Alan Mac Donnell – Golf Course Superintendent, Adare Manor
By Ryder Cup Europe On December 22, 2020, 5:32am EST
Alan MacDonnell is one of the longest serving members of the Golf team at 2027 Ryder Cup venue, Adare Manor, starting his professional career in 1999 as an intern and progressing to become Golf Course Superintendent. Ryder Cup Europe caught up with Alan to discuss everything from the redevelopment of the course, his favourite hole, the maintenance required to keep the course in pristine condition and why it is the perfect set up for a Ryder Cup venue…
What has it been like to manage the new Golf Course at Adare Manor before and after its renovation?
Even before the closure for the renovations in 2016 we had so many highs here at Adare Manor; three Senior Irish Open’s, one Irish PGA Championship, two Irish Open’s and two JP McManus Pro Ams. Yet these previous highs still couldn’t prepare me for the three years of redevelopment and the pure exhilaration that we have experienced during the rebuilding of ‘The Manor’. I was fortunate that all the crew that we had prior to the renovation, stayed with us to see the project through, and we became even more exposed to such wonderful professionals that have helped us to develop in our chosen profession over the years.
Hoiana Shores Golf Club has earned GEO Certified® Development status from GEO Foundation, the golf industry’s international standard-bearer for sustainable course design and construction practices.
Opened in early 2020, Hoiana Shores GC — part of the US$4 billion Hoiana Integrated Resort — is the first and only golf property in Asia-Pacific to achieve this designation, and one of only half a dozen worldwide.
Sam Thomas, Director of Golf Development at GEO Foundation, informed Hoiana Shores of its certification in September. In congratulating Hoiana Shores GC, Thomas cited, “the lengths Hoiana Shores’ developers and management team have gone to and the responsible approaches to development they have taken. They should be highly praised for their vision and leadership.”
Since its creation, the Pete Dye designed Golf Club du Domaine Impérial has become an essential player in the life of golf in Switzerland and in Europe. Its unique geographic location on the shores of Lake Geneva together with the extreme quality of its environment and its facilities, see the golf course often regarded as the No. 1 golf course in Switzerland and amongst the top 100 of continental Europe. To pursue our quest of excellence, we intend to fill the vacancy of the position of Assistant Superintendent as described hereafter.
In charge of a team of up to 20 employees, our Superintendent is responsible for the maintenance and construction work on the course. In this task, he is assisted by the Assistant Superintendent.
It was a tense moment at the 7th World Golf Awards, in Dubai earlier this month. Turfgrass®, an internationally acclaimed golf course consultancy firm, had three of their projects nominated out of a field of twelve, for the prestigious title of “World’s Best New Golf Course 2020”; Dumbarnie Links, Scotland, Österakers Golfklubb, Sweden and Hoiana Shores Golf Club, Vietnam. The distinguished title was awarded to Hoiana Shores. A fourth project, Antognolla Golf Resort, also won the Best Course in Italy award.
The World Golf Awards, sponsored by Golf Saudi, is the global initiative that recognises and rewards excellence in golf tourism, courses, and golf destinations, acknowledging the organisations that are the leaders in their field. They are the game’s only course awards voted on by the golfing public and industry professionals. A record number of votes were cast by the public this year, boding well for the industry’s future.
Turfgrass® is proud and honoured to have had the opportunity to work with some of the nominees.
POSTED ON October 31, 2020 @ 10:23 am, Golf Industry Central
Hoiana Shores Golf Club has been named the Best New Course to open worldwide for the year 2020. The Robert Trent Jones II design, opened earlier this year in the stunning dunescape of Central Vietnam, was singled out for this honor as part of the 7th annual World Golf Awards.
The World Golf Awards are the game’s only global decorations and the only course laurels voted on by the golfing public and industry professionals during a ballot period that, this year, extended from 23 February to 1 September.
Exceeded top courses
Hoiana Shores GC — part of the US$4 billion Hoiana Integrated Resort, located on the beach southeast of Hoi An — earned World’s Best New Course honors for 2020 by besting an exceedingly strong field of nominees, among them Old Toccoa Farm and the Tiger Woods-designed Payne’s Valley GC at Big Cedar Lodge; the Dumbarnie Links in Scotland and PGA National in the Czech Republic; the Education City GC in Qatar and the Dubai Hills GC in the UAE.
Hoiana Shores is a modern links design, laid out on a treeless expanse of pure sand, with no fewer than 5 holes coming into direct contact with the East Sea. “The success of Hoiana Shores makes it a game-changer,” said its architect Robert Trent Jones, Jr., “and from a pure golfing perspective, this is some of our very best work. We really opened up the sand dunes and allowed the greens to settle into them. I wanted greens nestled into the dunes early in the round. When players get closer to the water, we wanted to open up vistas to the sea.”
It’s a great honor to be recognized with this World Golf Award,” added Ben Styles, General Manager of HSGC. “This is the only award that combines the votes of both golfers and industry professionals globally. We’ve not been open a full year, but we do feel we’ve created something very special here, something that will stand as a landmark course in Asia-Pacific for decades to come. It’s gratifying to see that others agree.”
Award ceremony cancelled
Hoiana Shores GC and the other winners were meant to be feted as part of an Oct. 29 red-carpet ceremony and gala reception that has customarily drawn market leaders from nations across Africa, Asia, Europe, Middle East, Latin America, North America and Oceania. Sadly the event was cancelled on account of the worldwide pandemic.
“Despite the many challenges that golf tourism has faced in this most unprecedented of years, this year’s program has seen a record number of votes cast by both golf consumers and golf industry professionals from around the world,” according to Chris Frost, Managing Director of World Golf Awards. “The appetite for golf tourism has never been as keen, with golf fans urging World Golf Awards to continue acknowledging the leading brands in our industry. This bodes well for golf tourism’s future as the global recovery begins.”
This article originally appeared on Golf Industry Central 31st Oct, 2020
Our series of Profiles throws a spotlight on our Partners so you can get to know who they are and what they do. Here, EIGCA Bronze Partner, Turfgrass answers 5 questions.
1. What is Turfgrass best known for and what does the company do which might not be well known?
Turfgrass are best known as specialists for agronomy on existing golf courses and project management of new builds with both owners and Golf Course Architects.
We are least known for our involvement in golf course renovations, relocations and new builds where the Client / Golf Course Architect involves Turfgrass from inception, construction, grown in and maintenance. We can assist Architects with site assessments (soils, water, sands), construction specifications, future economic sustainability, environmental management plans, including the reduction of irrigation and pesticidal use through IPM.
2. What are the biggest challenges Turfgrass has faced in the last ten years and how have they been overcome?
Since the economic recession back in 2009 we have seen a large number of qualified greenkeepers leaving the industry. We have also witnessed a 30- 40% reduction in golf course maintenance budgets.
As a result of this, more emphasis has been placed on consultants and their recommendations. Turfgrass’ remit is to make golf courses more efficient to maintain. It is impossible to achieve this without the assistance of the Golf Course Architect, together, our collaboration can ensure the viability and efficiency of any Project.
3. What advice do you have for golf course architects when it comes to selecting Turfgrass for their projects?
Having collaborated with more than 30 Golf Course Architects, Turfgrass believes that it is vital to protect the brand and legacy of the Architect. Our task is to guarantee that the Golf Course is not only developed to the highest standards but as importantly, maintained to these standards. Whether it is warm or cool season zones, we can take a brief from the Architect to develop grassing, water and management plans best suited to the site, based on available budgets, no matter how large or small.
4. What interesting environmental initiatives have Turfgrass been involved with, or seen installed on a golf course?
Over the years, our industry has seen a vast reduction in the use of fertilisers and pesticides. Whilst this has been an EU wide initiative, we have worked closely and advised greenskeepers to help reduce their chemical usage.
Our main focus over the last number of years has been to consciously reduce the area of maintained turf. In 2013 Turfgrass completed a three-year study on water conservation in Vidauban, South of France. From this we have managed to reduce irrigation requirements by up to 40% on golf courses by using precision irrigation, better varieties of grass selection and better management practices.
An example of this, is a current project at The San Roque Club, Spain, where we are removing 17 hectares of irrigated turf, changing the grasses from cool season to warm season and putting in a state-of-the-art irrigation system.
5. What new or recent developments by Turfgrass should EIGCA members be aware of?
We have expanded our team in recent months to include four agronomists, who are certified pesticide advisors and a number of project managers.
Turfgrass were tournament agronomists to Solheim Cup™ 2019, at Gleneagles, Scotland. We are proud to have been agronomists to the European staging of the event since 2007.
This year we are tournament agronomists to the JP McManus Pro- Am at Adare Manor, Ireland, home to the Ryder Cup in 2026.
Recently we provided Hoiana Shores Golf Club, Vietnam with construction specifications and grow in agronomy. Hoiana Shores were recently presented “Best New Golf Course 2019” at the Asia-Pacific Golf Awards.
We are currently project managing a full renovation of the famous San Roque Club in Sotogrande, Spain. This is due to open later this year.
We are continuing to grow our Private Client golf courses. We are humbled that this portfolio includes current Ryder Cup Captain Padraig Harrington and Rory McIlroy.
If any Architect would like to get in touch with us to discuss in further detail our wide range of Golf Course Services, please get contact info@turfgrass.ie or www.turfgrass.com
Article Posted on 23/06/2020 on www.ladieseuropeantour.com
The Ladies European Tour (LET) has launched a fresh logo, new website and tag line, #RaiseOurGame, capturing the ambition of the new LPGA-LET joint venture partnership and a shared desire to keep moving women’s golf forward.
The brand refresh includes a short film created in-house, capturing the passion and potential of the LET players, celebrating their hard work, dedication and perseverance.
Narrated by Solheim Cup star Suzann Pettersen and with a script written by multiple LET champion Meghan MacLaren, it focuses on the hard work and determination it takes to achieve goals, inspiring women and girls to pursue their passion and realise their potential through the game of golf. Continue reading →
Invites applications for the position of Course Manager
North Berwick Golf Club is one of the longest established golf courses in the world and golf has been played over the West Links since the 17th century. A long standing championship venue, North Berwick has hosted The Open – Final Qualifying and many other prestigious and international Championships.
Following the recent retirement of the Course Manager, applications are invited from candidates who have a proven track record of managing and motivating a team to achieve consistently high standards. This is a unique opportunity for an exceptional candidate who has the desire to be part of the delivery of excellence.
The Course Manager will be responsible for ensuring that all aspects of the course and the staff team are effectively managed. Maintaining the playing surfaces to the highest possible standard, while recognising the need for detailed planning and embracing innovation. Organisational and leadership skills will be a key to success in this position. Continue reading →
by Kerry Haywood in Keynote Interview, People, and Golf on 10th Jan 2020
This article appeared in Pitchcare Magazine, Issue 88
In his own words, Kenny Mackay ‘got lucky’, but it could only be through hard work and determination. He spoke to Kerry Haywood about his career path and life now at Wentworth Club.
