Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, site of the U.S. victory in the 2008 Ryder Cup, will reopen on September 1, 2011 after major renovations. Nicklaus Design was brought in to oversee design changes to the layout that was originally opened in 1986. In addition to reconstructing all of the greens, the renovation included the practice range and a new state-of-the-art HDPE irrigation system (designed by Tony Altum; installed by Leibold Irrigation).
Sam Morrow, construction superintendent for Sanders Golf, oversees work on the 9th hole at Valhalla Golf Club
A master drainage plan that was designed by Turf Drainage Co. of America was designed with the objective of having the fairways perform at a level comparable to sand capping the golf course. The TDA system, however, did not require the movement of any dirt or a grow-in after the system was installed.
Sod replaced on number 9 fairway at Valhalla, a day after the completion of drainage installation
Sanders Golf, which is famous for its quality greens construction, installed the drainage system after they completed the greens renovation. Sanders used a commercial sod harvester to remove the sod prior to the installation of the drainage system, and immediately replaced the sod. The fairways where the drainage took place will be ready for the grand opening without having to grow in any seed. The first several phases of the plan have been installed. Additional phases of the drainage system will be completed this winter, as well as in the coming years, in preparation for the 2014 PGA.