Black Mesa Work

[James Brown]

Has anyone got a report on what they have been doing this winter in the way of renovations and improvements at Black Mesa in New Mexico?  They have lots of mentions on their Facebook feed but few pictures I can see. 

[astavrides]

Thanks for the heads up. Sounds like they are trying. Bunker renovation + cart path only until the spring to avoid turf damage. I live in Albuquerque, so I'll try to make it out there sometime. I didn't go in 2017, and only once in each of '16, 15, and 14, mostly due to conditions there.

[James Brown]

Good to hear.  Played it in 2011 for the first time when it was immaculate and again in 2015 when it had gotten really rough.  Such a good track.  Would love to see it make a come back.

[Ryan Farrow]

Some highlights of the work:


 “We recently reassessed everything,” Velarde said. “And we’re seeding in all of the fairway bunkers with grass. There won’t be any more sand bunkers in the fairways. “The long-range plan is to make the bunkers smoother, so we can get a mower in and so people can play out of them.” There are nearly 160 bunkers on the course, and there will still be around 65 remaining around the greens after the winter project. Velarde said that filling in the fairway bunkers with grass will help golfers lower their scores and make for quicker rounds and help lower maintenance costs.






And I am sure every GCA member is really excited about this part:


We just got a new fleet of carts with leather seats that are as nice as any in the state. We’re ready for a big year in 2018.”




https://www.abqjournal.com/1049059

[astavrides]

Thanks for link.
The traps were in horrible shape. If this makes maintenance easierso they can concentrate on making/keeping turf playable, it will be a good thing. Unfortunately, getting rid of some of the more strategically placed bunkers will compromise the design and make the course less interesting to play.

[Tom Bacsanyi]

160 Bunkers?!?!  My home course has half that many and it's way overbunkered.  Glad they are making sensible decisions with the course.

[Mike Nuzzo]

Hi Tom
Would you say the same thing if instead of Black Mesa it were Pine Valley, Cypress Point, Shinnecock, NGLA, Oakmont, Pebble Beach, Merion, Sand Hills, Pinehurst?
This is a bunker loving country!
Cheers

[Tom Bacsanyi]

Hello Mike, the correct question is:  Would I say the same thing if the MAINTENANCE BUDGETS of those places and Black Mesa were comparable?


Answer:  No


And to nitpick, only Oakmont and Merion are clay soiled courses.  When you can just strip vegetation and dig pits on a sandy soiled site and have bunkers it's a much more minimalist/naturalist philosophy than trucking tons of non native sand up into the mountains.


How many bunkers does Wolf Point have?  I understand that keeping the maintenance budget lean is a priority there, just as it is at BM.  How many bunkers would you have on that site if you had Oakmont's maintenance budget?

Hi Tom
Would you say the same thing if instead of Black Mesa it were Pine Valley, Cypress Point, Shinnecock, NGLA, Oakmont, Pebble Beach, Merion, Sand Hills, Pinehurst?
This is a bunker loving country!
Cheers

[Mike Nuzzo]

Hi Tom
I was responding to your use of the word sensible.
I didn't think sensibility could be determined based solely on the number of bunkers.
Budgets are an entirely different context.
 
This country still loves bunkers.
Cheers

[Kalen Braley]

I'm with Mike, I love bunkers....already fessed up to that guilty pleasure awhile back.


And if the site is sandy, making them more natural and easy on the budget...then why not?


P.S.  I will admit, they do seem to be overdone at ANGC thou....

[Matt MacIver]

I’ve played BM one time a decade ago. Loved it. Was in great shape. A favorite. I thought the driving angles were superb. I can’t remember any fairway bunkers giving me concern, but perhaps they did.


Not sure how many courses this website has introduced me to and elevated it to a must-play, but very few. BM was one of them, hope they make it and do well.

[James Brown]

Some highlights of the work:


 “We recently reassessed everything,” Velarde said. “And we’re seeding in all of the fairway bunkers with grass. There won’t be any more sand bunkers in the fairways. “The long-range plan is to make the bunkers smoother, so we can get a mower in and so people can play out of them.” There are nearly 160 bunkers on the course, and there will still be around 65 remaining around the greens after the winter project. Velarde said that filling in the fairway bunkers with grass will help golfers lower their scores and make for quicker rounds and help lower maintenance costs.






And I am sure every GCA member is really excited about this part:


We just got a new fleet of carts with leather seats that are as nice as any in the state. We’re ready for a big year in 2018.”




https://www.abqjournal.com/1049059

They are really filing in ALL the fairway bunkers?  Meaning everything up to the green?


That seems completely silly to me if that’s true.    Why would they not make some choices?

[Steve_ Shaffer]

This country likes perfectly manicured  bunkers with perfect  white sand  that looks good on TV. Bunkers are HAZARDS.  Deal with it. 






Cheers

[Kirk Gill]

Unfortunately, getting rid of some of the more strategically placed bunkers will compromise the design and make the course less interesting to play.

From a difficulty standpoint, how much of a difference is there between playing out of a sand bunker and playing out of a grass bunker? At what height is grass typically maintained in a grass bunker? I'm just wondering how much changing from sand bunkers to grass bunkers in the fairways will materially affect how the course plays, or if it would mainly affect how the course looks. I suppose it all depends on how a grass bunker is maintained.


Any data on this, either empirical or anecdotal?

[Brad Tufts]

They are really filing in ALL the fairway bunkers?  Meaning everything up to the green?


That seems completely silly to me if that’s true.    Why would they not make some choices?

Agreed.  I had a fun round there about 5 or 6 years ago, but this certainly doesn't make me want to return...