Hot Springs Village Addresses Balboa Golf Course Renovation

Hot Springs Village Golf Department and Public Services Tackle Balboa Golf Course Rejuvenation

As of November 11, 2024, we have completed the rejuvenation of Granada and Isabella Golf Courses and have moved on to the revitalization of Balboa Golf Course.

The refurbishment of Balboa Golf Course is going to be slightly different. Associate Public Services Director Matt Broom explained, “Finite goals were attached to those two courses [Granada and Isabella].” Broom said that the work completed on the two included, but was not limited to, the redo of bunkers, some pond excavations at Isabella, and concrete work. Tami Jones, Director of Golf Maintenance, detailed that Capillary Concrete Bunkers were executed at Granada, and Better Billy Bunkers were installed for Isabella.

Golf and Public Services Coordinate Efforts to Refurbish Balboa Golf Course

Both Public Services and the Golf Department are coordinating efforts to renew the Balboa Golf Course. The Golf Department, under Tami Jones, is taking the lead and is responsible for redoing bunkers and irrigation on Balboa.

Bunkers and New Irrigation Fall Under Purview of Director of Golf Maintenace Tami Jones

Jones shared, “We are installing the Better Billy Bunker method on Balboa. As of Thursday, December 5, all the front nine bunkers have been dug out and drainage installed. We have tested the drainage by running water through using a water wagon. The bunker crew is now digging out the back nine and installing drainage before we install the class two gravel. Billy Bunker requires two inches of gravel for proper drainage, but we install three inches to ensure drainage as we get some heavy rainstorms and don’t want the water to sit for any length of time, if possible.” 

Public Services Has Role of Beautification of Balboa Golf Course

Emphasis on Pressure Washing, Repurposing and Economical Sourcing of Materials

Public Services has accepted the role of beautification. This task falls under the co-direction of Associate Director Matt Broom and Superintendent Todd Noles. To accomplish the task, materials such as stone and boulders no longer needed in other areas are being repurposed for the Balboa Golf Course project. Noles has also economically sourced materials from vendors, including free material the vendor wants removed. Another vendor is providing landscaping supplies at wholesale prices. (This includes plants and rock.)

“We are repurposing whatever we can to morph that course into something that, hopefully, people who saw it a year ago won’t recognize when they return. We want to revamp the course and accentuate features to make it more interesting—and it is simple things,” enthused the director.

Noles stated, “We’ll always do a million-dollar job on a thousand-dollar budget! We want the outcome of Balboa Golf Course to look unrecognizable!”

Doubt has been expressed that the course can be remodeled economically. One example of a big bang for the buck is pressure washing areas that haven’t been pressure washed in 20 or 30 years. The Public Services Department aims to make mold-infested features look new. “This is one way to do it; that doesn’t cost much money!” Broom expressed.

Public Services Plans Seven Phase Balboa Golf Course Renovation

1. Cleaning / Powerwashing -This phase takes approximately two weeks to execute and should be finished by Friday, December 14.
2. Removal of bothersome trees
3. Reconstruction of three ponds – These ponds are very overgrown, full of silt, and exhibit erosion problems.
4. Drainage – This partially involves culvert replacement under cart paths and the fairways (where needed). Some drainage issues, such as standing water, will be addressed.
5. Landscaping –
   • A volunteer professional landscape designer assisted with suggestions and advice.
   • Noles refers to using two-inch caddo rock to accentuate elements. This rock size works well in areas where a blower is used because it is not easily blown from the decorative beds.
   • He also said they would be using mountain rock that is currently located in road right-of-ways. This rock is considered to be a traffic hazard.
   • The crew is regrouting stonework.
   • Waterfalls will be built at some holes.
   • Wooden boards on an unstable bridge will be replaced with concrete decorated with random rock.
   • Additionally, the area around the clubhouse will be re-landscaped.
   • High-maintenance plants will be removed. Low-maintenance and drought-tolerant plantings will be used.
6. Cart paths—Not all of the cart paths will be replaced this time around, but they will be excavated and removed when necessary as they fail and replaced with concrete. Broom said the tee boxes and greens are targeted for concrete. When the course closes in the future, they will target the replacement of any remaining asphalt cart paths with concrete. Some areas will be accentuated with stone and stamped with a concrete stamp depicting the Village logo. This decorative touch will add interest and beauty to the path. For longevity and beauty, the whole cart path will be sealed in a khaki color.
7. Sealing and striping of the parking lot.

Expect a Visually Interesting Course and Surprises!

The result of the refurbishment will be a much more visually interesting and pleasing course. Wanting to keep the process a little mysterious, Noles said the course would have some nice touches, including surprises. Broom added that they are trying to add character to the course and want Balboa to be a jewel in the village.

In addition, the renovation of the Balboa Clubhouse restaurant is close to being wrapped up. Ken Unger, Director of Public Services, reasonably sourced enough carpet for the whole clubhouse from a new contact he made at an event the Village hosted. It is hoped the restaurant will have a soft opening coming soon as the televisions are installed, and the wall art is hung. Broom said they are doing everything possible to have the front nine holes open soon to support the restaurant business.

What will the Balboa Reno Cost?

Broom said that Public Services has a budget of $260,000 for its portion of the project. Noles adamantly expressed, “We have a small budget to stay under. We will stay under!” Broom estimates the entire renovation of the clubhouse and course to cost a little over $2M. The $2.50 golf surcharge will pay for the renovations.

Looking ahead, Jones expects the work on Balboa to be completed in eight and one-half months or approximately mid-June.

Broom said they plan to tackle all the courses as they move forward. Jones stated that Magellan would probably be the next course addressed.

By Cheryl Dowden

Contact information for Associate Public Services Director Matt Broom

MBroom@hsvpoa.org