The first issue we all need to face is that the 10th hole will not open in its entirety until the new tees are ready for play. The root zone material still needs to be installed and the sod laid down soon afterwards. This is all weather dependent. An early spring will obviously be to our advantage throughout the entire facility but more so on the back 9. The plan is to allow a period of time to complete the remaining work on holes 10 and 11 without interuption. That means no golfers. We then need to allow for turf rooting and establishment. I cannot see the 10th hole open as a par 4 until June 1st at the earliest. However, one idea is to play it as a par 3 from mid May until it is ready. The second concern we have is the finish work required on the 18th hole. The retaining wall is built but we need to resod the zone between the wall and the green and renovate the walkoff area from the left side of the green to the cartpath. That process will take 3 to 4 days and it is hoped we can finish this work before we open for the season.
In point form the following outlines most of the remaining work:
- remove boards on the front 9 bunkers
- complete the new 10th tee complex
- complete the new driving range tee complex (requires new artificial tee surface and sodding of natural tee surface)
- complete the shortgame practice area (requires new greens construction, irrigation and sodding)
- bunker renovation at the 11th green (liner, drainage, sand install and sodding)
- completion of the new back tees on #13 and #18
- completion of the retaining wall and sodding at 18 green
- sodding of new mounding on 18 rough in front of the west side of the pond.
- complete the filling of the ponds
- curbing of the new cartpaths
- tie in of cartpaths to turf edges and establish of paving stone service areas next to tees with new cartpaths
- tee house construction and landscaping
- renovate any worn out construction routes
There are extensive areas of new sod on the back 9. It will take most of the golf season to establish the turf to ensure future success. We will implement the required cultural practices as required in each zone. For example, the fairway on #10 will take much longer to be at "normal mowing heights" than sod surrounding a new fairway bunker. As we experienced on the front 9 there will be bunker boards in place for the entire season on at least a dozen bunkers. As well, the new sand will need adjustment and additions as we progress throughout the summer. Our horticulturist Maureen will be very busy repairing flower beds, constructing new ones and generally cleaning up the back 9. I have great faith in her abilities but it will take time so please have patience as we beautify the facility after some fairly substantial work on the golf course.
I'm sure some of the membership will be suprised we are not finished but the amount of work completed last fall still amazes me. We were very fortunate that November was as mild as it was. It isn't too often an entire fairway can be sodded in the second week of November in the Edmonton area. We are gearing up and getting ready so be assured that we will work tirelessly to complete the project and get the course into top condition as soon as we can. Along the way we'll need some things to go our way (weather being one). As phase 2 of the LREP is completed I know the results will be well worth the investment you, as members, have made.
My next blog topic will discuss fairway widening and rough heights for 2012. As I mentioned last year spring is the time to make changes in fairway contouring. We need to make the course more enjoyable to play for a majority of the membership and I plan to present some changes for discussion to the Green Committee.
Stay tuned,
Wade
