St Andrews Links recently became the latest course to commission the environmentally friendly and sustainable bunker solution ‘EnviroBunker’. The revolutionary construction provides a viable solution to bunker face erosion and has been receiving much praise from green keepers and course managers across theUKsince its launch at the Harrogate BTME show earlier this year.
Gordon Moir, Greenkeeping Manager of the St Andrews Links Trust was impressed with the concept and sustainable credentials of ‘EnviroBunker’ and commissioned its build in July of this year.
Envirosports were able to use its partnership with a UK based sports contractor to deliver the recycled materials used to build ‘EnviroBunker’ to St Andrews, ready for the construction. The materials were sourced locally from St Andrews University and brought together two of the cornerstones of the local community, the golf course and the well respected university.
Mr Moir commented: “We have been delighted with the result of a bunker we rebuilt using the EnviroBunker method. It looks almost identical to the other bunkers both from a distance and when you are actually in it. After weeks of heavy play, it looks the same as the day it was completed and there has been no negative feedback from any golfers who have used it, partially because I feel they haven’t noticed the difference! As the neighbouring bunkers deteriorate over the next year we will be rebuilding them using the Envirobunker method.”
Envirosports Ltd, designers of EnviroBunker and owners of the intellectual property rights to the bunker solution, offered training in the key areas of construction to Green Staff at St Andrews. All involved, including Richard Devlin assistant course manager of the Jubilee and New Course, were more than impressed with the results.
Several other course managers from the local area attended a presentation at St Andrewsand were able to see for themselves the result of the bunker construction work carried out the previous day. Frank Clarkson, course manager at Dundonald Links stated: “Having seen photos of the bunker on the web page I was a little sceptical. However on seeing EnviroBunker in the flesh I was more than impressed, the photos don’t do the product justice. As a result of our visit toSt Andrewswe are now looking to build ‘EnviroBunker’ at Dundonald.”
Rhydian Lewis, Director of Envirosports commented: “We are extremely proud of the partnership we have developed with St Andrews as well as other courses around theUK. To receive such positive feedback from those managing and maintaining the most famous golfing estate in the world as well as many local course managers and green keepers was truly inspiring.”
Though initially designed for revetted faces EnviroBunker has evolved over the past 3 years and has now been successfully installed at moorland, heathland and parkland courses.
“We truly believe that EnviroBunker represents a revolution in bunker construction,” concluded Rhydian. “It is guaranteed to overcome the problem of bunker face and edge erosion. Courses across the UK are echoing our enthusiasm and we are beginning to see wider scale licenses being agreed. With a life expectancy of 20 years and more, huge cost, labour and maintenance savings as well as a bunker that looks and performs identically to traditional turf bunkers, the arguments against ‘EnviroBunker’ are difficult to justify. The wider benefits of using re-cycled materials that would otherwise be destined for landfill also adds to the strength of the product. We are very excited at what the future holds for EnviroBunker.”
For more information visit www.envirosports.co.uk