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!