13 Sandy was in California in the last issue, on the third tee at the wonderful Bel-Air Country Club in Los Angeles. The course was restored to George Thomas’s original design by Tom Doak and his team in 2016, and is a glorious place. Well done to Scott Schuemann of St Louis, Missouri, who spotted it and was drawn first from the hat. We hope you enjoy wearing your much-coveted shirt! This month, our roving rodent is at a Scottish links that has been touched by many of the game’s great architects. We think that’s plenty of information to be going on with: if you know where he is, and fancy one of our GCA golf shirts to show off on the course (or wherever you choose to wear it!), send your answer to gopher@golfcoursearchitecture.net. GOPHER WATCH Interlachen set for ‘reimagining’ by Fazio Design Fazio Design and Turfgrass are collaborating on a renovation of the Joe Lee-designed golf course at Interlachen Country Club in Winter Park, Florida. Tom Marzolf is leading the project for Fazio Design, and his plan aims to address the club’s ageing infrastructure with upgrades to irrigation and drainage, while also reimagining course features, including the expansion of greens to allow for more pin positions. The short-game area and practice facility will also be upgraded. Bunkers will be repositioned to challenge the longer hitters and renovated to feature flashed sand faces. Marzolf has also planned for firm, sandcapped approaches that encourage the ground game, which will be complemented by the addition of lowmow surrounds. Turfgrass will lead the integration of agronomic best practices into the design. “Their attention to detail, scientific precision and commitment to excellence make them an invaluable partner on any project,” said Marzolf. Turfgrass is providing a comprehensive suite of services to guide the renovation. This includes a full peer review of agronomic specifications, material evaluation and laboratory testing oversight in partnership with Kansas-based Turf & Soil Diagnostics. Materials such as greens mix, bunker sand, drainage gravel and turf selections will be assessed to ensure optimal quality, with testing protocols established to maintain consistency. Site visits at key phases of the renovation will allow Turfgrass to work closely with the teams from Fazio Design and Interlachen, including superintendent Bryce Gibson, and contractor Total Turf Golf Services. These visits will focus on turf establishment and course preparation, irrigation strategy, nutrient programming, pest and weed control, equipment planning and maintenance budgeting. Adam Moeller of Turfgrass said: “Our goal is to support the club’s vision by ensuring the agronomic foundations are world-class – so this golf course not only looks and plays beautifully, but also stands the test of time alongside the Fazio/Marzolf design.” Image: Fazio Design
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