Club Golf d’Aro Mas Nou in Spain’s Costa Brava region has seized its unexpected opportunity to make course improvements after fast-tracking its bunker renovation programme.
While some golf clubs counted down the days until their venue was allowed to re-open during the restrictions, the course, the management at Club Golf d’Aro felt it was an ideal chance to get ahead of the game with work on 50 bunkers during the closure.
The course, which enjoys a lofty position 300m above sea level, with incredible views from the Gavarres mountains and down towards the resort of Platjo D’Aro and the Costa Brava coastline, invested around €70,000 to remodel the majority of the bunkers on the course, draining the bases, allowing grass to grow in certain areas and replacing the sand.
Under the direction of head greenkeeper, Adrián Muñoz and his dedicated team, PGA head greenkeeper David Bataller was also consulted as part of the project.
Rocio Aranda, director at Club Golf d’Aro, said: “It made sense to us to make these improvements now, so there was as little disruption as possible for our golfers. It has been a fantastic effort from Adrián and his team and we are sure everyone will appreciate the work that has gone on.”
It’s the first phase of the bunker programme at D’Aro and is one factor in a selection of overall improvements, with another project already underway to divert rainwater and recycle purified water to enhance the course irrigation.
The club’s commitment to the environment also remains a priority, with new bird feeders and nests recently installed around the course to help more than 100 species of birds continue to flourish in an area named as a Protected Area of Natural Interest in Catalonia.
And d’Aro is also fighting the war on waste with new separate recycling bins now also available in several places on the course.