Country Club Design and Maintenance

Sunflower and Hidden Valley

The Alvamar Country Club, which includes the Sunflower and Hidden Valley nines, is a private club open to members and guests only. Mel Anderson designed both Hidden Valley, built in 1973 and Sunflower, built in 1978. The architectural style is notably different from Jayhawk and Quail Creek as the naturally wooded, steeply sloped, Eastern Kansas terrain dictated more of a target-oriented venue. Smaller, more undulating greens will greet the players that have successfully navigated the narrow fairway corridors and evaded the multitude of water hazards. At 6,829 yards from the black tees, Alvamar Country Club is one of the most difficult courses in the state of Kansas.

The Alvamar maintenance staff takes pride in preparing the course in tournament condition on a daily basis.

Greens - The Hidden Valley greens were converted to Crenshaw bentgrass in 1994, and the Sunflower greens in 1995. This grass has proven to be an excellent choice. Mowing heights of .110" produced putting speeds of 9.5-10.5 on the stimpmeter on a daily basis year-round.

Tees - Tees are Meyer Z-52 zoysiagrass. Mowed at .425” three times per week, zoysia makes for a tight, level teeing ground.

Fairways - All fairways are Meyer Z-52 zoysiagrass. Mowed at .500" three to four times per week, these fairways give golfers some of the finest playing surface in the country. Even when dormant, zoysia remains very upright, producing a lie that is very forgiving.

Roughs - The roughs are a combination of bluegrass, tall fescue and zoysia. The primary rough is mowed twice per week at a friendly 2” height. The secondary rough varies from mowed turf, native grasses, or natural woods with underbrush.

Landscaping - Alvamar is a wonderful mix of natural Eastern Kansas plantscaping with many added plantings of ornamentals and flowering materials. All building sites have been extensively landscaped, and yet there has been a concerted effort to maintain the natural look of the courses.

Maintenance Staff

Darin Pearson
GCSAA Class A Superintendent
2021 Crossgate Drive
Lawrence, KS 66047
dpearson@alvamar.com
785-843-6303