Potomac Shores Golf Club Completes Major Course Enhancements

(Dumfries, Va.) – Potomac Shores Golf Club, the award-winning Jack Nicklaus Signature design in Dumfries, Va., recently completed a multi-phase 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 bent grass 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.  Combined with the Capillary Concrete liner system, the bunkers should weather heavy rain events better and have reduced contamination.  While several bunkers were eliminated in this project, a handful of previously eliminated bunkers were re-installed to restore Jack's original design intent.  Finally, several deep bunkers were shallowed out in order to make the course more enjoyable for its daily fee clientele.  All of this was done while preserving Jack's original design intent and strategies."

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.”

Located just 30 minutes south of Washington, D.C., Potomac Shores Golf Club is the centerpiece of the Potomac Shores community being developed by SunCal, one of the largest real estate development companies in the U.S. that specializes in large-scale, mixed-use master-planned communities. Potomac Shores covers 1,920 acres and features nearly two miles of shoreline, 1,000 acres of preserved hardwood forests and streams and traditional Virginia Tidewater architectural designs. This transit-oriented development is planned for a mixed-use town center, a new VRE commuter rail station and a waterfront village. Its master plan also includes two public schools, multiple sports fields, 10 miles of trails and over 3,800 residences. The community offers the 13,000 square-foot Shores Club, a private recreation and fitness complex, and has sold over 900 new homes. For more information on the Potomac Shores community, visit www.potomacshores.com.

For more information on Potomac Shores Golf Club, visit www.potomacshoresgolfclub.com or call (571) 383-3050.