Golf Course Update - November 11

IMPORTANT - Before providing the update, it is important to note an upcoming scheduled fertilizer application for Monday, November 18. We will have an 8:00 Shotgun in the morning for all wishing to play that day. The golf course will be closed in the afternoon to allow work to be completed.

It's been quite some time since our last blog update. Since then, we have seen many familiar faces return from time spent up north. Whether coming from year-round or snowbird members, we have received many positive comments about the golf course and renovations performed this past summer. Your feedback is appreciated and complements are passed along to the men in the grounds department who worked so hard to complete the project.

#13 Tee

#16 Approach

On Tuesday, November 12, we will be transitioning our tee markers from the old granite stones designating Blue/White/Green/Gold/Red/Bronze Tees to our new system of Roman numerals I-VI. This change has been discussed a number of times in the Spotlight as well as in previous blog posts. While we are still waiting for the final ratings from the Florida State Golf Association, it has been decided to make the change now. It is recommended that you play the new tee that most closely correlates to your current tee. (Blue/I, White/II, Green/III, Gold/IV, Red/V, Bronze/VI) You will also post to the correlating colored tee until the new Roman numeral tees are added to the GHIN system.

New Cast Aluminum Tee Marker for Tee I

Last week the grounds department broke ground on yet another project. Over the next several weeks we will be working to construct a new fence along the first hole to provide privacy from the shopping center parking lot. The plan is to continue the fence that was built last fall by the practice putting green and first tee. Once completed, we will then install new palm trees and natural landscaping.

Clearing Has Begun Along the Shopping Center Parking Lot

The New Fence Will and Landscaping Will Be a Continuation of the Work Done in 2018

In 2006 we constructed a nursery green next to the 10th tee. This green was intended to provide sod or repair plugs if needed for any blemishes on the golf course greens. Since the need for repair is uncommon, we decided to install practice holes on this green a few years ago to allow the green to serve as both a practice green and nursery green. By the end of this summer, it had become necessary to give this green a break and encourage it to grow back into a 100% healthy and consistent putting surface. Part of this process included significantly increasing the height of cut and eliminating the practice holes. It will be several months until this green is maintained at a putting green standard. Until further notice, all practice should be directed to the practice putting green by #1 tee and the chipping green.

Nursery Green in Need of Some R&R

It has been discussed in previous blog posts that as part of the 2018-19 renovations, many of the green surfaces are being expanded to recover square footage lost over the past 20+ years. For the holes constructed in 2018 (4, 5, 6, 13, 14 and 15) these expansions are complete. The surfaces are down to regular green height and should be played as greens. For the holes renovated in 2019 (2, 7 ,9 and 16) these expansions will be maintained at a "fringe" height and should not be played as greens. For the past two months we were mowing these expansions shorter, causing confusion as to where the green perimeters were located. In order to avoid confusion, we have raised the height of cut on these "fringe" areas to make the green perimeter more distinguishable.

Last Year's Expansion on #4 is in Play. The New Green Perimeter is Easily Distinguishable.

The Expansion Work Performed in 2019 Will Be Maintained as "Fringe" Over the Winter Until it Can be Successfully Adapted to Greens Mowing Height. We Recently Increased the Height of Cut to Make the Green Perimeters Easily Distinguishable.