Covia, the parent company of Best Sand, recently acquired R.W. Sidley.
Based in Painesville, Ohio, R.W. Sidley is a nearly century-old provider of gravel, silica and other aggregate materials for construction and landscaping.
Among R.W. Sidley's offerings is Pro/Angle sand, which is used by many golf course superintendents for use in bunkers, as well as topdressing and divot mix.
"This is a win for superintendents, contractors and others who need the best bunker sands and other performance aggregates," said Terry Gwinn, Best Sand's sales manager at Covia. "The Sidley brands and Covia brands complement each other really well at a busy time for construction in the golf market."
Since new course construction has slowed to a crawl in recent years, golf course renovations have become as popular as ever. There have been many challenges associated with renovations and rebuilds, including availability of sand.
"The biggest challenge has often been securing materials and transportation and combining these two brands should help with sourcing and logistics," Gwinn said.
Pro/Angle sand is produced through a special crushing and grinding process that fractures silica quartz pebbles into angular particles, creating a playable, weather-resistant bunker sand. Pro/Angle is designed to exceed technical demands of golf course builders and architects and is engineered to meet USGA standards.
In addition to stable ball support and playability, Pro/Angle reduces the cost of bunker maintenance, the company says. Its angular particle technology delivers a host of benefits:
- Excellent drainage
- Superior slope retention
- Greater wind resistance
- Better overall product retention
- Creates firm, consistent feel from bunker to bunker
- Consistent color and sustainable appearance.
With headquarters in Independence, Ohio, Covia is a leading provider of diversified mineral solutions to a variety of industrial markets, including glass, ceramics, coatings, metals, foundry, polymers, construction, water filtration, sports and recreation, and oil and gas. The company serves its customers through a broad array of products, including silica sand, nepheline syenite, feldspar, clay, kaolin, resin and coated materials.