Kyle:
Your comment on drainage is a good one and not unlike most golf course design and construction... depending on the natural slope, site character, soils, climate and budget, drainage needs to be addressed in the most sensible manner that yields the best results based on the budget available and the design desired. Our project is in the northeast US with an existing 12" depth of silty rich sandy loam underlaid with heavy clay soils and as such, along with what was very minimal existing slope, we shaped the site and installed a considerable amont of underdainage.
I am including a few more photos from recent progress.
First is a general shot indicating rough shaping with drainage inlets protected with silt fence and straw bales
This second photo shows the tee being prepared, drainage being installed across the front of the tee and irrigation installation across the range area.
This photo, though not too interesting to most is the delivery of the tee rootzone mix...a blend of 6-2-2, a specified sand, screened topsoil and an organic compost.
A photo of the tee surface being sodded. We need to sod to ensure the tee will be ready for play early next spring. Even with the sod, the superintendent will need to be agresive with management (aerify, topdress) very often to ensure the sods "marries" with the rootzone.
Finally, a photo of sod being installed around some of the target greens and final seed bed preparation elsewhere.