Project summary
Reconstruction at iconic Welsh links course
MJ Abbott Ltd were appointed to carry out the reconstruction of the signature 12th hole at Aberdovey Golf Club following serious damage during the winter storms and flooding of the course in December 2014 and January 2015. The 12th green was perched on the first line of dunes overlooking the shore and half of the green had been taken by the high seas.
STRI were appointed as both designer and agronomist for the project, working with Natural Resources Wales to preserve the protected grassland and translocate all sensitive areas.
2,000m³ of dune sand had previously been stored in the carry of the 12th hole following sea defence works on the shoreline before MJ Abbott moved onto site in September 2015. The sand was required as the new design moved the green some 10 metres inland and the existing green sat 5 metres up on the dunes.
The works took five weeks to complete and included:
- Removal of the existing turf cover
- Stripping and storing of all existing rootzone and organic matter
- Stripping and storing in 2m x 1m turf slabs all sensitive grasses for re-use
- Set up and maintenance of 1.8m high wind break fencing along the top of the dunes
- Placement of 2,000m³ of dune sand
- Set up and operation of temporary irrigation to damp the sand against wind damage and preserve the stored turf
- Construction of the new green, approach and surrounds to marry in with the existing dunescape
- Replacement of the existing rootzone on the green surface
- Importation of compost/organic to spread and ameliorate on all disturbed areas
- Replacement of all turf slabs to suit new design
- Preparation and spreading of greens cores from maintenance operations to re-establish the new green surface
- Preparation and turfing with fescue turf on all disturbed areas
- Movement of the existing shell paths from tee to green
- Re-alignment of the tee to accurately approach the new green.
Agronomy and growing in maintenance was overseen by Alistair Beggs of STRI working with the club’s greens staff. With wind damage being a major factor, the turf slabbing, imported turf, existing greens cores, germination blankets, irrigation and wind break fences were all imperative on such an exposed site this late in the year.
