The Novato, Calif., property is in the midst of a project that will reduce the number of bunkers from 72 to 50, add new forward tees that play to 4,450 yards, and expand the short game area. The project launched in late February and is expected to take 12 weeks to complete.
Marin Country Club in Novato, Calif., is in the midst of a course renovation project that includes bunker renovations, new forward tee boxes and the expansion of the club’s short game area. The project launched in late February and is expected to take approximately 12 weeks to complete.
The club’s bunkers were built in 2007 under the direction of John Harbottle. The renovation plan calls for the course’s 72 bunkers to be reduced to approximately 50—cutting 90,000 sq. ft. of sand to 70,000 sq. ft. Crews will also replace the fabric-lined sub-surfaces of the bunkers with Capillary Concrete which rapidly draws storm water through the sand without washouts or channeling. The new bunkers are expected to last for well over a decade.
“With the new bunkers, we expect the time we spend repairing and maintaining bunkers will dramatically drop,” said Golf Course Superintendent Kevin Pryseski. “This will then free crews to focus on discretionary work that we couldn’t always get to.”
While the original plan only called for bunker renovations, Marin Country Club is building new forward tees that play roughly 4,450 yards. The new tee boxes are in line with the USGA’s “Play it Forward” recommendations and will give members a shorter alternative when playing the course. The club is also expanding and improving its short game practice area for chipping and bunker shots, closely mirroring green complexes seen on the course.
Originally designed by Lawrence Hughes, Marin Country Club first opened in 1957. In 2007, the course underwent a total renovation, including new greens, a state of the art irrigation system and robust drain lines. In an attempt to create more physical variety on relatively flat terrain, Harbottle fashioned bunkers with dramatic steep faces and bullnose tongues of turf, all held together and framed by tall fescue grass. While beautiful, the bunker faces began to fail after five years.
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