New Construction--Fazenda Boa Vista, Sao Paulo, Brazil

Downtown Sao Paulo, Brazil

I've recently returned from a 5 week work trip to Sao Paulo, Brazil, designing and building sand traps on a brand new golf course in Brazil.  The golf course is being built for the residents of a large upscale housing development just over an hour outside of Sao Paulo.  Thad Layton, Senior architect at Arnold Palmer Golf Design is leading the project with contracting services provided by Pro Golf Brasil and a small team of American shapers.  As of today the first 11 holes are shaped and ready to be capped with sand in preparation for seeding and grow-in.

Sorocaba River

The front nine, built on a nearly flat field of sugar cane, hugs the serpentine curves of the Sorocaba River.  Architect Thad Layton executed a thoughtful plan to shape this area of the golf course with fill taken from the irrigation reservoir created on site.  Although some of the soils were heavy with clay, many areas of the golf course were built on pure sand, no doubt left by the river over thousands of years.  The final product on the front nine is a broadly rolling landscape which takes the golfer for a wander through wetlands, rivers and lakes.   There are also many long views of nearby farms and mountains which are framed by the tall palms surrounding the property.

Hole #1

Thanks to the surgical eye of shaper Randy Brown and the attention to detail of Mr. Layton all of the contours appear naturally formed, hiding the intention of each roll and swale.  All but two greens on the front nine sit at grade with the fairway, connecting seamlessly to the edge of the putting surface.  My job as a bunker specialist was to highlight , embellish, or even hide the nearby contours of fairways and greens while defining a look for the golf course.

The back nine begins to climb gradually to a high point on the 12th tee, then spills down to a broad fairway where the golf course really begins to shine. From the 12th hole to the 18th green the golf course reveals itself quite easily over some not so subtle contours.

Finding an easily walked golf course over hilly terrain is no easy task and is as much of a compliment to the routing as it is to Thad's appreciation for the history of the game.  Following one of the most revered tenants of great golf architecture, a walking golf course was found.  Among other elements there is a classic feel here with no great gaps between holes, many greens appear to simply extend from the fairway, there is width and strategy off the tee, as well as open approaches to the greens.  The Boa Vista golf course is unlike any other design that Arnold Palmer Golf Design has put forth and is a good sign for where the design group would like to go with their work.  There are not many noteworthy golf courses in Brazil to compete with, however the Boa Vista golf course sets a high standard in the quality of its design and should be regarded as one of the best golf courses in Brazil.

Eureka! We Have Sand!

9th Hole found in the sand.

With just my luck we actually have a huge ridge of sand that encompasses the entire length of the 9th hole.  600 yards long by 100 yards wide nothing but sand, from tee to green.  From this treasure trove we will top dress the fairways and greens and also use for the bunkers.  This parcel also presented the opportunity to create an alternate par-3 8th hole out of pure sand.  Cool!  Here is a picture of the work in progress.

Alternate 8th hole green site

After stripping the native sod, I excavated the bunkers that surround the left and right sides to build up the green pad. Currently, the green is 125 yards from the back tee and slopes 1% from back to front with no movement from side to side.  I've let this sit for a couple of days as I am moving on to more pressing bunker work and contemplating my options to blend the green into the surrounding landscape.

Check out a related blog post back in November when I visited St. George's Golf Course in Long Island

Does Form=Function?

Clay Dough

Nothing makes me miss the sandy links of Bandon, Oregon more than 150 acres of solid Uruguayan clay.  Its dense and solid as a rock and probably better suited for pottery than building a golf course.  I am always looking for a silver lining and I have found that there is a nice sculptural quality to the medium but it can be nearly unworkable without the proper conditions.  A little bit of moisture can be your best friend while carving into a hillside.  Too much water and you might be looking at a 2 day rain delay while you drain the water out of your bunker which is swimming with frogs and mosquitos!  There is a '0' rate of percolation through a well packed bunker floor and may as well be a lake waiting to happen.  I've now learned the hard way to dig temporary outlets in all of my bunkers prior to finishing, in case of a heavy deluge.    I don't have any pictures as it has been just too painful to look at.  Instead check out some more bunker work in progress...

Bunker complex left of 2nd green.  Front right trap was deleted to improve visibilty and redirect water .

At 275 yards the par 4 8th is driveable.  A centerline bunker now lurks just in front of the ideal landing area which will kick your ball towards the putting surface.