Hafnarfjörður, Iceland: Keilir Golf Club has completed the second phase of its bunker replacement project with industry leading synthetic-faced bunker specialists EcoBunker.

Faced with year-round weather challenges and very harsh winters, the team at Keilir have been spending a disproportionate amount of their budget on maintaining the quality of their naturally revetted bunkers.

Having received positive feedback on EcoBunker’s work at Royal St George’s, among other projects, Keilir invited the team to address the unique challenges of an Icelandic golf course.

Guðbjartur Ísak Ásgeirsson, Head Greenkeeper at Keilir Golf Club, said: “Maintaining the quality of traditionally revetted bunkers is such a time-consuming job.

“We face harsh conditions in Iceland, and the work to keep the bunkers in good condition is difficult enough. When you add in the need for a re-build every five years, they eat up the maintenance budget in a way that just isn’t sustainable.”

Richard Allen, Founder of EcoBunker, a Full Business Member of the Asian Golf Industry Federation, said: “Keilir is such an incredible setting. The front nine weaves a path through lava flow and the back nine follows a small peninsular with views of a local glacier.

“The major appeal of Keilir is the rugged landscape so I’m delighted with how our EcoBunkers have provided solutions to the maintenance challenges the team faced, while blending perfectly with the natural terrain. This has been a fantastic project for us and I look forward to the next phases.”

Phase one of the project took place this Spring with the creation of two new bunkers. Following positive feedback from the members and maintenance team at Keilir, a further four bunkers have been installed this Autumn, with more planned for Spring 2025.

“It has actually been quicker to construct an EcoBunker that will last over 20 years than to naturally revett our bunkers. We’re delighted with the results and look forward to putting the new bunkers into play when we next open the course. I certainly look forward to a maintenance free season for our six new EcoBunkers,” said Ásgeirsson.