Spring Creek Golf & Country Club in Ripon has started renovating the front 9 green complexes.

The project will be done mainly in-house with Certified Golf Course Superintendent and Landscape Architect, Michael F. Stieler, CGCS (a GCSAA Class A member for over 20 years) spearheading the project.  Pacific Golf Design Inc. Golf Course Architect, Josh Pettit will be consulting on the project. Greens #1 and #4 will be the first complexes to be addressed and will take less than 4 months to be completely renovated and ready for play.  The process involves totally reshaping the existing complexes and creating new architectural designs utilizing the classic design principles from golf’s Golden Age of Architecture, made famous by notable golf course architects, Dr. Alister McKenzie, Donald Ross and C.B. Macdonald, among others. The renovated complexes will have state-of-the-art drainage, irrigation, sub-air systems and turfgrass.

The materials used beneath the surface will be Unites States Golf Association (USGA) specified, replacing the inadequate native soil and materials that were used in 1965.  The bunkers and surrounding approaches will also be renovated and in most cases, either relocated or eliminated.  The grass on the green’s surfaces will be changed to one of the latest bentgrass varieties, Tyee/007, which will require less water, chemicals and disruptive maintenance practices to sustain, thus lessening the environmental and financial impact from maintaining world-class greens.

“We have an opportunity to not only upgrade the infrastructure of our greens but redesign them in a manner that will make them not only unique, but the best greens complexes in the entire Valley.  They will encompass the classical design elements of the master golf course architects of the 20’s and 30’s and will provide improved playability, interest and challenge to our already outstanding layout,” noted Spring Creek G&CC General Manager and COO, Steve Hupe, PGA.

The plan is to renovate greens complexes #1 and #4 in 2019, #2 and #6 in 2020 and #5, #7, #8 and #9 in 2021.  #3 green complex was renovated in 2015 with Josh’s consulting help, as a test model for the members and will be the only front 9 green untouched.  Poa Anna temporary greens will be in play during the renovation process and the course will be open for play year-round with little or no disruption.  Although there are no definitive plans yet to renovate the 47-year-old back nine greens, discussions are ongoing on the Greens Committee and the newly formed ad hoc Greens Renovation Project Committee to address the subject after the completion of the front 9.  

“We are honored and excited that a club of this magnitude would instill such confidence in their Golf Maintenance department to complete this project in-house.  The Golf Maintenance staff is very experienced - with many having worked in the industry for over 25 years — and has successfully completed a multitude of green renovation projects.  The latest research and available resources are being utilized to renovate and preserve the single most important asset on a golf course,” added Stieler.

It is the latest upgrade at the 53-year-old course. The clubhouse facility was completely renovated and modernized in 2012.

For more information on the renovation or for details on how to join Spring Creek G&CC, contact General Manager, Steve Hupe or Membership Sales Manager, Sherri Esparza at (209) 599-3258.