81 Work is in progress on WinStar’s Scissortail course, where playing surfaces are being regrassed with Tahoma 31 REPORT WinStar World, a casino resort in Oklahoma, will reopen its two courses this year with unchanged routings but markedly improved playability and conditioning. Chickasaw Nation operates the resort, located just north of Dallas, Texas, and has invested US$22 million into renovating the 18-hole courses designed by five-time PGA Tour winner D.A. Weibring and Steve Wolfard. Located in the rolling plains of the Red River Valley, the region is significantly affected by natural saltwater from tributaries of Lake Texoma that release up to 3,450 tons of salt per day. Prior to the renovation, the salt level in the water at WinStar tested at 900 parts per million. WinStar’s agronomic operations director Charles Wise says: “The consultant we brought in used to be with the USGA, and he made the comment that in his 47 years with them, he only had to recommend a gypsum injector three times. And we were number three.” Twenty years of irrigation with poorquality water turned the soils into the equivalent of cracked concrete that strangled the grass’s rootzone until much of what was above ground was bare patches and dust. Rob Addington, president of Silverleaf Sports Management, the firm that spearheaded the renovation, says: “We dug down 12 inches, tilled 12 inches, added compost and two inches of sand on the 36-hole property. We broke two chisel ploughs trying to dig that out.” Wise says the soil was further remediated with injected gypsum plus layers of compost and chicken litter, then capped with 200 truckloads of sand. To protect against future salt Stacie Zinn Roberts reports on a renovation project at WinStar World, where the golf course is set to reopen with upgraded playing surfaces. A sure bet for casino courses Photo: WinStar World
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