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added
other efficiency touches to smooth out the food service operations
at the clubhouse. These include portable beer kegs and bars
plus electric outlets in the base floor for center island
buffet equipment. W.L.O. and Associates also designed the
unique remote beer, liquor and beverage system. Stored in
a locked vault in the lower level of the building, it pumps
the liquid up to the food preparation and bar areas. A large
commercial walk-in freezer and a dry storage room are located
right across from an elevator that takes food to the kitchen.
In the lower level of the clubhouse is a golf cart storage
area with the capacity for eighty-five carts. The original
design called for the lower level to hold one hundred carts
but ended up with eighty-five to make space for other equipment.
That includes a sophisticated ventilation and circulation
system which was a necessity because of the many battery chargers
for the carts. The storage area had to be separate from other
clubhouse functions as gas released from the chargers is a
potential hazard. But putting the carts below grade proved
to give an extra benefit. It reduced the bulk of the building
and that allowed for a taller ceiling.
The initial development plan for the site was to create a
flood control area. A creek which ran through Taylor would
crest four or five times a year causing extensive damage.
So a plan was made to dig small catchment lakes to solve the
flooding problem. Once this was done, the idea to build a
golf course around these lakes was discussed. The flooding
has ceased and now the only flowing water is the amazing water
feature, one of the most noticeable highlights of the facility.
“You may see a lot of these water features in warmer
regions, but its rare here in Michigan,” said C.D. Lewis.
“While vacationing, former mayor Cameron Priebe had
seen one at another course and suggested it be added to the
project.”
Water from the nearby lake is pumped to the top of the feature
and then, in a series of flumes and waterfalls, cascades back
to the lake. “No it wasn’t in the original plan,
but as funds became available through cost-saving measures,
we decided to add it,” said project manager Riddle.
“We flew in people from Living Waters and they designed
and built it in the field.” This internationally-known
company
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As
with all customer areas in Lakes at Taylor, the clubhouse bar
offers a wide view of the golf course. State-of-the-art, yet
with a cheery ambience, it features an etch-glue oak bar, slate
tile facing and quarry tile floor. |
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| specializes
in creating unique environments on golf courses, hotels,
theme parks (including both Disneyland and Disney World)
and zoo/aquarium facilities. The company’s most
recent golf course projects, in Malaysia and The Philippines
include streams, lagoons and waterfalls, 6,000 square
meters of artificial rock to mimic indigenous formations
and the placement of over 5,000 tons of natural boulders
“We always start with the basic design concept
we are given but then, drawing on our experience, we
usually give it a special touch,” said Omar Rodriguez
of Living Waters.
The Lakes at Taylor water feature is powered by two
huge fifty-horsepower pumps housed in an underground
poured concrete vault. Twelve-inch supply pipe brings
the water from the lake to the top of the water feature.
“Every project has different hydraulic requirements
and the choice of horsepower depends on the amount of
water being pumped and the surge level desired,”
said Rodriguez. “Obviously we would use higher
power and thinner pipe if the client wanted a rushing
whitewater effect.” During the planning stage,
Rodriguez was asked about possible
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| damage the
freeze-thaw effect, common in Michigan, would inflict
on the concrete structure. “We have ways of winterizing
our designs,” he said. “This involves using
a special type of concrete and grout that resists cracking.”
Rodriguez commented that work on the project went smoothly
except for some interruptions caused by bad weather.
“The weather in Michigan seems to change quickly,”
he said.
Another impressive brick feature of the clubhouse is
the paver work on the restaurant patio, the surrounding
walkway and the long stairway that descends to the lake
near the clubhouse. The dual-color brick paver work,
featuring the golf course logo in flowing script writing,
is a highlight of the patio that overlooks the water
feature. This was done by Magic Touch Brick Pavers of
Manchester, but it wasn’t part of the original
plan. “We had been working on the golf course
part of the project and I heard there was a lot of brickwork
planned for the area around the clubhouse,” said
Scott Powers of Magic Touch. “I looked at the
proposed site for the patio and realized it was going
to be a high-profile area. So I told them that if they
wanted to get creative with the pavers we could give
the patio a |
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