The Ventura, Calif., property suffered damage during strong storms last month, with nearly every hole affected and 13 holes severely impacted by water, mud and silt. The head agronomist from the United States Golf Association is working to help assess the damage and formulate a plan to restore the course to the shape needed for play.
The strong storms that hit Ventura County, Calif., last month did severe damage to Buenaventura Golf Course in Ventura, Calif., forcing it to close, the Camarillo, Calif.-based Ventura County Star reported.
Nearly every hole on the golf course was affected, said General Manager Carl-Van Vallier, with 13 holes severely impacted by water, mud and silt, the Star reported.
Last week, KemperSports, which manages the golf course for the city, asked the head agronomist from the United States Golf Association to help assess the damage and formulate a plan to restore the course to the shape needed for play, the Star reported.
“He took soil samples which they are analyzing to see how we need to proceed,” Vallier said. “We should have the result of those tests later this week or early next week. Once we get those results we can put together a calendar for how the work will proceed.”
Since the damage took place, crews have been working to remove as much of the mud and silt as possible, Vallier said. Nearly all the bunkers were contaminated but staff have been able to get about 60% of them back into shape thus far, the Star reported.
“All the lakes were all contaminated with silt as well, and the irrigation boxes were also damaged,” Vallier said. “There’s a possibility we might have to re-sod the third hole but we won’t know that for a bit.”
Once a plan is established, the property will be looking for volunteers from the community to work with the course’s maintenance crews to speed up the cleaning process. Volunteers will only be used in areas where they can ensure there is no risk of anyone getting injured, the Star reported.
As for when the golf course might reopen, Vallier said there is no way to speculate until they get the USGA’s report, the Star reported.
In 2004, Buenaventura closed for a $6.5 million renovation. It reopened 10 months later, and also went through a series of fairway renovations in 2009 to change the course from rye grass to paspalum turf, the Star reported.
Tell Us What You Think!
You must be logged in to post a comment.