Dear Member,

The following blog posts for the next few weeks will consist of the most commonly asked questions from the membership in regards to the Master Plan and Renovation process. These answers are from Billy Fuller (Golf Course Consultant and Architect), as well as additional input from Josh Dunaway (Golf Course Superintendent). 

8.      Question:  What is the general scope of work?  In general terms, see below.

Answer:

Ø  Greens:  Some greens will require completely new strategy (i.e. 11, 12, 16).  Turf will be stripped off all greens, and all greens will be returned to their original size (shrunk due to encroachment from surrounding fairway turf…amount of encroachment varies from 3 feet to 12 plus feet);  Some greens will be slightly enlarged on one side or the other to offer more strategic pin locations since a number of greens have only three key pin areas.  The rootzone will have to be regraded and modified as our current Green infrastructure is inconsistent with depths varying from 8” to 24” which needs to be uniformly 12”. Greens will be re-grassed with new Ultra Dwarf Turf;

Ø  Tees:  Tees will be stripped, leveled and grassed with new Celebration Bermudagrass turf; the plan will call for many new forward tees and enlarging some existing trees;

Ø  Bunkers:  Bunkers will be re-shaped and new drainage installed.  Some strategic modifications will be recommended on a few bunkers (to be explained in hole-by-hole narrative as plan evolves);

Ø  Fairways and Rough:  Address drainage issues on flat holes where water stands after rain events; plant new Celebration Bermudagrass;

Ø  Trees:  There are areas on the course where trees are over populated, creating a very unhealthy environment for certain trees within any given clump.  In such instances we need to thin trees based on Certified Arborist recommendations to preserve healthy trees for a more prolonged life expectancy.  There are some trees that are shading key features on the course that should be removed.  There will be areas where we recommend planting some trees as well;

Ø  Maintenance Facilities:  Upgrade, solve environmental issues and improve the facilities to enhance employee productivity and prolong equipment life expectancy; this facility is the nucleus of the course- conditioning program.  It has been neglected for too many years;

Ø  Driving Range Tee and Practice Area – The driving range tee will be expanded and the back podocarpus hedge will be removed for the installation of a row of solid synthetic hitting turf. The driving range net will be replaced. The practice area greens will be rebuilt properly and sprigged with an Ultra-Dwarf Bermuda-grass and drainage will be put in wet areas. 

Dear Member,

The following blog posts for the next few weeks will consist of the most commonly asked questions from the membership in regards to the Master Plan and Renovation process. These answers are from Billy Fuller (Golf Course Consultant and Architect), as well as additional input from Josh Dunaway (Golf Course Superintendent). 

6.      Question:  How long will the golf course be closed for the renovation?

Answer:  Assuming normal weather we would estimate 6 months.  It is recommended that we close as near mid April as possible to allow as much renovation activity to be accomplished as possible before the rainy season.  The sooner we plant grass, establish roots, and fine tune the turf, the better the conditions at grand opening.  Our goal is to plant most of the grass between June 15 and July 15, which leaves us plenty of growing season weather before cooler temps commence.

Dear Member,

The following blog posts for the next few weeks will consist of the most commonly asked questions from the membership in regards to the Master Plan and Renovation process. These answers are from Billy Fuller (Golf Course Consultant and Architect), as well as additional input from Josh Dunaway (Golf Course Superintendent). 

5. Question:  If we go forward with renovating the course per the master plan, what would the Club gain / benefit?

Answer: 

Ø  The primary benefit of the renovation would be to restore the Club’s mission to offer the best possible golf course amenity to every caliber player, regardless of handicap; to create more friendly tees (yardages) for seniors and ladies.  We are addressing the game of golf for all generations of players.

Ø  Putting surfaces would offer up-to-date Ultra Dwarf Bermudagrass that provides smoother and faster greens that players throughout the southern states have grown accustomed to playing.  Overseeding would never be required.  Playing conditions would greatly improve throughout the year.

Ø  Playability of bunkers would be greatly improved and drainage issues resolved.

Ø  Drainage efficiency would be greatly improved throughout the fairways.  Players would be back on the course much sooner following rainstorm events.

Ø  Maintenance efficiencies and dollars will be greatly enhanced post renovation since monies would not be wasted on shoveling mud and sand in bunkers, and sodding greens due to aged turf, etc.  Instead, maintenance hours will be redistributed to fine-tuning key playing surfaces (greens, tees and fairways) to provide best conditions possible throughout the year.

Ø  Finally, our course has lost the look and feel of Donald Ross design.  While we fix the above issues we have the perfect opportunity to reinstate Donald Ross in our greens, bunkers, and related strategic features.  Our marketing strategies should be greatly enhanced if we take these measures to upgrade the agronomic issues, playability, and strategic design elements of Donald Ross.

Members,

After a great three days of being closed we were able to accomplish a great deal of work. Over the past three days we were able to aerify greens (1/2" tines), topdress all shortgrass after last week's verticut, verticut the Jones Chipping green which was severely thatchy, verticut (1/8") and scalp the rough, aerify around the bunkers and fertilize. We will quickly see the results of this cultural program and thank you again for your patience!

Dear Member,

The following blog posts for the next few weeks will consist of the most commonly asked questions from the membership in regards to the Master Plan and Renovation process. These answers are from Billy Fuller (Golf Course Consultant and Architect), as well as additional input from Josh Dunaway (Golf Course Superintendent). 

  4. Question:  The golf course is in great shape now, why would we need to renovate?

Answer: 

Ø  Josh is saddled with a 60 year old turf on greens (TifDwarf Bermudagrass) that continuously needs special attention and is forced to sod and plug throughout the winter and spring to maintain coverage.

Ø  It has exceeded its useful life! If we were comparing every blade of turf on the golf course to golf clubs, your agronomic program is relying on a hickory shaft attached to a R15 club head!

Ø  Ideally TifDwarf would be overseeded for the fall, winter and spring; however, that means soft greens and slow putting surfaces for most of that period as the overseed varieties require a great deal of moisture and cannot be mowed too closely.  That means slower greens speed, which is not favorable to most players.  Your highest months of play are March and April, when overseeding is dying.

Ø  As you witnessed this winter TifDwarf does not perform well in cool winter temps.  You are in a no win situation!  The bottom line is the combination of TifDwarf and overseeding has too many turf quality issues and will never offer consistent high quality playing conditions.

Ø  The greens mix depth is another critical issue that greatly challenges agronomic management.  The mix varies in depth from 8 to 24 inches.  Water management is very challenging since the shallow mix tends to hold too much water and the deeper areas of mix become hydro-phobic and severely dry.  During dry weather periods staff is constantly hand watering the deeper mix areas, and during wet periods the shallow mix areas become infested with algae, resulting in thin turf.

Ø  The bunkers have severe drainage issues as well as playability issues.  The only fix is to reshape them and install a new drainage system.

Ø  Nine of the eighteen holes have severe fairway drainage issues that make the course nearly unplayable during rainy periods.

Ø  CCO is all about southern traditions, great heritage, family values, a culture that has flourished for more than 100 years.  To maintain this culture we must reinvest in our golf course to build more operational efficiencies and maximize playability, which in turn will maximize revenues.  We are investing in current and future generations!

*Also please note, the Golf Course will be closed this coming week Monday (7/6) through Wednesday (7/8) for maintenance. Thank you for your understanding!