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THOMAS VLACH

Certified Golf Course Superintendent

AGRONOMY: PROJECTS

Tom has been associated with many large and small construction projects during his career. From new course construction and grow-in to existing facilities renovation, he has a deep knowledge in all aspects of golf course construction. There was near-constant construction at Sawgrass every year he was there. In addition, he has built an over 6,000 square foot home in Alabama, and he has retained his Alabama Home Builder's License to this day. Highlighted below are a few of the projects he has worked on more recently.

 

 

 

STADIUM COURSE & SHORT GAME REGRASSING

TPC SAWGRASS

 

The club has 40 local PGA professionals that practice in the short game area. They have converted the Bermudagrass from Tifway 419 to Celebration variety.  Celebration is a more aggressive growing grass that hides fairway contaminates and heals divots faster.  This grass also grows better in shade, which is prevalent in the area. The professionals like hitting off this grass, so the entire Stadium course was stripped, sand-capped and resodded -- incredibly in only 17 days.

DYE'S VALLEY COMPLETE RESTORATION

TPC SAWGRASS

 

This was a massive project that was completed in 2014 under budget at $6.5M. It has yielded improved playing conditions through the installation of a new irrigation system; reconstruction of all green, tee, and green-side bunker complexes; replacement of fairway turf; expansion of the drainage network; as well as the performance of timely maintenance practices aimed at preserving the exceptional quality and tournament conditions for years to come. In addition, the original square footage of each green was recaptured during the reconstruction process before the putting surface was sprigged with TifEagle Bermudagrass. The fairways and tees were both planted with Celebration Bermudagrass, while the rough remains 419 Bermudagrass.

GREENS RECONSTRUCTION

TPC SAWGRASS

 

Five greens were modified with the assistance of Pete Dye in the summer of 2011. The greens were addressed because of their bulkheads -- over the years of topdressing, a portion of the greens became crowed and unfair to the golfer as green speeds have increased.  The height on the bulkheads was raised six inches allowing a flattening on portions of the greens that were fixated against the bulkheads. These greens are now less severe, allowing greater speeds on the greens for the championship without balls entering the water while putting.

 

 

 

FAIRWAY CONSTRUCTION

TPC SAWGRASS

 

This project has involved stripping all the golf course fairways of contaminated Tifway 419 Bermuda.  It is then regraded, removing all the organic material to get down to the sand-capping that was completed in 2006.  The sand-capping allows allows the golf course to drain amazingly, retaining the firm and fast conditions in the fairways even after significant rain events.

WINTER BERMUDAGRASS MANAGEMENT

TPC SAWGRASS

 

Because The Players is played on warm-season grass in the Spring, Tom must get creative in his Winter Bermuda management program. He has developed a state-of-the-art program, consistng of applying black-dyed sand to attract heat from the sun. It is applied to all tees, approaches, fairways, and greens. Over the top, a green pigment is then sprayed. The black sand and green pigment allow the turf canopy to raise its temperature up to four degrees. The greens are then covered every night when the low temperature goes below 38 degrees for more than six hours. Finally, every green is equiped with Precision Aire, which is an HVAC system.  Heat is blown into the greens all winter long.

NATIVE RESTORATION & LANDSCAPE PROJECT

TPC SAWGRASS

 

A portion of the latest master plan at Sawgrass was to restore the course back to it's native and rugged look from when it first opened, and to augment that look with new plant gardens. Part of the process was removing Bermuda grass in certain areas, and replacing them with native grass species such as Love grass, Paspalum, and Creeping Cord grasses. Another part included enhanced ornamental plant selections in gardens.

PLANT PROTECTANT BUILDING CONSTRUCTION

TPC SAWGRASS

 

Tom built a new plant protectant building to be a leader in the environmental arena.  He is working to make all chemicals mixed free of human interaction.  The three mix and load bays are all self contained for accidental spills.

NEW RESTROOMS FOR THE PLAYERS

TPC SAWGRASS

 

The club constructed permanent bathrooms at multiple sites throughout the property for guests of The Players.  The goal of the ongoing projects is to build out the property to handle 60,000 spectaors a day.

LEGACY COURSE NEW CONSTRUCTION

GREYSTONE GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB

 

Tom was involved in building this course from the very beginning. The enitre process included surveying the property, clearing site lines, tree removal, earth moving, construction of lakes and waterfalls, shaping land for golf course, building of pumphouse, clubhouse, and maintenance facility, and finally course infrastructure drainage and irrigation systems.

©2012 THOMAS VLACH. WEBSITE BY PLAYBOOKS FOR GOLF.