Ribbon Cutting Planned at Springbrook Golf Course
Wednesday, June 14, 2023

The community is invited to celebrate the completion of the course renovation at Springbrook Golf Course with a ribbon-cutting event at the course from 4:30-5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 14. Co-hosted by the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce and the Naperville Park District, the event will include remarks from dignitaries and guests, photo opportunities, refreshments and a putting contest.

The renovation project, which came in under $3.5 million, began in August 2022 and included a complete rebuild of all tees and bunkers, reconstruction of two ponds and two bridges, new collection areas and mounding at green surrounds, and additional drainage improvements. Construction was completed in the winter of 2022-23. During the spring of 2023, the course has remained closed, except for the driving range and practice area, to allow the new turf to grow in.

“We are excited to showcase the renovations and welcome golfers back to the course this summer,” said Director of Golf Kevin Carlson. “We continue to monitor the turf growth and plan to open gradually where the turf is ready for play, while allowing other areas sufficient time to grow in.”

Springbrook plans to start welcoming back golfers on a limited basis beginning Thursday, June 15.

Springbrook Reopening for Limited Rounds in June 

After the closing last August for a renovation of the 50-year-old golf course, the Naperville Park District is excited to announce the reopening of Springbrook.  
  
The renovation has successfully reconstructed every tee and bunker on the golf course, and most of these features look great and are ready for play.  Also, the greens and fairways are in perfect shape, with not a single ball mark or divot on the course.  There are, however, some tees and new turf areas on the course that are still not quite ready, so to allow time for these areas to mature, Springbrook will slowly reopen with limited rounds for the next few weeks.  These areas will remain closed for the near future, marked as ground under repair, and some holes will be using temporary tees.   
   
Limited tee times beginning on June 19 are now available online.  As conditions continue to improve, we will be slowly increasing the number of tee times available at Springbrook with the goal of being fully open later this summer.  
  
We appreciate your understanding and patience during this project, and staff will continue to work hard to get these areas ready for golfers and the course fully open.   

Wow.  The weather for the start of November couldn’t be better.  And this nice warm up is also helping our contractor crews to finish up the last few remaining bunkers and updates.  Currently, all that remains is the bunker complex on #4 green, and the final grading and seeding of tees #4, 5, 1 and 10, plus around greens #1, 4, 9 and 18.  Then our staff will be covering up the newly seeded areas with erosion control blankets and/or hydromulch, which will provide stability and protection over the winter months.

Wadsworth Golf Construction is expecting to be finishing the bulk of the project next week.  They will begin removing their equipment, and working with staff to finalize any remaining details and punchlist items, just in time for winter.

We expect to have a final blog for 2022 next week, so plan on checking in on the final details and photos of this project.

The finish line for the renovation is getting closer.  The crews from Wadsworth Golf Construction have been working their way north across the course, and have reached the creek.  In the next few days, we expect crews to be mainly on the north side of the creek, with work remaining on bunkers around #1, 4, 9 and 18 greens and tees on #1, 2, 5 and #10.  Paving and bridges have been completed, and the majority of the drainage installed, with only a few feet of drain pipes for the new bunkers yet to be installed.

The cold weather we experienced certainly stopped any new germination of grass, but the contractors and staff have been covering as much as possible with erosion control blankets to give the new seed a nice cover for the winter.    Forecasts for a few more warm days will help, but even if the seed doesn’t germinate this fall, it will be covered and protected for the winter, giving it a good start for next spring.

Let’s hope for a nice warm November to extend our growing season a few extra weeks.  Check back soon for some more updates and pictures.

Another busy week at Springbrook has seen the installation completed of a new bridge on #9, and the start of construction of two others.  On #9, a new steel bridge was dropped into place, left of the broken concrete bridge on the left side of the fairway.  This new bridge is 12 ft wide, and can handle a load up to 20 tons, which will easily handle the cart traffic it normally will see on a daily basis.  It will be our main span for heavy equipment crossing the creek, such as dump trucks or emergency equipment, once the concrete bridge is removed from the creek.  Removing the concrete bridge will open up the creek to flow unimpeded, reducing the backup we traditionally see after heavy rains.

On the other side of #9 fairway, the old steel bridge has been removed, which will take the path and bridge out of the line of play.  To allow walking players to cross the creek without having to walk across the fairway, a 6 ft wide wood walking bridge is being installed in the same spot as the old steel bridge.  This bridge will be low profile and will not be obstructing the line of play, proving access for walkers to cross the creek in front of the green.

On #10, a new cart path bridge is being installed on the far side of the fairway, which will move the cart traffic away from the landing zone.  This bridge is a timber truss bridge, that is being built on site. A new cart path is being installed on the far side of the fairway, which will take carts around the back side of the #10 green.  The current #10 bridge will remain, but will be for walking only.

Out on the rest of the course, cart paths are being replaced around greens and tees.  Pavers completed an additional 5,000 linear feet of cart paths, replacing several paths and re-routing others.  Bunker and tee renovation continue throughout the course, as crews continue their march across the creek.  Weather continues to provide great conditions for construction work, and the warm temps are a plus for getting the new turf to germinate.

Make sure to check back soon for more updates and pictures.

Lots of dirt moving this week at Springbrook as the construction is now concentrating on completing the tee complexes, and renovating the bunkers.  We are also seeing many of the seeded areas beginning to germinate, as staff is now taking over the task of caring for several acres of new turf.  Crews are now busy on a daily basis monitoring the seeded areas, running and adjusting sprinklers, and hand watering the sod around bunkers.  This will be an important time to help the turf get a jump start this fall, to help it be ready for play sometime late spring/early summer next year.

If you have been keeping up with this blog, you may be thinking we seem to be increasing the number of bunkers on the golf course.  That is correct, the total bunkers on the course will be around 50, which is nearly double the previous total of bunkers.  However, the total square feet of bunkers is actually lower, as the new bunkers, while more numerous, are significantly smaller than the previous design.

I have also been asked “Are we making the course more difficult” with all these bunkers?  The answer depends on how you wish to play each hole.  While the new bunkers will be challenging, and there will be more of them, the design of the course provides several options for golfers of all skill levels.  Golfers can play away from the bunkers and still access the greens without having to carry a hazard, but the bunkers will provide plenty of protection if a golfer wants to challenge a pin located behind the hazards.  The new tee complexes will provide several different angles and yardages between 5,000 and 7,000 yards that will be challenging and enjoyable for any golfer.  All these improvements will provide a more playable course for all golfers, while still providing a difficult test for the accomplished golfer.

Stop back next week for additional updates and pictures.

The run of great weather during our project ended this past Sunday in a dramatic way.  On Sunday, Springbrook received over 4 ½ inches of rain, including just over 2 inches in an hour Sunday morning.  The rain and wet conditions limited any work on the renovation on Monday and Tuesday, but by Wednesday the crews were back out in force and pressing forward with their work.

The rain slowed some of our progress, but by Thursday, crews were able to begin seeding tees and green surrounds again.  Also, crews were able to put the finishing touches on the rock wall adjacent to #12 tee.  The bridge abutments work on #9 was delayed due to the high water in the creek, but that project is still on schedule.  Delivery of the new steel bridge on #9 is expected in early October.

We certainly did not need to see the substantial rainfall that we (and the Bears) experienced this past Sunday.  However, the course was spared any significant damage, with only some of the exposed seeded areas around #2 green and fairway bunker needing to be reseeded.  The rain did provide some help, as the ponds on #11 and #15 filled up with water.  We are very thankful we had completed that major part of the project before the rains.  The heavy rains did show some of the benefits of the renovations, especially the bunkers.  A rainfall event like this past weekend would have washed out and flooded all the bunkers, which would have required dozens of man hours to pump out and repair, resulting in unplayable bunkers for several days.  But, after the huge rains on Sunday, we were very pleased, and a little amazed, to see our new bunkers completely drained, with no standing water and no washed out sand.  Golfers would be able to play out of these bunkers the next day, and they would be in the same condition they were in before the rain.  This will be a welcomed course improvement for our golfers…and maintenance staff!

Hoping to see the dry weather return.  Check in next week for more updates.

Bunker and tee construction is in full swing this week.  Seeding is beginning to take place on the tees, which will see all tees seeded with bentgrass.  The bentgrass variety chosen for the tees is 007 bentgrass, which is a newer, improved bentgrass from Seed Research of Oregon.  This variety is used on greens, tees and fairways on several local courses, and was chosen for its quick establishment, resistance to disease, heat tolerance and ability to limit poa annua encroachment.  We are looking forward to having it on our tees and providing firm, tight, level lies for golfers on every tee.

Bunker edges are beginning to be sodded.  Seeing the new sod placed around the bunker makes the new features stand out, and you can start to get a feel for how the bunkers are going to look and impact the green complexes.  For the most part, the bunkers are smaller, but will be more numerous.  For example, looking at the picture above of #5 green, we replaced one large bunker with 3 smaller bunkers.  We hope you agree the design is a tremendous improvement, and the bunkers certainly stand out.  The bunker sand is beginning to be installed after the sod is completed.  For our new bunker sand, we have specified Pioneer bunker sand from Waupaca Sand in Wisconsin for our bunkers.  This is a tour-grade sand that will remain firm in bunker faces, limit fried-egg lies, and has a nice, light color that will provide excellent contrast to the green turf.

The large steel bridge on #9 was removed this week.  This bridge will be replaced by a new bridge on the left side of the fairway, which keeps the bridge and path out of the green approach and line of play.  A new, smaller timber bridge will be added near where the steel bridge was located, which will be for walking only.  Cart traffic and the paths will cross the creek on the new bridge on the left side of the fairway.

Next week will see cart path paving begin, as most green complexes and tees will see new cart paths.  Also, weather permitting, additional seeding will take place throughout the course.  Here’s hoping for continued great weather.

See you next week with more pictures.

We are entering the second month of construction at Springbrook Golf Course, and the large renovation work on #11 and #15 is finishing up, allowing crews to focus more on the bunker and tee construction.  This month will be an important time for the renovation project, as we hope to have the majority of the new areas completed and seeded so we may begin growing in the turf.

The new bunkers on the course are being designed using the Better Billy Bunker construction methods, which will provide excellent drainage, no washouts after rain events, and no contamination of the bunker sand.  All three of those benefits are vital to maintaining bunker sand that is consistent, clean and playable despite the ever changing weather conditions.  We are looking forward to having bunkers without standing water or washed out bunker faces after a significant rain, and sand that is not rock hard due to soil and clay contamination.  We also expect our crews will enjoy not having to push sand each time it rains.

The Better Billy Bunkers construction begins after the bunker is shaped.  Workers first install 4” drain tiles into trenches cut into the bunker surface.  After the drainage is completed, clean pea gravel is added to the entire bunker base.  This gravel is then sprayed with an epoxy that will bind the gravel together to form a solid layer, but still remain porous to allow water to drain out of the bunker.  After the epoxy is applied and dried, crews will carefully add new bunker sand and finally sod the edges to complete the construction.

The new Eden stone wall is being installed in front of #11 green.  Next week crews will install the same stone wall along #12 tee.  The walls are going to look incredible.  Also next week crews will be pouring cement to complete the bridge foundations on #9.  Pilings for the bridge were driven into the ground as far as 22 feet, as this bridge will have a capacity of over 20 tons to allow trucks and equipment to get across the creek as needed.  Bunker and tee construction will also be in high gear, with cart path paving planned to start soon.

Be sure to check back next week for more updates.

The large scale earth moving and excavation on #11 has finished, and is now shifted to #15 pond.  This pond, which has been shallow and weedy for some time, will be cleared out and expanded slightly in front of #16 tee.  The fill removed is being shifted up to the left of the dogleg on #16 to create new mounding and a new fairway bunker for the left side of #16.  It will be nice to have a clear and clean water hazard in front of this green again.

You’ll start to notice the new bunker style being used at Springbrook.  We included a picture of the large mounding on top of the #2 fairway bunker.  Many of the bunkers will have high faces, but these slopes will be a combination of turf and bunker sand.  All bunkers will have a fescue “eyebrow” in the slope facing the green. The bunkers will be deeper in some areas, and combining the sand flashed up in the faces and the fescue “eyebrow” these features will really stand out.  We also expect they will be a challenge.

Work has begun on the new bridge to be installed on the left side of #9 fairway.  An 80 ton crane was required to be brought out to assist with this new bridge.  The crane will begin driving pilings for the bridge foundation next week.  This bridge will be a high capacity steel bridge, able to support all our golf equipment and trucks that may need to access the golf course.  Once this bridge is complete, the concrete bridge that is collapsed in the creek on #9 will be removed.

Check back next week for more updates.

The large scale earth moving and excavation on #11 has finished, and is now shifted to #15 pond.  This pond, which has been shallow and weedy for some time, will be cleared out and expanded slightly in front of #16 tee.  The fill removed is being shifted up to the left of the dogleg on #16 to create new mounding and a new fairway bunker for the left side of #16.  It will be nice to have a clear and clean water hazard in front of this green again.

You’ll start to notice the new bunker style being used at Springbrook.  We included a picture of the large mounding on top of the #2 fairway bunker.  Many of the bunkers will have high faces, but these slopes will be a combination of turf and bunker sand.  All bunkers will have a fescue “eyebrow” in the slope facing the green. The bunkers will be deeper in some areas, and combining the sand flashed up in the faces and the fescue “eyebrow” these features will really stand out.  We also expect they will be a challenge.

Work has begun on the new bridge to be installed on the left side of #9 fairway.  An 80 ton crane was required to be brought out to assist with this new bridge.  The crane will begin driving pilings for the bridge foundation next week.  This bridge will be a high capacity steel bridge, able to support all our golf equipment and trucks that may need to access the golf course.  Once this bridge is complete, the concrete bridge that is collapsed in the creek on #9 will be removed.

Check back next week for more updates.

Excellent weather has allowed construction to stay on schedule as the heavy rains last weekend missed Springbrook Golf Course.  The pond in front of #11 green has been pumped out, and large dozers and excavators are busy removing the steel wall and carving out the new shape of the pond.  A new stone wall will front this green, and with bunkers framing both sides of the green this hole will be one of the signature holes on the golf course.  The overgrowth of trees on the left side along the fence will be pruned and cleaned up, which will allow cars driving south on Book Road to see this picturesque green.

On the other side of the golf course, the rough shaping of features on #2 and #15 green, and tees on #3 and #16 are nearing completion.  Next steps in this area include bringing in the new sand mix for the tees, final detail shaping, and the installation of the bunker liner.  The goal is to be able to seed the majority of the features and all the tees by the middle of September to allow the turf to germinate and mature before the winter weather sets in.

We’ll keep the updates coming along with new pictures next week.

In preparation for the shaping of new features, crews this week are roto-tilling greens, bunkers and tees.  This process will turn over the existing turf and soil and pulverize it to create a perfect soil mix for shaping and eventually, seeding.  The included pictures show the areas around #2 and #5 green, along with #3 tee, where the existing bunker and surround has been roto-tilled leaving an excellent soil mix.  Surveyors will be staking the new features this week, followed by bulldozers to start carving out new bunkers, tees and other features.  Watch for new updates soon.

If you have any questions or comments on the renovation work at Springbrook, contact us at springbrookgolfcourse@napervilleparks.org.

Welcome to the Springbrook Golf Course Renovation Blog!  We plan to use this communication tool to keep our golfers updated on the progress of the renovations, show some pictures detailing the work to date, and provide some insight into what is happening and why.  It’s an exciting time to see the course we all know and appreciate get an overdue updating, and we want to share with you all the details including the start of construction, establishing the new turf, and plans to reopen next year.

If you are playing this week at Springbrook, you will notice some erosion control being installed around some water features on the course.  The picture included in this blog is the pond on the right side of the #14 green.  Contractors began on Monday morning trenching and installing the sediment control device, or silt fence, as required by our Storm Water Pollution Protection Plan (SWPPP), which limits the discharge of sediment from construction areas into surrounding water.  Crews will be installing the silt fence in several areas on the course this week, including ponds on the back nine, and areas along the creek.

Next week, once the course is closed on August 1, we are expecting the contractor to begin full mobilization for the project.  Work will begin surveying and staking, and select areas will have demolition work starting.  Cranes to install pilings for bridges will also be onsite to begin setting new foundations for bridges.

We have often been asked why the course needs to close to complete the renovation work.  Closing the course is the most practical and cost-efficient way to complete a project of this size and scope in the shortest period of time.  Contractors will need access to several areas and features on the golf course.  If we didn’t close the course during renovations, work would be limited to small sections of individual holes or parts of the course, with partial hole closures each season. This would significantly reduce the amount of work that could be done at one time, resulting in the project running significantly longer to complete, which could have taken several years; this also would have significantly increased the total cost for the entire project.  While closing the course certainly will impact our residents and patrons access to our courses for several months, this was the most efficient and cost-effective way to handle this large-scale project.

If you have any questions or comments on the renovation work at Springbrook, contact us at springbrookgolfcourse@napervilleparks.org.