Hazeltine National Golf Club has hosted U.S. Opens (1970, 1991), PGA Championships (2002, 2009), U.S. Women’s Opens (1966, 1977) and a slew of major amateur events on its Robert Trent Jones-designed course, which dates to 1962.
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Hazeltine’s biggest moment may be yet to come. The Ryder Cup could define the club’s legacy as a major championship site when it arrives in Chaska, Minn., for its 41st edition in September 2016.
To prepare for the occasion, the club earlier this year hired Duininck Golf to rebuild its bunkers, which were prone to washouts. The company started work in mid-September and, against all expectations, completed the bunker renovations by early November.
“When Hazeltine National hired us, they gave us through the summer of 2015,” said Judd Duininck, a principal at Duininck Golf. “We told the club it was our goal to finish the project this fall, as we felt it was in the best interest of the club and our company both. Coincidentally, we wrapped up just a few days before Minnesota’s first major snowfall. The team worked hard to meet the challenge.”
According to Hazeltine superintendent Chris Tritabaugh, “We had a short completion window, and it was a big benefit for us to get the bunkers rebuilt this fall. We wanted two full golf seasons under our belts before the Ryder Cup arrives in 2016. Duininck Golf delivered on this promise by adding resources to get the job done, both in terms of equipment and manpower.”
To reconstruct nearly all of the club’s 107 bunkers, Duininck Golf excavated down to the existing subgrades, provided detail shaping to restore the bunkers back to their original design and shape, installed new Prinsco drain tile, placed the gravel liners and installed the Better Billy Bunker system. Tritabaugh said he was impressed by Duininck Golf’s diligence, expertise and attention to detail.
“The bowl-like shapes that had eroded over time have been returned to the look that the Jones organization intended for them,” Tritabaugh said. “The sand follows the slope of the new liners perfectly. Over the long term, it will be much easier for us to maintain the shape and integrity of these rebuilt bunkers.”
Tim Rainey, who serves on the club’s Ryder Cup executive committee, said that the construction crew “far exceeded” expectations.
“Duininck Golf was exceptional,” Rainey said. “We were extremely pleased with the results. Our steep-faced bunkers were prone to wash-outs due to Minnesota’s wet spring weather and summer thunderstorms. We were spending upwards of $50,000 per year on bunker repairs. The bunker renovation was the right thing to do. We were gratified that Duininck Golf was able to mobilize enough staff to finish the work ahead of schedule. They did a tremendous job.”
Tritabaugh agreed. “Duininck Golf did really fine work, high quality and very clean,” he said. “And we like the Better Billy Bunker system, because our bunkers will now hold up in a freeze-and-thaw situation.”
Jerry Lemons, president of Better Billy Bunker, said Duininck Golf takes its place among the highest level of golf course contractors in the world. “The Duininck Golf staff has performed several Better Billy Bunker installations to the highest standards,” he said. “Their work at Hazeltine National is no exception.”
With a mandate to create a championship-caliber course, Robert Trent Jones built a long, demanding layout on a wooded tract of land beside a prairie over 50 years ago, later modifying many of the holes to keep pace with golf equipment advances. Before the 1991 U.S. Open, Rees Jones, younger son of Robert Trent Jones, completely remodeled the course, repositioning many of the bunkers to make them relevant for modern championship play.
It’s been said that no victory at Hazeltine is ever lightly earned. Difficulties are presented by the natural lie of the land, the numerous water hazards and also by the many strategically-placed bunkers. These bunkers will be ready to test the skills of the best players from the U.S. and Europe when the 2016 Ryder Cup arrives at Hazeltine National.
