Page 26 - GBC Fall Eng 2016

The decision to restore a golf course is often made as the direct result of realising the course has actually deteriorated since it prime days. Like when restoring an old building, the aim of the restoration project will be to bring it back to the exact state when the course was at its best.
To successfully restore a golf course, evidence of what it used to look like must be available. Old aerial photos can provide a good view of the holes and the locations of their original features. Photos from eye height are most often required to determine the height of the sand faces and vegetation. This
level of documentation is often unachievable and as a result many restoration projects will be impossible.
To ensure the success of the project, the facility will need a golf course architect with a strong passion for golfing history who is not afraid of leaving his ego at the front door to restore the work of another architect.
case study: Kananaskis country golf course, Kananaskis, aB
In June of 2013, Southern Alberta experienced the costliest natural disaster in Canadian history, when the area received over half of the normal annual rainfall amount in just two days.
The post-flood (above) and pre- flood (below) at Kananaskis Country Golf Course. Restorations are currently underway.
The impact to Kananaskis Country Golf Course was monumental, as all facets of the golf course were impacted by the breach of both the Evan Thomas and Kananaskis Rivers. Over 140 employees had to find new jobs, damage had to be assessed, and the future of the World Class 36 hole golf facility was contemplated.
Spring of 2016 has seen efforts resume to restore the late Robert Trent Jones Sr. masterpiece in the Canadian Rockies. Led by a collaborative effort between Kan- Alta Golf Management and architect Gary Browning, a highly qualified team of golf course construction specialists have taken on the critical task of bringing back this iconic golf masterpiece.
reNovatioN
Many golf courses have a strateg- ically sound and challenging layout but have seen it decline over the years as a result of an increased amount of play and the rapid evolution in golfing equipment.
26 Golf Business Canada