Golf Course News

The renovation of the red greens #3 and #9 is complete.  We will open the red course this week.  Temporary greens will be used on these two holes for the remainder of the fall and until early next summer.  You will notice that the two greens 6,000 and  7,000 square feet in size respectively.  The #3 green is almost 1,500 square feet larger in size and #9 is over 2,000 square feet larger in size.  The new bunker located on the left side of #3 green defends approximately 15% of the total surface of the green, leaving the player an approach shot of over 80 % of open green's surface.  The 9th green, larger in size, has two new bunkers on the left of the green but there is a 100% opening in the approach of the green. 

The two new greens are much improved from a player's standpoint.  Both greens have enough contour to offer putts that will be interesting and movement on the putts.  I think you will really like both greens.  Let me know if you would like to ride out and take a look at them.  I will be able to tell the exact design concepts and features that Dr. Hurdzan incorporated into the design.

  #3 Red Green

                                        
   #9 Red Green

 

Below are a few photos of the golf course as we end the summer and approach the fall season.

  Blue #2 Green Complex

                                         
   Blue #5 Green
                                      
  White #3 Fairway

 White #3 Green

                                                                        

Course Update

The heat and drought of the summer of 2012 set 140 year records.  Glad that they are past.  Now that we are past Labor Day, we will turn to implementing some of the agronomic practices and processes that are necessary to help the turf recuperate from the stress of summer heat, heavy golfing play and winter survival measures.  Since the golf course turf is a living entity, it will need the care and attention to bounce back and be ready for the beginning of next season.  Fall aerification, topdressing and fertilization are three of the main necessities that the turf needs. 

We have already done these cultural practices on the red nine while it was closed.  We will begin aerifying the white greens next Monday, September the 17th followed by aerfiying the blue greens on September 24th. 

 The red greens have ben aerified

 The plugs are shoveled to the edge of the green, picked up and removed

  The greens are then topdressed with sand

 The sand is brushed into the holes to take the place of the aerification plugs that were removed

 The holes are filled and leveled
                                    
    The greens are then rolled to smooth the surface

 Lastly, the greens are fertilized with several different products to promote root and shoot growth.
                                        
 The renovation of red greens #3 and #9 is very well.  It is on time and within budget !!!!  Drainage installation, irrigation installation, bunker construction and all rootzone mix and materials have been completed on #3 green.  We will be "floating out" or smoothing the surface in preparation for seeding early next week.  The green will be larger in size, framed by bunkers on the right - left-and back of the green, with a generous opening in the front for approach shots.  The greens is larger and much less sloping than before.

The photo below shows what the drainage system looks like under a USGA green.  This system aids in carrying water away from the rootzone of the green.  Greens dry out quicker resulting in superior putting speeds.

 The photo below is a view from the back of #3 green towards the fairway. The gravel layer has been laid in place and the rootzone mix is beginning to be placed on the green
                                      
The photo below is of the rootzone mix being pushed over the gravel layer

                                                                          

                                                               
The work on #9 green is well under way.  The drainage has been installed.  Gravel and rootzone mixture are already being added to the cavity of the green complex.  The green is now almost 7,000 square feet in size with an open approach to the green.  I think you will find it very fair and enjoyable.  Hopefully we will have the #9 green seeded by the end of next week.
Below - Green's mix is being added to the cavity of #9 red green

     The red course will open for play as soon as the contractors finish their work.  If the weather holds and all goes well, you will be able to play the red course by the end of September.                                                 

Red Nine Greens Renovaiton Update

The red nine renovation is progressing on schedule.  The new greens are well under construction.  The greens are larger and the wider opening in the approaches offer the golfer an enhanced chance to get their approach shot onto the green.  The front left bunker on #3 green will only defend approximately 20% of the left side of the green, therefore leaving 80% of the green open to an approach shot. The width of the opening to the #9 green is twice as wide as the previous design offering a very fair approach to a larger green.  I think you will be well pleased with the improvements.

 

The photo below is of the renovate #3 fairway bunker.  The fairway has been widened by almost 15 yards and the bunker has decreased in size.  The green stakes to the left of the bunker are where the bunker previously extended to the center of what is now the new fairway.   

The photo below is of the renovated and newly designed #5 fairway bunker.  The fairway has increased in width by 15 yards, doubling the width of the fairway.  The area between the right side of the bunker and the green stakes  in the middle of the fairway denotes the size and location of the previous bunker.  You can see how much wider the fairways is now

 

The photo below is a view from the fairway to the green of the new #3 red green.  You will quickly notice that the pot bunker and the high mound in front of the previous green have been eliminated.  There are bunkers bunkers located at the right and left sides of the approach. but they do not block your approach shot to the green.  The front left bunker will protect a far left cupping location.

The photo below is a view of the new #9 red green looking from the back of the green towards the fairway.  This green will be 25 % larger.  The original green side bunkers on the right side and behind the green stayed in tact.  Two new bunkers will be installed on the left side of the green.  Virtually 100 % of the green will be open to approach shots. 

Below - 615 tons of the Sand-Profile root zone mix is in the parking lot and ready to be placed in the new greens as soon as the drainage and gravel layer is installed.  This root zone mixture is what allows the new USGA type greens to drain better, remain firmer and produce quicker putting speeds.  This same mixture is beneath all of red and blue greens, the putting green and #4 & #5 white greens.