TDI Int. & Peachtree Golf Club

[Joel_Stewart]

I'm not familiar with TDI and haven't heard of Geoff Corlett?  Does anyone know who they are and what have they done to Peachtree in Atlanta?   They are working on some bigtime golf courses.



From the web:

Located in Stuart, Florida, TDI International, Inc. was founded in 1987 by Geoff Corlett, as a specialized golf course restoration company. The company was originally founded in Guelph, Ontario, Canada and in the early 1990’s incorporated in the United States. TDI International now operates out of it new office in Stuart, Florida, where they have a solid presence. The quality of work under Mr. Corlett’s direction has led the company to achieve accolades throughout the golf course industry and the business world. TDI International, Inc. has been recognized as one of the best-managed companies, and in the top 100 fastest growing companies (1997, 1998). Although Mr. Corlett remains actively involved in all functions of the business, with specific emphasis on field operations, he readily admits that it is the skill, hard work and dedication of TDI’s people that turn plans into reality. TDI International’s mission comments to continual study to improve their skills as a golf course restoration contractor.

TDI International’s work is the best testament to their success. The company’s current projects include Peachtree Golf Club in Atlanta, GA; Doral’s Blue Monster Golf Resort & Spa in Miami, FL; The Legacy Golf & Tennis Club in Port St. Lucie, FL; Wynlakes Golf & Country Club in Montgomery, AL; Old Marsh Golf Club in Palm Beach Gardens, FL; Interlachen Country Club in Edina, MN; Oak Park Country Club in Elmwood Park, IL; Essex Golf and Country Club in LaSalle, Ontario. Other examples of TDI International’s work can be found at www.tdigolf.com. Beyond any doubt, TDI International, Inc. is a world-class golf course restoration company.

[Mark_Fine]

Restoration or "Renovation".  There is a difference!  I think they are using the term differently then most of us here would.  

[Joel_Stewart]

Mark:

Looks like they are drainage specialists that somehow have gotten into the remodeling/restoration business.

The web site says for Peachtree:

Construction included 750,000 cubic yards of cut and fill, golf course shaping and feature construction, seeding, sodding, trapper building, a practice facility and a 36,000-foot cart path

That seems like a pretty big project for a classic golf course?  Hopefully someone will chime in that has played it.

[Brad Klein]

TDI International is a golf course contractor. They build stuff, they don't design.

[Jeff_Mingay]

I've had some interaction with the TDI guys; all good. As Brad K. mentions, the company is a golf course contractor; not architects.

If I'm not mistaken, TDI patented slit draining existing greens; which has been successful throughout North America. They drained the existing greens at my home club, Essex, where they're now finishing up some restorative-based work under the direction of golf architect Bruce Hepner, and Renaissance Golf Design.

I'm curious about work at Peachtree as well... particularly who orchestrated the work, architecturally.

[Joel_Stewart]

I wanted to bring this back to see if anyone had information on Peachtree?

Doesn't 750,000 cubic yards of dirt seem like a lot?  I just have no idea how they could move that much dirt on a course like Peachtree.

[Jim Franklin]

Joel -

I had heard Peachtree was not open to guests until January, but members were able to play now. I know this doesn't help you, but it is what I heard from a reliable Atlanta source.

[Ian Andrew]

They are a golf course construction company that began as a small drainage firm more than 20 years ago before evolving into what they are now. I work with them a lot and would recommmend them to others. They did the restoration work with me at St. George's G&CC. They are an excellent company to deal with.

Send me an email if you want something more specific.

[Lawrence Largent]

I played with a friend of mine the other day who is a member. He did say that the course was open but not to guest play till the begining of the year.

Lawrence

[Chris Cupit]

William Shirley, the super at Peachtree was a super at my club 20 years ago.  I spoke to him the other day and he says that what TDI Int. did in the time frame they had to work with was phenomenal.

Sounds like a world class company and job.

[Joel_Stewart]

But nobody seems to know exactly what they did?   I received a private email from an architect saying he hopes they didn't put catch basins all over the place since the course already had great movement and didn't need that type of work.

750,000 cubic yards (according to TDI web site) is really very very large for an existing golf course, especially a course as great as Peachtree.

A few years ago, David Eger discussed on GCA that he liked Peachtree better than Augusta.  I can see them adding some length, rebuilding all the tees, greens and bunkers.  Regrassing the entire golf course but moving 750,000 yards of dirt means something much more?

[bakerg]

How much dirt does it take to create a practice facility.  I know Peachtree did not have one prior to this work.  I assume that would account for some of the dirt moving.  

One of Peachtree's Asst. Pro's was working at Crystal Downs this summer.  He had mentioned that they were doing work on Peachtree but I didn't ask him what exactly they were doing.  

[Paul Jones]

Was TDI the company that used the software program with areial pictures to show shade coverage over the next 5 years to help Peachtree decide which trees to remove?

[Chris Cupit]

The fairways were re-sodded and converted to zoysia.  Tees were also re-built and there was a lot of tree removal.  The greens were also re-grassed with A-1.  The irrigation system had been completely re-done 2-3 years prior.

About 400 yards was added  7030 to 7400.  I think as they were re-doing the tees, there was an opportunity to go ahead and add length.

My understanding is that Bob Cupp acted as an advisor to the club although there was no official "architect of record" for any of the changes.  I may visit William Shirley in the next week or so and I'd happily give an update.  Everything I heard is that it looks awesome.

[Jeff_Mingay]

Peachtree's very high on my to-see list. As an architecture historian, I'd just hate to be disappointed to learn that much of the original Trent Jones/Jones design is gone.

Any idea what's left there of the original design, anyone? Is it intact? Sorta intact? Or not?

Just curious,

[Chris Cupit]

Jeff,

I think most of the course is intact.  The old 10th green (at one time the largest in the US) has been shrunk and re-contoured.  Other than tree encroachment (which has been fixed a little) I am not aware of any fundamental design changes.

2nd green is hard to believe if you've never seen it and #1 is one of the finest opening holes anywhere.

[Chris Cupit]

I found out some more TDI info about the Peachtree project:

They re-grassed the entire course, wall to wall, in 60 days.
Fairways originally were common bermuda.

Greens were grassed in A-1
Tee boxes sodded in Diamond Zoysia
Fairways re-sodded in Zoro Zoysia
Roughs sodded in 419

New tees added 400 yards

Wall to wall grassing project in 60 days!!  Phenomenal.
They opened for play a couple of weeks ago.

[Chris Cupit]

Correction--from mobilization to out the door was 93 days.  Still pretty good though.

Thanks to Anthony for setting me straight on that one!