Interviews

Oakmont: An interview with Gil Hanse

With the 2025 US Open arriving at Oakmont, Richard Humphreys spoke with the architect, who renovated the course in 2023, about what to expect

Martin Ebert: Design journey

With a portfolio that includes eight of the ten Open venues, Mackenzie & Ebert occupies an enviable position in the golf design industry. Adam Lawrence spoke with principal Martin Ebert to learn how they got there

Designs for the big screen

Chad Goetz and Agustin Piza discuss their design decisions for the virtual holes that featured in the first season of TGL

Bob Harrison: Wizard of Oz

The Australian designer has had a long career and, like many of his countrymen, has spent much of it away from home. Adam Lawrence listened to his tales from the road

Ben Cowan-Dewar: Shock and awe

Golf development firm Cabot now has properties in six countries. Richard Humphreys speaks with co-founder and CEO Ben Cowan-Dewar about what makes a great site, selection of golf course architects, and more

Team building

Turfgrass has launched its US arm with the appointment of John Lawrence, Adam Moeller and Brad Owen. Richard Humphreys speaks with them, Turfgrass founder John Clarkin and director of agronomy Julian Mooney to find out more

Brian Curley: Life of Brian

The designer has surely clocked up more air miles than anyone else in the business. Adam Lawrence caught up with him in between flights to discuss his career and his new venture with Jim Wagner

Oakmont: An interview with Gil Hanse

With the 2025 US Open arriving at Oakmont, Richard Humphreys spoke with the architect, who renovated the course in 2023, about what to expect

Martin Ebert: Design journey

With a portfolio that includes eight of the ten Open venues, Mackenzie & Ebert occupies an enviable position in the golf design industry. Adam Lawrence spoke with principal Martin Ebert to learn how they got there

Designs for the big screen

Chad Goetz and Agustin Piza discuss their design decisions for the virtual holes that featured in the first season of TGL

Bob Harrison: Wizard of Oz

The Australian designer has had a long career and, like many of his countrymen, has spent much of it away from home. Adam Lawrence listened to his tales from the road

Ben Cowan-Dewar: Shock and awe

Golf development firm Cabot now has properties in six countries. Richard Humphreys speaks with co-founder and CEO Ben Cowan-Dewar about what makes a great site, selection of golf course architects, and more

Team building

Turfgrass has launched its US arm with the appointment of John Lawrence, Adam Moeller and Brad Owen. Richard Humphreys speaks with them, Turfgrass founder John Clarkin and director of agronomy Julian Mooney to find out more

Brian Curley: Life of Brian

The designer has surely clocked up more air miles than anyone else in the business. Adam Lawrence caught up with him in between flights to discuss his career and his new venture with Jim Wagner

Richard Humphreys
/ Categories: News

Rengstorf takes sustainable approach for bunker work at WINSTONgolf

Holger Rengstorf has returned to the WINSTONOpen golf course at WINSTONgolf near Schwerin in northern Germany for a bunker renovation project.

The architect, who originally designed the layout in 2001, said the owner wanted to bring the “hidden secrets” of the course more into focus.

“A lot of bunkers had long, rolling faces,” said Rengstorf. “Erosion, maintenance, plus wear and tear were taking its toll and the overall maintenance hours were steadily growing. Bunkers were also not visible enough.”

Rengstorf drew up a plan that would see bunker area reduced by a third, thereby cutting labour costs for bunker maintenance, while also increasing their visibility.

“The new bunker strategy focuses on playability, pace of play and placement,” said Rengstorf. “Some bunkers were not really in play and have been eliminated, others were put more into play more in regard to the mental side of the game. The maintenance of the new bunkers will also be much faster, even with more hand raking.”

Profusion Environment, with assistance from course manager Jordan Tschimperle, began work in October 2020 and completed the project in March 2021.

“Even by reducing the overall size of bunkers, they will make a strong visual impression on every player,” said Rengstorf. “All hazards are well visible, and the quality of construction helps to underline the total quality of WINSTONgolf as one of Germany’s top golf destinations. I will not be surprised if players don’t believe that we reduced the bunker sizes, because the visible impression is so much stronger and better now.”

Tees on five holes have also been enlarged or relocated. “One example is the picturesque par-three seventh hole, which now has a new teeing ground that provides more variety for players’ first shot.”

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  • Winston
    Rengstorf Golf Design

    The project included reducing the bunker area by a third, while also increasing their visibility

  • Winston
    WINSTONgolf

    Holger Rengstorf has renovated all bunkers on the Open golf course at WINSTONgolf in northern Germany

  • Winston
    Rengstorf Golf Design

    Rengstorf has aimed to create a “strong visual impression”

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Rengstorf Golf Design
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