Gulf Construction Online - Tiger Woods course makes rapid strides

Landscaping

Machinery at Al Ruwaya Golf Club ... work in progress and the gulf course (below)

Tiger Woods course makes rapid strides

01 August 2009

CONSTRUCTION work is 50 per cent complete on more than 3.3 million sq ft of purified, fresh water lakes that form the central component of the water features at The Tiger Woods Dubai in Dubailand, the world’s most ambitious leisure, tourism and entertainment destination. The UAE project utilises a state-of-the-art irrigation system, which will be unique in the region in its use of technology.
The water utilised on The Tiger Woods Dubai is sourced from treated sewage effluent (TSE) water and waste water produced on site, which then undergoes an extensive refining process via reverse osmosis (RO) to create a clean water source for the lakes and irrigation system.
The first of its kind for a golf course in the region, the treated water will ensure that both golfers and residents are able to enjoy crystal clear lakes and water features, all of which will be completely free from odour and pests that often surround TSE lakes.
To help design and build the system, The Tiger Woods Dubai has employed Aqua Agronomic Solutions Incorporated (AASI), a leading US-based irrigation systems designer. Instrumental in designing the water features at eight of the 10 top-ranked courses within the US, AASI has been enlisted at Al Ruwaya Golf Club – the centrepiece of The Tiger Woods Dubai – to ensure the system employed is of the highest quality possible.
Abdulla Al Gurg, executive director, The Tiger Woods Dubai, says: “We are proud to share this important milestone. The lakes and irrigation system are an important detail in ensuring that the playing experience at Al Ruwaya Golf Club is unmatched, and the overall environment of The Tiger Woods Dubai is one of lushness and tranquility. The attention to detail that has been put into the design of the system is consistent to the level of craftsmanship present in all aspects of the course. Excellence, quality, and integrity will continue to characterise our work on all elements of The Tiger Woods Dubai.”
The lakes will serve more than just an aesthetic role on the development. The purified water that is fed into each of the three major lake systems will be channelled through a series of streams, until finally being drawn out for use as irrigation water for the golf course and surrounding landscaping. All of the lakes are fully equalised and lined to prevent any seepage or escape of water. Additionally, harvested rain water at the site and storm water caught by the golf course’s drainage system will be fed into the lakes, ensuring maximum efficiency of the irrigation system for the development.
Keeping pace with the work on the lakes are other individual elements at The Tiger Woods Dubai development, contributing to the overall progress of the project.
Detailed shaping and grassing is progressing on Al Ruwaya Golf Club. In addition, Ransomes Jacobson, the US- and UK-based turf equipment manufacturer, has been awarded the deal to supply golf course maintenance equipment for the 7,800 yard, par 72 18-hole championship course.
Also, a 55-hectare plant nursery at the massive golf community already boasts more than 60 acres of grass – the equivalent of nine holes – and houses over 6,000 trees and a wide variety of shrubs.
Al Ruwaya Golf Club is the first golf course design created by Tiger Woods Design. The design includes dramatic elevation changes, stunning water features and an overall layout that will challenge and entertain golfers of all skill levels. It will also include a professionally-staffed golf academy and clubhouse.
Ransomes Jacobsen’s distributor in Dubai, Desert Turf Care, was central in winning the business, following detailed discussions with The Tiger Woods Dubai and IMG Golf Course Management, operators of the Al Ruwaya Golf Course. All equipment required to maintain the golf course to tournament-ready condition – both through grow-in and maintenance – has been delivered. Having maintenance equipment on site will allow the team time for training and refinement.
Al Gurg comments: “The contract with Ransomes Jacobsen is indicative of our continued progress on Al Ruwaya Golf Course. Our attention to detail and dedication to sourcing the best expertise in the world proves our steadfast commitment to the project. Ransomes Jacobsen has been selected for its strong track record and pioneering position in the industry.”
The Tiger Woods Dubai, a member of Tatweer, is a private residential community and resort. Its luxurious residential and hospitality components will include 197 residences, a boutique hotel, a well-being spa, a fine dining restaurant, a professionally staffed golf academy, and the Al Ruwaya clubhouse. It is scheduled for completion this year. It will occupy an area of 55 million sq ft in Dubailand off Al Hibab Road – a 30-minute drive from Dubai’s city centre and the Dubai International Airport.