The four-month, $650,000 project at Mangrove Bay in St. Petersburg, Fla., re-grassed all 18 greens and three practice greens with Platinum Paspalum, and re-sodded collars using 419 Bermuda. Bellaire CC, recognized as home to Florida’s first course, will renovate its two Donald Ross-designed 18-hole courses over the next five years.
A course renovation at one golf course in the Tampa Bay/St. Petersburg, Fla. area has been completed, and plans for a major renovation at another club in the region has been announced
On Friday, September 1st, players at Mangrove Bay Golf Course in St. Petersburg began to tee off and play on brand-new greens after completion of a four-month, $650,000 renovation project, according to the Tampa Bay Reporter.
The course remained open during the renovation, which was its first major upgrade since 1998, offering players temporary greens and putting surfaces at a discounted rate, according to the Reporter. The St. Petersburg City Council approved Weeki Wachee funds to pay for the project.
Significant highlights of the project include the re-grassing of all 18 greens and three practice greens with Platinum Paspalum grass, and the re-sodding of collars around the greens’ surfaces using 419 Bermuda grass, according to the Reporter. Greens were also resized back to 1998 dimensions.
In addition, several holes now feature rebuilt tees to improve turf conditions and playability, and new sand has been added to the bunkers. Golf cart paths, the course entrance road, and parking lot were also repaved as part of the project, according to the Reporter.
Belleair (Fla.) Country Club has announced that Fry/Straka Global Golf Course Design has been selected to lead the renovation of its two historic, Donald Ross-designed 18-hole courses. Belleair CC has been recognized as having the first golf course established in Florida.
The planning phase of the Belleair CC renovation is currently underway. With permitting slated for 2018-2019, the first course and practice facilities are expected to be complete in 2020, and the second course in 2022.
“We are honored to be working with such a historic club,” said Jason Straka, golf course architect and Principal at Fry/Straka. “With a deep commitment to meeting the club’s expectations, we look forward to using the design philosophy of Donald Ross to guide our work while improving what is already in existence.”
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