RTJ II is working closely with the Northern California Golf Association, which owns the course. The renovation will result in lower power requirements and a smaller carbon footprint for the entire golf course.
As part of renovation, RTJ II will sand cap the entire golf course to improve drainage and make the course play firmer and faster; reconstruct all teeing areas; completely renovate and reposition bunkers; and employing modern technologies for subgrade protection and more uniform sand playability.
RTJ II will also design and construct all new green complexes with softer green surface contours for today’s faster green speeds, and fairway hollows and slopes around the greens to serve as either a defense of or as an aid to players. Fairways will be widened along with softening of angles of doglegs. Various naturalised sandy areas would be added throughout the course that tie into the surrounding Monterey Pine forest.
In addition, RTJ II will restore a natural creek buried during original construction and strategically utilise this feature as a hazard on Hole #9; update and realign cart paths to be less obtrusive to play; alter the yardages on many holes to lend more flexibility for daily play, to yield a wider range of club selection decisions, and for tournament setup; and develop an enhanced forest management program to improve playability and allow more sunlight to improve turf health.
When complete, the renovation will cut water consumption by reducing the area of irrigated turf by 14.5 acres, adjusting to a Par 71 while simultaneously lengthening the golf course from 6,857 to more than 7,000 yards.
Poppy Hills will re-open for play in the spring of 2014. It was originally designed by RTJ II and opened in 1986.
