The Project comprises the comprehensive
refurbishment of holes 10 to 18 of Real Club de Golf Las Brisas. This Project
continues the complete renewal and redesign process of the 18 holes that started
in 2012 with the first nine holes.
The refurbishments of the course
started with the modification of the holes commissioned by the Kyle Phillips
Golf Course Design, whose design aims at improving the competitiveness of the
course and adapt it to the present playing condition. The course modification
implies a complete renovation of all course elements (greens, tees, fairways,
rough, etc.) and also of all services and infrastructure (drainage,
electricity, paths, etc.), which deteriorated over the years.
2. PROGRESS REPORT.
The commencement of
the Works originally foreseen for the 1st of September 2014, suffered a 15-day
delay caused by the local administration while processing the documentation, as
this was needed to obtain the work permit. It prevented the machinery from starting
with the works as planned.
The ground started
to be moved on the third week of September. It was planned that Garden &
Golf Portugal started the ground moving works 15 days before the arrival of the
Shaper, Mr Dave Smith, which was impossible due to the initial delay, therefore
these works were carried out by Dave instead.
After the first
certification by the contractor, corresponding to the first 15 days of
September, and having checked the data and compared it with the one provided by
the surveyor of the project and site management, we have observed that the
initial 15-day delay was slightly recovered during the last 15 days of the
month.
Generally speaking,
the progress on stripping and ground moving agrees with the agenda, and there
only exists a delay at the commencement of the cleaning works of lake 18.
2.2.
STRIPPING.
One of the initial
works was the stripping of the first 10 cm of the existing ground of the golf
course, consisting of eliminating most part of the reproductive elements of Kikuyu.
Initially this control was to be carried out by applying a series of herbicides
and disinfectants, but these works were cancelled during the drafting phase due
to changes in the legislation that made the elimination of the 10 cm of the
ground the first option.
By the 1st of October holes 10, 13 and 14 were almost
completely cleared, which together with some areas of holes 11 and 18,
represents 25% of the total surface included in the project.
Some areas under the trees
situated in their original location were not cleared up, as these were fenced not
to damage their superficial roots while being removed. These areas under the
trees will be treated individually to ensure that Kikuyu grass does not
reappear.
2.3.
DEMOLITION.
Demolition comprises
the removal of infrastructures, i.e. bridges, paths and edifications and also
playing items such as greens, tees and bunkers.
After completion of
the first certification, more tan 50% of the existing greens and bunkers have
been demolished, i.e. those of holes 10, 13, 14, 15 and 18.
2.4.
SHAPING.
As already
explained, the delay of 15 days, a period in which it was foreseen to advance
ground moving for the shaper to undertake shaping, made impossible to shape
additional areas that could have been finished and included in the first
certification. However, hole 10 has already been shaped (including green complex)
but not the tees; the tees of holes 11 and 16 and also the green complex of
hole 15.
The following pictures
show ground moving and shaping works in the areas that were advanced in this
first period.
Tees hole 11:
Green complex hole 15:
Tees
hole 16:
Green complex hole 10:
The initial works
comprise the disassembly of irrigation items such a satellites and pumps,
together with the identification and excavation of old plumbing connections of
the main pump for their elimination. At the certification date, all satellites
were dismantled and given to the owner to keep them until new set-up and most
plumbing connections are identified with a view to eliminating them.
2.6.
LANDSCAPING.
Some replanting was
done in September, which allowed us to advance some of the planned works. Palm replanting
will continue as soon as Kyle Phillips confirms the final location and this
operation should not be delayed, as high temperatures are needed for successful
replanting.
There is not enough
room for olive trees at their final location, therefore a half-way nursery has
been arranged on the fairway of hole 12 to move them from areas with ground
moving to other sites before positioning them at their definitive place.
At Real Club de Golf Las Brisas we have respect for the trees, two
araucaria trees were in need to be moved for security reasons, holes then move
away from the out of bounds having less probabilities of balls going in houses
beside. RCGLB hired Dr. Arbol that used ®Treeplatform system to move trees that weight more than 100
tons each using a 700 ton crane. The operation took 24 hours distributed through two
days and mobilised over 20 people-operators. Garden & Golf, Eurogruas and
tree specialist Dr. Arbol owner of the patented ®Treeplatform system.
3.
WORK PROGRESS AS PLANNED.
This chapter
includes charts that show the evolution of the different construction works of
this project.
The first chart
shows the evolution of the different works grouped in chapters and compared
with the schedule initially foreseen. It shows the percentage of works already
carried out at any given certification date and the delays or advancements
attached to them.
The first chart shows
the works executed during the first 15 days where we can observe an evolution
that agrees with the scheduled time for all chapters except for the works of
lake 18. This is very positive, as it seems that the 15-day delay will possibly
be naturally compensated during the coming months.
There are items
presenting a faster evolution of the works, i.e. demolition of greens or
bunkers, elimination of a 10 cm layer of contaminated material, and activity to
extract topsoil. The last two works are voluminous; therefore the advancement
is worth mentioning.
Only the works at
lake 18 did not start as originally planned. It was decided to postpone them
because of a series of matters related to the local administration. However, the
delay shown by the chart is presently not causing great concern.
