Divots

News & Notes from the Golf Course Improvement Project January 3, 2023 Last Spring, at the Board’s request, the Golf Committee reviewed the existing Golf Course Master Plan to determine if adjustments for the original 18 should be considered for integration into the irrigation rebuild and greens re-grassing projects already budgeted and scheduled for summers 2024 and 2025. The original 18 holes were designed and built by well-known golf course architect Ted Robinson. The courses tie in well with the park-like design of the Community and are highly regarded by members. But the years have brought us to where life spans for both irrigation systems and putting surfaces are being stretched. The Committee’s task was to advise the Board if it would be smart to take advantage of the already planned and budgeted projects, to improve course playability and maintenance practicality, without adding large capital expenditures to the amounts already budgeted. The Committee focused on green complexes, putting surfaces, bunkers and green surrounds where naturally occurring changes to turf has had the biggest impact on the original design. The Board accepted the Committee’s recommendations and appointed a Select Committee composed of Board members and Golf Committee members to oversee the projects. The first step was to hire a golf course architect. Several candidates, all with substantial credentials for their work in the Valley, were interviewed by staff and three finalists were selected. The three gave capability presentations to the Select Committee in mid-September and Casey O’Callahan earned unanimous approval. Since then, staff has been at work to get an approved contract for the work and reviewing construction schedules with Casey. The next step will be for the Select Committee to meet with him on the courses in early January. At that meeting we will hear the architect’s overview of the green complexes on the original 18 and the Committee members and staff will have an opportunity to ask questions. These are the specific areas we are asking Casey to consider as he develops construction design documents. •

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Greenside bunkers can be shaped and adjusted to be more integrated with green complexes, reducing, or eliminating most downhill lies, as well as minimizing the negative impact irrigation can have on bunker maintenance and playability. Some greens can be modestly reshaped, or expanded, correcting naturally occurring profile changes that have occurred over time to provide additional pin placements to ease compaction issues during the busy winter season. And while our primary focus is on green complexes, there is also an opportunity to have the project architect look at a few other areas that could improve playability for specific groups of players. Where we have a forced carry over one of our lakes, we will look for opportunities to minimize the water coming into play for higher handicap players to improve their enjoyment of the game and assist with speed of play on problematic holes. Determine if there are opportunities to vary par 3 yardages. Review existing fairway bunker placements and consider location adjustments to challenge the lower handicap player, without the bunkers becoming an obstacle for middle and high handicappers.

This will likely take us into February, when proposed designs will be reviewed with the Select Committee and shared with the Board and Golf Committee before being approved for costing and preparation of construction documents.

We want to emphasize three things: 1. Any changes to the golf course will be evolutionary, not revolutionary. They will be designed to enhance playability and maintenance. 2. Approved design changes will not make the golf course easier, but some will be helpful for higher handicap players to enjoy the game and speed play on a few problematic holes. 3. Members will be kept up to date on the project using the web site and the Club’s email capabilities. There will be a short URL included on all communications to take interested members to an FAQ page that will be kept up to date as we get questions from members. Owners can also get answers to specific questions by simply sending an email to the Select Committee’s email address: [email protected] This project represents an important step in preserving the health and playability of our Original 18. We are fortunate to have one of the very best golf experiences in The Valley and look forward to keeping everyone informed as we work our way through completion of the project.

Pete Hatt, Committee Chair Golf Course Improvement Project