PHOENIX, AZ (November 11, 2019) – Be it a prestigious country club or a municipal public track, it happens to every golf course. Over time, sand bunkers become contaminated, losing their consistency and driving golfers crazy.

Such was the case on the Palmer Signature Course at Wildfire Golf Club in Phoenix this past summer. The popular and scenic Arnold Palmer layout, part of the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa, features expansive fairways, large, undulating greens that Palmer designs are known for, and creative and strategic bunkering that had begun to deteriorate in recent years.

So Pro Turf International was called in this past July to bring the bunkers back to their original state.

“They have some huge bunkers on that course that had suffered some natural contamination,” said Kip Wolfe, principal at Pro Turf International. “Over years of play the contamination occurs for various reasons. There is erosion in the faces of the bunkers, sand washes away in some areas and builds up in others. The result is a lack of consistency.”

PTI did renovation work on 54-course bunkers and two practice bunkers – a total of 85,000 square feet of bunkers. The first step was to remove all the sand from the bunkers, and that sand was used in the aerification of the golf course.  They then reestablished a lot of the original edges of the bunkers for playability and ease of maintenance.

The crew then re-compacted the faces, and after checking the existing drainage in each bunker, put the new sand in, compacting it and creating consistent depth throughout the bunkers. 

“It is pretty meticulous work,” said Wolfe. “The key is creating consistent depths throughout the bunker. We had our “A” team there so we were pretty pleased with the outcome.”

The entire job was completed in approximately six weeks, and the results have been well received by course management and players.

“PTI not only created a great product, but they were able to do it in such a way to have minimal impact on play during the time they completed their work,” said Filippa Mcdougall, Director of Golf for JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa. “The new bunkers look great, play great, and have been very well received by members and guests alike.”

ABOUT PRO TURF INTERNATIONAL 

Pro Turf International is a family-owned construction, landscape, and golf maintenance company with over 30 years of hands-on experience in the Southwest. They proudly serve the golf, sports and landscape industry to enhance quality and improve conditions in a safe, environmentally friendly manner. For more information call(702) 315-5121, or visit www.ptigolf.com.

ABOUT WILDFIRE GOLF CLUB

Wildfire Golf Club in north Phoenix features two outstanding golf courses – The Arnold Palmer Signature Course and the Faldo Championship Course. Surrounding both golf courses are the majestic McDowell Mountains and ancient saguaro cacti, providing a stunning setting for golfers. The Palmer course features wide fairways, challenging bunkers and large undulating greens. The Nick Faldo course sits on a 174-acre site and offers a slight variation from the typical desert-theme courses. It features generous fairways, large greens, and multiple tee boxes. Both are part of the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa.