Prior to any shovel being placed into the ground, it is critical for facilities and personnel to get a full and complete picture of their course’s bunkers.  Beyond just a basic understanding, a detailed review needs to be made to identify problem areas and determine what needs to be improved.  Assembling perspectives from a wide point of view will produce the best assessment and will result in the best possible project result.

Defining What Needs to be Addressed
Remodel, Renovate or Restore
Assessing the Importance & Feasibility of the Project
Quick Look – The Structure of the Project
Initial Management Presentation

Go to Project Parameters

Now that you have your ideas and objectives organized, the real core of project planning begins.  You’ll need to be considering: what’s the best fit for your facility’s culture; what budget you think may be available; and what suppliers you’ll be considering.  Always keep in mind that projects contain may trade-offs.  Your ability to understand what these trade-offs mean and what impact they have to your project will help you put a realistic plan and budget in place.

Advantages of Professional Guidance
Industry Trends & Perspectives
Implementation Methods
Understanding Risk
Selecting Vendors
Creating ‘Request For Proposals’ (RFPs)
The Bidding Process

Go to Construction Set-up

When your bunker project involves a remodeling or restoration approach, you’ll be considering many issues related to design.  Whether you’ve got an older course or you’re considering upgrading course performance and aesthetics, one must understand that there are many approaches to design.  Not all approaches will fit your course or your club’s culture.

This section is intended to provide a basic understanding for the design process and what results from it.  Before engaging professional architectural services, it’s recommended that you create an internal planning and design team that can begin considering the aesthetic aspects of your course. 

It’s worth mentioning at this point that golf course design can be a volatile topic within your organization and your membership/golfer base.  You’ll need to acknowledge many points of view and carefully consider your options.

Architects & The Master Plan
Design & Functional Requirements
Consultation & Design Changes
Construction Documents, Specs & Bid Sheets

Go to Design Considerations

As the approval for the project is progressing or being finalized, you’ll want to spend some time organizing and preparing your management plans.  This section highlights several factors important to keeping your project on time and on budget.  It also addresses key communications ideas that will improve the impact to your club and minimize problems.

Project Start-Up Issues
In-Process Issues
Materials Acquisition

Go to Project Management

APPENDIX A - Project Planning Checklists

Located on the Appendix A download page here, are a group of documents designed to help you plan and organize your project.  Each Checklist is provided in Portable Document Format (PDF-requires Acrobat Reader), and two versions of Microsoft Word (98-2002 and 2007).
The checklists are designed to be “ready to use” so most users will simply print the checklists directly from the PDF.  If you’d like to modify the checklist, than the Word document will allow for modification.

The Appendix includes Checklists for Course Assessment & Inventory, Architect & Builder Selection Process, Master Planning, Construction Management, In-House Project Task Review, Project Communications

APPENDIX B - Project Worksheets

Located on the Appendix B downloads page here, are a group of documents designed to help you execute your project in the form of various tables, templates, and worksheets.  Each of the following sections are organized as separate folders within the Appendix B folder.  Each document is provided in Portable Document Format (PDF-requires Acrobat Reader), and two versions of Microsoft Word (98-2002 and 2007).

The Appendix includes Checklists for Project Organization, Course Assessment & Inventory, RFP’s, Bidding & Cost Estimating, Project Management

APPENDIX C - Presentation Preparation

Located on the Appendix C page here, The Bunker Toolbox was primarily designed for the golf course maintenance professional.  Although others within course management may use this as a guide or tool, the maintenance professional is in the best position to formulate and execute many aspects of bunker project planning.  However, presentations may be an area that is unfamiliar or uncomfortable, so we’ve created this Appendix and Appendix D to take some of the uncertainty out of the process.

The Appendix includes Tips for:

Part 1 – Initial Management Presentation Tips: Project Focus, Historic Impact, Preliminary Cost Estimating, Initial Planning Approval

Part 2 – Full Project Presentation Tips: Introduction & Acknowledgements, Project Solutions & Benefits, Recommended Project Structure, Important Strategic, Mechanical, and Aesthetic Improvements,
Project Scope, Pre-Screened Project Vendors, Anticipated Project Schedule, Costing & Financials, Project Management

APPENDIX D - Presentation Templates

Located on the Appendix D page here are presentation templates set up in PowerPoint.  As we’ve done with other support documents, they’ve been provided in two versions – PowerPoint 98-2002 and PowerPoint 2007.  There are some very solid improvements to the 2007 version, so if you’ve got the chance, acquire that version and use those templates.

The templates were constructed with a simple, appealing color scheme.  The font or typeface used in these template is an effective, impactful font that is provided in the Presentation Templates folder.  You can move them to your desktop and install them as you normally would.  You’ll notice “placeholder” images in these templates.  Replace images with your own that would support the relevant topic being discussed. 

APPENDIX E - Construction Documents

Located on the Appendix E page here are Standardized Contruction Documents from the American Institute of Architects.  You’ll want to review the AIA Document Summary for the descriptions of the various contract types.  When you’re ready to search deeper into a particular contract, you’ll be able to access state-level AIA organizations (in the AIA Distributor List document) and pay to download the contracts for a nominal fee.

AIA Document Summary and AIA Full Service Distributor List

APPENDIX F - Project Communications

Located on the Appendix F downloads page here are documents, templates and samples are simple tools you’ll find effective when managing communications.  They can be used as is or modified to suit your needs.  The documents have been created in the several different formats, including PDF and Word versions. Some of the documents/samples have been created using professional design/layout programs.  Files such as Adobe Illustrator (.ai) will require that program to open and use/modify the content.  Some of these files will have PDF alternates where you’ll be able to print from and make changes or add content by hand.

Documents include: Communications Management, Signage & Flyer Samples, Communication Templates, Bunker Performance & Maintenance Survey