Golf Course Industry, a leading business management magazine tailored for the golf course management industry, presented its fifth annual Builder Excellence Awards to Aspen Corp. and Wadsworth Golf Construction at the Golf Course Builders Association of America’s annual dinner, in conjunction with the Golf Industry Show.
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Daniels, W.Va.-based Aspen Corp. took home the Legacy Award for best renovation project with its work at Water’s Edge Golf Course in Penhook, Va. Aspen also earned the Affinity Award for best environmental project with its work on the Wisp Golf Course in McHenry, Md. Glen Mills, Pa.-based Wadsworth Golf Construction was presented with the Heritage Award for best reconstruction project with its work on Naperville Country Club in Illinois.
The 18-hole, tee-to-green project at The Water’s Edge Country Club included irrigation upgrades on all holes; complete bunker reshaping and draining; and replacing all greens, surrounds and tees. Even though the project scope doubled in size, Aspen completed the renovation within two weeks of the original deadline.
“I’m proud that with the cohesive team involvement of architect Richard Mandell and owner Ron Willard, we were able to complete the project within two weeks of the original deadline without compromising quality,” says Donnie Adkins, president of Aspen.
“The Water’s Edge project success is an example of how important it is to put the right team in place on such a demanding golf course renovation,” says Ronnie Adkins, vice president of Aspen.
At Wisp, Aspen constructed four new holes, integrating them into the existing 18-hole course while taking four holes out of play for real estate development. In addition to installing an extensive erosion and sediment plan prepared by the project engineer and approved by the Maryland Department of Environmental Protection, Aspen and architect Todd Schoeder were able to make improvements to protect of one of the most sensitive trout streams in Maryland.
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“We took the importance of protecting the stream and wetlands seriously,” says Donnie Adkins.
The scope of the $7.5-million Naperville project encompassed reconstructing the entire golf course, expanding the capacity of the water supply and water storage facilities, and relocating the maintenance facility. The project’s schedule, weather, budget and the permit process were challenging.
“We were fortunate to have all the elements required for a successful renovation,” says Tom Shapland, president of Wadsworth Golf. “Steve Forrest was all you could hope for in an architect, creative in thought and strong in his convictions. The club’s representative understood the contract and worked diligently to make sure that we had an obstructed path toward completion. The club’s superintendent was a great team member, truly a hands-on participant in the work.
“It’s an honor to win any award and our management team and craftsmen were major contributors to the success of the project, but overall success cannot happen in our work without a team effort,” Shapland adds.
Kevin Gilbride, publisher of Golf Course Industry, says the magazine’s awards program with the GCBAA helps bring to light the association’s mission of advancing and continuously improving the profession of golf course construction.
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"Members companies have always lived by this mission, and we’re proud to be in a position to recognize those member companies for their outstanding success in 2008,” Gilbride says. “We congratulate Aspen Corp. and Wadsworth Golf Construction for their well-deserved recognition as leaders in modern course construction and renovation.”
The 2009 Golf Course Industry Builder Excellence Awards were judged by:
- Craig Felton, golf course superintendent, Oak Hills Country Club, San Antonio;
- Mike Benkusky, golf course architect and president of Michael J. Benkusky Golf Course Architecture, Lake in the Hills, Ill.;
- Terry Buchen, CGCS, MG, president and consulting agronomist, Golf Agronomy International, Williamsburg, Va.;
- Tommy Sasser, vice president of development, Linger Longer Communities, Greensboro, Ga.;
- Mike Bylen, owner, Shepherd’s Hollow Golf Club, Clarkston, Mich., and Pine Trace Golf Club, Rochester Hills, Mich.
Judging criteria included scope of work; degree of difficulty; quality of execution; comments from owners, architects and superintendents; time tables; agronomics; how adversity was addressed and creativity.
To enter the awards program, builders must be at least associate members of the GCBAA and have completed construction and/or renovation of no fewer than 27 holes in the previous two years. Entries any 18-hole golf course completed and put into play between September 2007 and October 2008 were eligible.
Entry information for the 2010 Golf Course Industry Builder Excellence Awards will be available this spring at www.golfcourseindustry.com or at www.gcbaa.org.
