a northern course on poor draining soils,” said Rae. “Functionality will follow, and we will incorporate liners from Better Billy Bunker and high-quality angular sand so that they play firm and crisp.”

The architect notes that holes nine, fourteen and seventeen are a great example of how the project is balancing history and modern needs. “We are shifting greens away from high traffic areas so that there is more room for golf, while also restoring their original green shapes and contours,” said Rae. “This is a delicate balance for sure!”

Read more: Rae and Detroit's club president Michael Pricer discuss the aims of the renovation.

Bartlett adds: “A key engineering challenge was the site’s flat topography. We partnered with our sister company, Soleno, to custom-manufacture 60 unique 36-inch drain basins with multiple pipe connections – ranging from 12 to 30 inches in diameter – and installed at depths of up to 25 feet to tie into the existing city’s storm system. This level of customisation and technical execution has been critical in setting the groundwork for construction.”