Potomac Shores Golf Club completes course enhancement

Aerial of Hole No. 2 at Potomac Shores. Photo: Troon

Potomac Shores Golf Club, the award-winning Jack Nicklaus Signature design in Dumfries, Va., recently completed a multiphase course enhancement project which included re-grassing fairways and bunker renovations. Chad Goetz from Nicklaus Design and Troon’s agronomy team led the 10-month project with Southeastern Golf construction company serving as the contractor.

Phase one of the course improvement project was completed in September 2018 and focused on replacing bentgrass fairways with latitude 36 Bermudagrass. Phase two began in mid-October and involved eliminating and renovating bunkers. The total number of bunkers decreased from 77 to 74, while the total square footage of bunkers was reduced by 40 percent, from approximately 103,000 square feet to approximately 63,000 square feet.

“It was our pleasure to return to Potomac Shores Golf Club,” said Chad Goetz, design associate, Nicklaus Design. “The project was focused on restoring all of the bunkers on the course while increasing playability and improving the daily playing conditions. In order to improve maintenance efficiency, numerous bunkers were reduced in size or eliminated.”

Potomac Shores Golf Club opened for daily-fee play in May of 2014. Upon opening in 2014, the facility was named one of the “Best New Courses” in the U.S. by Golf Digest and GOLF Magazine and is currently ranked among the “Top Courses You Can Play” in Virginia by GolfWeek magazine.

“Our goal from the onset was to improve the playability of the golf course allowing golfers of all skill levels to enjoy themselves. I am happy to say that we achieved our objective,” said Todd Van Meer, PGA, director of club operations, Potomac Shores Golf Club. “With the new sand and bunker improvements, the course is not only more beautiful but the overall playability has improved.”

David Walter is the golf course superintendent at Potomac Shores.