Bunker lining, drainage companies look to renovation

Golf Course News, Jul 2002 by Rice, Derek

Editorial Focus: Renovations

Renovation and remodeling work at golf courses is on the rise for a number of reasons. Land is hard to come by in some areas, nine-hole courses want to add another nine and older courses need updating to remain competitive. In nearly every case, bunkers are among the components slated for renovation.

Because of these factors, many of the bunker lining and drainage companies are increasingly targeting the renovation market for their products.

THE 'CURE' FOR WASHOUTS

Both Bunker Woll, which is manufactured by F.P. Woll and Co. and distributed by Gladstone, N.J.-based Bunker Net Inc., and Sandtrapper from Johnson City, N.Y.-based IVI-Golf, are primarily used on bunker faces to reduce silt contamination and washouts, but can also be used to aid in erosion control on other areas, such as steep banks, cart paths, creek banks and washed-out areas.

"Essentially, we recommend Bunker Woll wherever there is a problem with washouts, contamination orerosion," said Nadine Christ, Bunker Net president.

Because steeper faces require a more aggressive material, IVI has introduced Sandtrapper in two styles, one for gentler situations and the other for steeper and more severe slopes, according to Wayne Rozen, IVI president.

"Washouts and contamination have been problems for as long as there has been golf and rain," he said.

Renovation projects are becoming a larger part of the demand for Sandtrapper, Rozen said.

"We have equal call for Sandtrapper in both the renovation market, where it is used to 'cure' chronic bunker washout problems, and in new construction, where experience has told the architect, builder and superintendent that bunker washouts and sand contamination are continuing to cost golf clubs and courses big dollars in repairs," Rozen said.

Currently, Christ said, about 500 courses use Bunker Woll or Bunker Aid, a synthetic product Bunker Net introduced in response to the popularity of Bunker Woll.

"With the success of Bunker Woll, we felt it was important to offer a more durable product that is thicker than the other synthetics on the market and has the netting on the back to help keep the material intact," Christ said.

Of course, Christ said, Bunker Woll isn't a miracle product that can do it all on its own.

"For any product on the market to be most effective, you need to have the proper sand selection and drainage," she said.

Since its introduction at the GCSAA show last year, Sandtrapper has been installed in more than 100 courses.

Because the product is synthetic and rugged in nature, it will not degrade and will be around for the long haul, Rozen said, eliminating the need for replacement in just a few years.

DRAINAGE

In the drainage game, EzFlow, offered by Ring Industrial Group in St. Augustine, Fla., has taken the lead. Made from a polystrence aggregate, Ezflow drainage products are designed to be used in a variety of applications, including sand traps, fairways, greens, wet areas, French drains and landscaping drainage.

Ben Berteau, regulatory engineer for Ring Industrial, said the use of EZflow is designed to eliminate the potential of damaging mowers on fairways and greens by surfacing gravel. He said the company has also experienced a surge in the renovation area, but that it isn't specifically targeting that area.

"We're not stopping there," Berteau said. "Certainly there is a market for our product in renovation and remodeling of golf courses, but the market is much broader than that. Golf courses are being built every day and we want to be available with our product, as well as offering support in drainage designs."

EZflow is currently in use by more than 25 golf courses, Berteau said.