Golf Course Architecture - Issue 64, April 2021

59 make it longer – it’s no fun and it adds more expense. At 6,500 metres from the back tees it’s already more than long enough for our members and guests. And we made a conscious decision to not aim to host a tour event.” Dundas felt that by creating an enjoyable and playable golf course with a reduced maintenance burden, he could focus resources and effort on top-tier conditioning, and providing members and guests with great service. Joining Dundas and Clarkin on the project team would be Target Ingenieros, the Spanish group led by former tour pro Manuel Piñero, to handle engineering and consult on the design, and Atlantic Golf Construction, the Ireland-based construction firm led by Anthony Bennett. In November 2019 work began on stripping the existing course to its bare bones, removing the turf, removing three lakes and streams that were difficult to negotiate and penal, and pruning back the course’s beautiful cork oak trees. “We got to see the golf course naked,” says Dundas. “Once we’d cleaned up every tree on the golf course there was space, it lifted everything up and revealed the incredible views.” “But the main idea was to make golfers feel like they had more space from the tee. You can get your driver out and smash it, which people love to do.” This sets up for what would become very much a “second shot” course, he says. With this clearance work complete, ground was broken for construction work at the start of January 2020, with an ambitious target of reopening to members at the start of November. Progress was swift. The weather was great, allowing work to continue at pace each day. And then the pandemic hit. On 15 March, just over two months into the project, the Guardia Civil arrived on the property and shut down construction. But halting work at this point would leave the bare ground exposed to washouts and presented a significant f lood risk, particularly in early spring, one of the region’s storm seasons. The club shared footage of previous f looding with the authorities, and it was enough to convince them of the threat to safety. Work was permitted to proceed, albeit very cautiously and with a minimal crew in those next few weeks, and subject to considerable restrictions for the entirety of the project. The resolve of the club’s partners was put to the ultimate test. Atlantic is fast developing a reputation for getting things done – its work at Adare Manor and Ballybunion being cases in point. But would they be able to step up in another country? The answer was a resounding yes. When the lockdown came, members of the construction crew were given the option to continue work or head home. Even though it would mean weeks on end without seeing their families, and with next to nothing open in the area, almost all stayed on. Clarkin and the Turfgrass team demonstrated their commitment to the client, too. “Contractually, John was supposed to be here a few days each month, but he must have spent over 100 days on site during the project – at one point he was here for three weeks non-stop,” says Dundas. “A massive “ The main idea was to make golfers feel like they had more space from the tee. You can get your driver out and smash it” Photo: The San Roque Club