Fine Tuning

Our consulting architect, Jim Urbina, makes yearly visits to the course, and is always evaluating the playability, architectural strategy and presentation of the golf course, in regards to mowing lines. He’s created short and long-term goals and changes that will improve the course’s architectural style, function and enjoyment. There are simple changes, such as changing rough over to fairway, and there are more complex changes, such as restoring non-original putting green surfaces to adding new tee complexes. Each year the Greens Committee reviews Jim’s input and creates prioritized recommendations to the Board of Directors. This year the Board has approved fine tuning of grass lines to several holes.

I’ll review the changes, when they will take place, what to expect during the changes, and how the membership will have a huge impact on the success of the project.

• The 2nd hole, Road, has changes coming that will increase the strategy and playability at the same time. Just past the Scholar fairway bunker, the fairway will expand left and continue all the way to the green, wrapping around it and tying back into the North side of the putting surface. All of the rough left of the green will now be fairway. This does two things. If you play aggressively down the right side of the fairway, and your approach shot goes long and left, the rough will no longer stop the ball on the green. But it also improves playability for someone that cannot hit a high flop recovery shot, they will now be able to putt the ball from the left side back onto the green.

• • The challenge will be cart traffic, which will now be routed left of the fairway bunker, and through the Fescue all the way to the cart path. You will not be able to drive your cart as you did before through the approach, you will have to follow the cart signs and through the designated path.

 

• The 3rd fairway will get slightly enlarged to the west side of the end of the upper fairway. This is a small change to get longest drives to roll further to the right and on a side-hill hanging lie.

 

• The 6th hole, Lauderdale, will have the fairway expanded left around 200 yards out, all the way to the left surround. This change is occurring because the fairway shrunk on the left side as trees encroached the hole. Now that the trees have been removed, we can restore the fairway back left. The fairway will also expand slightly around both sides of the pond. This change will make the pond look more dramatic, without a bumper of rough keeping balls from rolling into it.

• • Carts will need to go around the pond, in front of the green to the right, through the fescue behind the green and bunker, where you’ll park and access the green.

 

• The 10th hole, Valley, will have the fairway expanded right. The beginning of Valley holes usually played through a U-shaped shoot. The mound on the right side is covered in rough because of the trees that used to encroach the fairway. Now that the trees are gone, we’ll push that fairway right from the beginning of the fairway to the right fairway bunker. This change will also allow balls rolling right on the fairway to travel further offline, bringing the fairway bunker more into play.

You’ll notice below that the width beyond the fairway bunker will now be the width from the beginning of the fairway to the green.

Then at the green, we’ll change the rough to fairway on the right side. This will play into future work completed with a contracted shaper. We need to reshape the right rough of the green back to a Seth Raynor-style presentation (think right side of 13 green). Once the turf is converted to fairway, we’ll simply be able to lift that sod, reshape the surround, and place the fairway sod back down. This change will not only look and feel more like Raynor, but after the reshaping occurs, you’ll be able to run your ball up the right surround and let it feed back onto the putting surface. This will have a serious fun-factor aspect in regards to strategy and recovery shots.

On the 17th hole, Long, we’ll again restore fairway on the left side, from the beginning of the fairway to the fairway bunker. Again, trees used to line the left side of this hole, creating a unintended dogleg. This change will no longer allow the rough to stop tee shots traveling left, but keep them moving off-target, which will bring the fairway bunker much more into play on your second shot.

From a timing standpoint:

You will notice that the fairway expansions have all been painted as of today. The next step will be to mow these areas lower than the 2.5″ they’re currently at, as we need to expose more of the turf so it gets good absorption from the herbicide applications.

• On Thursday August 14th we will make our first application of non-selective herbicide to the roughs being converted to fairway. You will not notice much happening through the weekend.
• We will then be closed for aerification August 18-20th.
• We’ll then make our second application of herbicide Thursday August 21st.
• We will then aerify and slit-seed Bentgrass into the new fairway expansions, Monday August 25th, and topdress over the seed heavily. From this point, the Geo-fencing on the golf carts will change to the previous mentioned routes on #2 and 6. We will use ample cart signs and stakes to help everyone navigate where we want golf carts to drive.

*** On holes, 3, 10 and 17 – please do not drive your carts through the seeded areas. This is where we need everyone’s cooperation to make this successful. On these holes, if you find yourself on one side of the seeded fairway expansions, don’t cut across it, just continue on past the expansion to the other side where you can cross in the rough. You’ll be a big part in the success of this step of establishment.***

***For walkers, those that take push carts, and the remote controlled push carts – avoid walking on the seeded areas whenever possible. However, on #2, it will be impossible to do so, so please walk carefully and straight – try not to turn your carts on the seedlings. Also, please scatter your foot traffic. You’ll be able to see where people have walked before you in the sand. We don’t want concentrated foot traffic that will damage the vulnerable seedlings***

Once we plant the seed on the 25th, you’ll see irrigation running frequently throughout the day to keep the seed moist (weather dependent). After germination occurs, that watering will continue until the seed establishes proper rooting. IF the weather cooperates, we’ll have seedlings sprouting by August 28/29th. We need warm days and cool nights, with no large storms that produce washouts in order for this transition to achieve quick establishment.

All of these areas will be Ground Under Repair starting August 25th until deemed not. Please do not hit shots off any of these areas, and if there are questions about rulings, talk with the golf shop staff.

The Greens Committee and Board of Directors are excited about this next stage of improvements. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Mike Manthey