Course of the Week: Cabot Saint Lucia regrasses with Pure Dynasty in new renovation

The Point Hardy Golf Club at the Cabot Saint Lucia in the Caribbean recently held its grand opening following a renovation project where Pure Dynasty seeded seashore paspalum, developed by Pure-Seed Testing and supplied by Atlas Turf and Pure Seed, was used to grass the entire course.

The project was designed by Coore & Crenshaw. The COVID-19 pandemic hit the world just after construction started, meaning that lead shaper Keith Rhebb remained on the island for more than 250 days, most of that time working alone on the course.

Photo: Jacob Sjöman

The playing surfaces featured a volcanic pumice sand sourced from the island but offered poor drainage characteristics.

Along with superintendent and Golfdom Editorial Advisory Board member Damon Di Giorgio who had managed the grass previously at Playa Grande in the Dominican Republic, Coore & Crenshaw eventually selected Pure Dynasty. A few other courses feature Pure Dynasty, including Marco Simone in Italy, Royal Greens in Saudi Arabia, and Mont Choisy and La Réserve in Mauritius. The Casa de Campo course in the Dominican Republic is currently being renovated using Pure Dynasty.

“Paspalum was a natural choice here because of the course’s proximity to the sea, the salt spray and the natural buildup of salts in the soil,” golf course architect Bill Coore, said.

According to the company, the fact that Pure Dynasty is the only seashore paspalum strain available as a seeded product was crucial, as Saint Lucia prohibits the importation of vegetative material, making sprigging or sodding impossible, meaning the entire course, including the greens, must use the same grass.

“Pure Dynasty is the result of 25-plus years of plant breeding and testing work to produce a blend of varieties that provide improved disease resistance and overall turf performance,” Crystal Rose-Fricker, president of Pure Seed, said.

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