Week 5 Recap

For all the progress we made on our renovation project in the previous weeks, our efforts were slowed a bit by rains and cloudy weather this past week.  In spite of this we were able to catch up on other work on our to do list.  Both of the crews, ours and MacCurrach Golf were a little disappointed with the weather since we were still in stride with our progression of work.

Kevin Wachter, our Project Superintendent, informed me that all areas of disturbance have been stripped and prepped for work.  His crew has also completed pulling existing drainage from old bunkers and started to install drainage in bunkers Bruce has shaped.  Bruce has completed shaping on 11, 16 and has started shaping on 9 and 18.  MacCurrach has completed drainage and sand installation on 11 and drainage installation on 16.  All grassing has been completed on 2 and 3 and the bunkers could not look better.

Our Grounds Staff has been putting in incredible amounts of hours completing approach and collar expansions around greens and they are looking exceptional.  It is a lot of fun watching them transform areas and seeing the amount of pride they have for their work and where they work.  We are lucky to have a dedicated staff who, going into this project did not have a lot of project experience, but now have morphed into a small army of task masters.  I am very proud of their accomplishments this fall.

We have continued with selective tree removals around the course as needed to create space for new bunkers or mound removal from green surrounds.  This end of the project, led by Assistant Superintendent Justin Wipperfurth, has really started to open up shot making opportunities and incredible views.  One of my greatest joys of this project has been the surprise views that we have created.  The number of times I've said, "Wow, I have not seen that before from here" has been countless and there are still more views and vistas we will create.  This process is what will tie our project together and truly make people realize how special our property is.

Now, for the pictures....

Hole 2, Par 4

Take on as much as you want to chew by challenging the
dogleg.  A fairway expansion right will allow players more
opportunity to avoid the renovated hazards.

If you decide to take it over the bunkers, make sure you have
enough club to clear the 4th bunker!

 Hole 3, Par 5

Bunkers right of the approach are in the same location, but
look more intimidating because they can actually be seen.

These bunkers left of the approach are smaller than one of the
previous two that were here.  The bare soil is where we will
expand the approach to the left.

My least favorite bunker was removed right of the green in
favor of a collar expansion and lower grade.  What a difference
removing the willow and silver maples have made.

Hole 9, Par 4

Beginning of tree removals

One more to go.

Lance, our arborist, signals thumbs up, I say
hold on to the branch.

Two more removals left of the approach will allow the Locust
in the center of the pic to stand alone.  Bunkers will be stacked
up the left hand side with one right of the approach.  The
appearance off the tee will be amazing.

Hole 17, Par 4

Removal of this tree will give way to...

Awesome views of 17 from the new championship tee.

Views like this at the end of the day are icing on the cake.
This shot would not have been visible three years ago due to
trees along the west side of 16 green.