Southwest Greens completes new short-game area at Pavenham
Synthetic turf specialist Southwest Greens has collaborated with short-game coach James Ridyard for a new practice area at Pavenham Park Golf Club in Bedfordshire, England.
Ridyard wanted to train his students to practice a variety of short-game shots, so developed a concept for the new facility.
“James provided a 20-kilogram clay model of what he had in mind and that formed the basis of the internal and external shaping,” said Warren Bailey, managing partner of Southwest Greens UK & Ireland. “Regular input throughout the process between both parties took place.”
Ridyard said: “I have no design experience, I just had shots in mind that I pushed with thumbs in a clay model. Southwest Greens created not only a great synthetic putting surface but also the surrounds to enable me to cater all the shots. I didn’t want funky green complexes, so we found a great balance between variety and natural look and feel.”
Tees, greens and bunkers have been built with synthetic systems from Southwest Greens. A ‘wedge stadium’ was created so pitch shots from 40 to 80 yards, at five-yard increments, can be practiced.
Bailey said: “The greens include slopes and gradients and are reached from multiple pods, each fitted with varying lengths of artificial grass and set at assorted inclines to ensure that every shot is catered for.”
Southwest Greens has added additional drainage outside the synthetic surfaces to enable the natural surroundings to work with the green complexes.
“Normally we work off a drawing from an architect and have a more traditional position in the supply chain,” said Bailey. “In this case, the in-the-field approach was the right solution but a challenge as Ridyard’s demands where very specific with regards to degrees of slope, distance of shots and landing zones, mounds and runoffs. Whilst it was one of the most challenging projects we have undertaken, it was also an incredible learning curve to get an insight into what James requires at this level – I will definitely use some of the concepts in the future”
The facility at Pavenham is the 15th short-game project that Southwest Greens Construction has completed. “Since the introduction of the Puro Pro system in 2018, Southwest Greens has been able to combine consistent speed with natural ball behaviour, an evolution the industry needed as older infill products would speed up under foot traffic and non-fill systems were poor at accepting shots from any distance,” said Bailey. “By solving this issue, Southwest Greens really created a system that can be considered a serious alternative and offer both installation and performance warranties to stand by this claim.”
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Southwest Greens
Short-game coach James Ridyard and synthetic turf specialist Southwest Greens created a new practice area at Pavenham Park
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Southwest Greens
Golfers can play from varying lengths of artificial turf, at various inclines and distances to the target
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