69 before opening and several have been reworked since. Between April and July of this year, the greens have been rebuilt, by a team comprising design firm Lobb + Partners, contractor CJW Golf, agronomist Cornejo of Surtec Golf Agronomy, who also served as project manager, and Aloha’s head greenkeeper Manuel Angel Gonzalez Loma. “Aloha is a beautiful course to play, set amongst rolling hills and a varied landscape,” says architect Tim Lobb. “We first visited the course in 2022, prior to commencing our design, and undertook a comprehensive analysis of the existing greens. Surtec had already completed a full detailed survey of the greens and the slope analysis backed up our initial thoughts that large portions of many of the greens were severely contoured. This meant there was a severe lack of pin positions and diversity in the putting experience with modern green speeds.” All eighteen greens have been rebuilt in a single phase with TeeOne bentgrass, which was grown in an offsite nursery. Following the completion of work, the course reopened in stages during August and September. “During the design process, the underlying philosophy was to retain and enhance the Arana influence as much as possible,” says Lobb. “We were working to a minimum of seven pin positions per green, which would have several benefits, including developing a variety of playing strategies. We worked hard to also restore some of the perimeter pin positions which were lost due to green shrinkage and speeds. “ The underlying philosophy was to retain and enhance the Arana influence as much as possible” The previously severe contours meant there was a lack of pin positions Photo: Aloha Golf Club
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