(Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. - June 18, 2013)
Turf Evolutions, an industry leader in alternative turf solutions for
golf, athletic fields and landscaping needs, has
completing the installation of its surface at TPC Sawgrass as part of a
continuing relationship with the home course of THE PLAYERS
Championship and the PGA TOUR.
TPC Sawgrass is
renovating its practice facility and the adjacent PGA TOUR Academy
through June 17, with an artificial surface replacement at the back of
the reworked tee box and at a hitting area for the
Academy, totaling approximately 6,500 square feet.
“There were a few
reasons we chose Turf Evolutions,” said Michael Johnson, the Vice
President of Design and Construction for the PGA TOUR, whose team
oversees the TPC Sawgrass work. “We had some history with
them, they were very reliable from a service point of view and their
pricing was very good.
“Some of the PGA
TOUR professionals hit off Turf Evolutions’ surface this year and former
TOUR player Bob Dickson gave us a good review from a professionals’
point of view. Our amateur resort guests will find
it more forgiving and offers a little more cushion. When they have to
hit off the surface, it’s not a detriment.”
Later this summer,
when THE PLAYERS Stadium Course is closed for maintenance, Turf
Evolutions will also replace the artificial surface that leads to and
covers the walkway leading onto the famous island green
par-3 17th hole. Turf Evolutions
originally installed these surfaces when TPC Sawgrass was renovated in
2007 and won a bid to upgrade these areas this year.
“We are excited to
return to TPC Sawgrass and continue our relationship with the PGA TOUR,”
said Greg Weitz, the President of Turf Evolutions. “The PGA TOUR’s
confidence in our product is further evidence
that when it comes to artificial surfaces, Turf Evolutions is a safe,
durable and environmentally sound alternative to natural grasses.”
According to
Johnson, the increased demand for artificial surfaces has become “fairly
common in the private and resort” areas of golf courses in recent
years. The surface offer golfers an option to warm up
when natural turf replacement is in progress or when weather or
seasonal disparities prevent use of the natural grass. Since 2007,
Johnson said, TPC facilities such as TPC Potomac at Avenel Farms in
Potomac, Md., and TPC Las Vegas have installed these Turf
Evolutions alternatives. Johnson said they have also proposed
installing an artificial surface on a portion of the practice teeing
ground at the new 2016 Summer Olympic Games course being designed by
Hanse Golf Course Design in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
About Turf Evolutions
Turf Evolutions (www.turfevolutions.com
) of Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., is an industry leader in alternative turf
solutions with relationships that include The Home
Depot, TPC Sawgrass, the PGA TOUR Academy and Atlanta’s legendary East
Lake Golf Club. Turf Evolutions was founded in 2000 by industry
executives with a diverse expertise in related fields – fiber
technology, turf manufacturing, civil engineering, earthworks
construction and turf installation. With more than 20 years of
experience, Turf Evolutions has built a company that offers a complete
range of low maintenance, high performance and environmentally safe
alternative turf solutions, ranging from golf course surfaces
to athletic fields and general landscaping needs. Greg Weitz (greg@turfevolutions.com), who was been with Turf Evolutions since its formation in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., is the President and Account Manager of the
Home Depot national account.
