Ball Marks

                                    
The course had nearly 800 rounds of golf played over a two-day span last weekend. The picture quality isn't the best, but we counted almost 100 ball marks in a 15'x15' area on #3 Red Feather green. Please don't misunderstand me, we absolutely love the patronage (without it we don't exist), but it definitely takes a toll on the greens.

As badly as we want to keep the greens lean and fast, we also need to keep the turf growing to promote recovery, which is a tricky balance. You can help out in a couple ways. Next time you are on a green, fix your ball mark and another one that someone left behind. If you are playing with someone who doesn't understand the importance of ball mark repair, take a couple of moments to educate them.



Course Update

The course seems to be handling the spring fairly well. The putting surfaces were lagging slightly due to the cooler, wet weather, but with the recent warm temperatures and sunshine, they seem to be waking up. Hopefully not too much.

We have dropped the height of cut on Red Feather and Black Bird greens quite a bit and anticipate that, in time, this will result in smoother, quicker greens with a much finer texture. Unfortunately, the greens on Gray Hawk will be maintained at a slightly higher height with higher nutritional inputs to aid them through their first year. This will result in greens that are slightly slower and maybe not quite as smooth. We contemplated leaving the greens on Red Feather and Black Bird a bit taller to provide consistency between courses, but it is time that the older greens are maintained the way they are meant to be.

       

#9 Gray Hawk from the new black tee

The grow-in of the fairways on Gray Hawk has suffered the most from the cool, wet temperatures. The soil temps couldn't seem to maintain adequate levels to promote germination and growth. We will continue to push these fairways, but the heat of the summer is right around the corner, which, for all intents and purposes, will shut down any further improvements in density. Cart path restrictions on Gray Hawk will be lifted this Saturday with the understanding that any indication of major traffic stress throughout the summer, the restrictions can be reimplemented. With as little maturing time as those fairways have had, it will be important that we "baby" them as much as possible. The more turf we can get through this first year, the better they will be entering 2014.

 

#4 Red Feather from the black tee.

Golfer Damage

At some point during play on Tuesday, a golfer purposefully took seven divots out of the green on #8 Red Feather. It looks like it was done with their shoes and putter. The damage extends across the front of the green. Over the last four weeks, we have repaired a number of divots on greens caused by clubs. This is by far the highest number of the incidents we have ever seen in one year. 

If you see someone causing this type of damage please say something to either my staff or the clubhouse staff. A golfer that feels the need to cause this type of damage has no right playing our course.

# 3 Red Feather Before and After

 #3 Red Feather 13 months ago

#3 Red Feather as of July 25th

Ill-Timed Irrigation Break

Around 3:30 last Friday afternoon, we found a large irrigation break behind the green on #3 Red Feather. The break was on an 8" mainline which forced us to shut down the pump station and left us without the ability to water Red Feather and Black Bird until the problem could get fixed.

The first real issue this posed was it prevented us from hand watering and syringing the course on what was a very hot and dry afternoon. The second issue we encountered was that repair parts of this size are not easy to find on short notice, especially on a Friday afternoon. For a while, there was a chance that we were going to have to overnight the parts in which would have rendered us waterless through Saturday afternoon.

The effects of that particular scenario on the golf course would have been catastrophic. We would have experienced wide spread turf loss. We were extremely fortunate that the renovation contractor, Duininck Golf, was on site. They had the equipment, manpower, and the ability to access the parts we needed.

Excavation of the break began around 5:00 p.m. The area we were digging in was full of irrigation and power wires making the dig more tedious. Once exposed, removal of the broken parts went fairly quickly and assembly of the new parts began. When working with large pipe and iron fittings, assembly and installation processes are labor-intensive and time-consuming. It was around 1:00 a.m. when the thrust blocks were installed and back-filling could start. By 3 a.m., we finally had the irrigation system fully charged and watering.

A normal irrigation cycle takes between 8-9 hours and begins at 9:00 p.m. On Saturday, morning we had to try and get what we could watered in 4.5 hours. I had to prioritize which areas needed water, so I decreased the water on Gray Hawk as that is the course that will be shut down in a week for renovation. I also cut the water back in the rough on all 27 holes. This allowed us to get all 27 greens, tees, and fairways watered early Saturday morning.

We made it through fairly well considering the circumstances. The primary issues we experienced were not the result of the shortened water window Friday night and Saturday morning. We were affected the most by the loss of hand watering and syringing capabilities on Friday afternoon. As a result, we have some hot spots on the course but considering what could have happened, we fared well.

Duininck Golf and my assistants Jeff and Nate deserve alot of the credit in helping us get through this. Without the hard work of the Duininck Golf crew, this would not have been fixed in the time frame it did.

In 13 years of working on golf courses, this was, without a doubt, the worst scenario I have experienced. To have a break of this size and loss of water on a day during a summer with historic heat and drought, the results could have been catastrophic. There were moments on Friday evening that I genuinely thought we might lose large portions of the course. Fortunately this wasn't the case.

Although the break is fixed and a major catastrophe was avoided, I can't help but be a bit dejected today. Prior to Friday afternoon, I was extremely pleased with the way the course was handling the weather. It looked good and was playing well. We had successfully planned and managed the course this spring as to avoid the issues we had last year. This event on Friday set us back and I cannot shake that frustration.





Gray Hawk Contractor

We are very excited to announce that we have contracted Duininck Golf to perform the Gray Hawk renovation. We previously used Duininck on the Red Feather renovation and we were extremely pleased with their work. The following link takes you to their site if your interested.

http://www.duininckgolf.com/

Weekend Observations

After playing the course last weekend, I wanted to share a few observations.

The first thing I noticed was that the greens were still a bit bumpy and slow as a result of the aerification process that took place May14-16. The greens were on pace to be healed by Memorial Day, however, last week's heat wave sent the grass into survival mode as opposed to a growth and recovery mode.

The weather on tap for this week should help speed up the recovery process. To combat the delayed recovery, we were forced to increase our fertility rates going into the weekend. The increase in fertility expressed itself through an increase in growth over the weekend. The faster the greens grow, the faster they will heal, but this will slow down your ball roll. Once we have achieved a complete recovery,  I can begin to spoon-feed the greens at a maintenance level and avoid the growth flushes we are currently seeing.

Please keep in mind that most of our greens are young and it is important to find a balance between firm, fast, and healthy. The high number of rounds run through the course puts a lot of stress on a mature putting surface, let alone one- and two-year old putting surfaces. As with any greens renovation, the most valuable tool is patience and time.  To avoid some of the issues we encountered last summer,  we need to make agronomic decisions based not only on the playability but also the health of the golf course. There is a balance out there and I am charged with finding it.

Another issue I came across are the grooves left behind in the bunkers after our hand raking. This is the result of two problems. The first is the softness of the new bunker sand. It takes time for bunkers to settle and become firm. Precipitation plays a large role in this process and we have been very dry since last fall. The lack of winter and spring precipitation has slowed this process quite a bit. The second issue is trying to find the proper bunker rakes and routines. This may sound simple, but we have had issues finding a rake that doesn't leave a deep groove while still being aggressive enough to do its job. I have ordered two new bunker rakes and we hope to give them a shot next weekend. I would love to say "its just a bunker, its supposed to be penalizing" but we all know that is not the case anymore.

Take a look at the above photo. A research group tracked the steps that JUST ONE FOURSOME of golfers took while playing out their balls on a green. Multiply the number of steps by 50 and you have an average Saturday on the golf course. A golfer has a ground pressure of 8-12 pounds per square inch, which is 2-3 times that of our greens rollers. Please tread lightly.

We had a busy Memorial Weekend at the course and we all appreciate your patronage.

Red Feather Preview: Hole #1

We started rebuilding Red Feather #1 by making the black teebox larger and elevating it to provide a better view of the hole.

The most noticeable change will be the new fairway bunker on the left side of the dogleg. This bunker sits 292 yards from the blue teebox and really protects the left side of the fairway.

We removed the cart path that previously ran through the fairway and directed the new path around the back of the green. This dramatically cleans up the appearance of the hole and provides a safe place to layup.

The two bunkers near the green were rebuilt and really enhance the appearance of the hole. The right bunker hides a collection area that connects to the green.

View this hole at 5:30 a.m. as the sun comes up and it is quite impressive.

Red Feather Tweaks

Today we added a low mow collection area to the right side of the green on #2 Red Feather.

Red Feather Preview: Hole #9

The new bunkering on this hole puts a premium on a straight tee shot.

The left fairway bunker sits 240 yards from the blue tee and provides a nice frame for the fairway. The far right fairway bunker sits 180 yards from the blue tee. If you find yourself against the greenside face of this bunker, your odds of hitting the green in regulation are pretty slim.

The other right fairway bunker sits 212 yards from the tee. If you are able to carry the ball 240 yards uphill, you can fly this bunker and you'll be rewarded with a kick towards the green. A new greenside bunker hugs the left side of the green and provides protection for a left pin placement. This bunker is fairly deep and will demand a challenging lofted bunker shot.

May 6th Rainstorm

The course had 1" of rain as of 7:15 a.m. this morning. Below is a picture of #1 Gray Hawk fairway.

The new grading and drainage on the fairway on #6 Red Feather seems to be working very well.

Red Feather Preview: Hole #7

As you step onto the tee, the first thing you will notice is the new bunkering. Although the locations haven’t changed much, the size, shape, orientation, and visual impact definitely have.

The orientation of the left fairway bunker has changed completely and fits the hole much better. The bunker sits 190 yards from the blue tee and a shot with 220-yards of carry will have no problem flying it. Be aware, however, that there are only 30 yards of fairway between the bunker and lake. If you find yourself in the right lobe of this bunker, you will discover that hitting the green in regulation becomes quite a challenge.

The far fairway bunker sits 220 yards from the blue tee and is larger and much more visible, providing the conservative (smart) player an excellent aiming point from the tee. A tee shot just short of this bunker will leave you with an excellent shot at the green.

The most noticeable changes on Hole #7 might be on and around the green. We have added 1000 square feet of putting surface to the back of the green which provides us with more cupping space. This allows us to take advantage of the upper left tier of the green that was once too severe to cup. We also have the ability to bury a pin back and right directly behind the new greenside bunker. The water is no longer the only obstacle on your approach shot.

Check back soon for a preview of Hole #9!

Red Feather Grand Opening Date

The unseasonably warm spring has greatly assisted the Red Feather grow-in. The fairways have filled in well and are draining far better than they ever have in the past. Those of you familiar with the course are well aware of the drainage issues we have previously experienced on hole #6. Even a 1/2” of rain would result in a wet fairway for days. I observed the fairway immediately after the heavy rains we experienced on April 14th and it drained completely. I think you will all be very pleased with the new shaping and contouring.

Greens are currently being cut at .160” and will be lowered to a final height of .150” sometime in the next week. To give you a point of reference .125” is the same as 1/8th of an inch. I am very pleased with the way the greens have grown in at this point.

Greenside approaches and collection areas are the thinnest areas at this point. This is due to the compaction they have experienced during the shaping of bunkers and surrounds. Unfortunately, alleviating this issue will take years of aerification and soil modification. We should, however, see gradual improvements with the passing of each season.

These areas have recently been aerified and reseeded and our intention is to complete one more aerification process before opening.

We will be aerifying Red Feather on the 16th of May and intend to open the course the following day on Thursday, May 17th. This is 14 days ahead of schedule, but I am confident we are making the right decision. We are grateful for the patience you have all had during the renovation process and we hope the early opening is seen as a sign of Indian Creek’s appreciation.

The race is on to see who is the first to play the new course. You can contact the Indian Creek pro shop 10 days in advance to book your times. We hope you enjoy the improvements.

Red Feather Preview: Holes 4 & 5

As the grand opening of Red Feather draws near, I thought it would be nice to give a preview of the work that has been done. This will give you a chance to envision the new golf shots the improved layout will force you to hit.

#4 Red Feather

The perspective from the elevated tees really highlights the new fairway bunkers and greenside bunker. It also allows you to notice the grading changes and improved shape of the fairway. When stepping on the tee, you may notice how much more challenging the tee shot has now become. The addition of fairway bunkers on the left and right forces you to choose whether to layup, attempt to carry, or split the narrow gap between them. The left fairway bunker sits 237 yards from the blue tee and requires a 255 yard carry. The prevailing south winds will come in handy when challenging this bunker. The right fairway bunker sits 217 yards from the blue tee and should catch most shots missed right. The addition of these two bunkers definitely puts a premium on a well struck tee ball.

Your approach leaves you with an uphill shot to a green guarded on the right by a new greenside bunker. This bunker is deep and provides for a very dramatic bunker shot especially to a back pin. The miss on this approach shot is to the left where we have created a low mow roll-off area that hugs the front left length of the green. A chip shot from here is far more manageable than one from the bunker.

#5 Red Feather

The southern summer winds have always made this a challenging and intimidating tee shot. Combining the challenge of this tee shot with the elevated views from the box results in a pretty good golf hole. To enhance the hole, we only made a few changes. We started by shifting the left greenside bunker closer to the greens edge and wrapping it just slightly around the front of the green. We also added a greenside bunker on the front right edge of the green. These two changes should add to the aesthetic value and intimidation factor of this hole. However, in all reality, this hole should play fairly similar to the way it always has. The distances from the tees have not changed and the bunkers should only penalize those who miss the green. A well-played ball should have no problem finding its way to the green.

I hope you enjoy what you see and I will profile two new holes next week.