Oak Valley from page 14 The soft G-Angle sand is a


modern variation. Dail said Oak Valley’s maintenance staff would work diligently to maintain a mois- ture level ideal for playing condi- tions.


“It’s one of the preferred sands


in the industry,” he said. Dail said the first renovations


were made on Nos. 1 through 5 and 8 and 9. The January snowstorm and a few showers caused a 14-day delay.


“We’re hoping to have every-


thing complete by the first of March,” James said. The semi-private Oak Valley,


which opened in 1995, owns one of the Triad’s finest public layouts. It’s also one of the most challenging. Measuring 7,033 yards from


the back tees, the course plays to a difficult 74.1 rating and 143 slope. Water comes into play on 11 holes. Dail and James said the bet-


ter bunker conditions should help players facing already tough shots. “There’s a big difference in


the playability following the work we’ve done,” Dail said. In addition to providing easier maintenance and eliminating stand- ing water in the sand, the new grassy areas offer a new variety of shots. For low-handicappers, chips and pitches from the grass will be more difficult with players unable to generate the same level of back- spin they can on shots from sand. For long chips covering a large


portion of the putting surface, play- ers can now forego a sand wedge for another iron in an attempt to play a running shot to the hole. Meanwhile, high-handicappers


should have an easier time pitching onto the green from the grassy area. G-Angle sand has been the


recent choice of several prominent clubs. Unlike typically round sand grains, G-Angle sand is “crushed” at the mine, creating the angular granuals that not only improve drainage, but prevent plugged lies. Though bunker renovation may


not seem like a big deal to many golfers, James said it should have a huge impact at Oak Valley. “I think it will make the course


harder for good players, not easi- er,” James said. “It’s just making a great golf course better.”


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