Master Plan - 11th hole

Yesterday I highlighted the new par 3 10th hole, let's continue through the back nine looking at the potential changes for each hole.  As I stated previously, our current 10th hole will become the 11th hole under the Plan, so for today I will reference this as 11.

We renovated the new 11 last year, rebuilding the bunkers, moving the tees, adding moguls to the right side and shortening the fairway.  I won't spend a lot of time highlighting the changes as we have already made them.

As you can see, according to the plan we made a few changes once we started moving dirt around.  Being a Golf Course Architect is an art, you have to let the land and the course tell you what fits.  It is one thing to place a plan on paper, but it is usually necessary to make changes in the field as the renovation develops.  The changes that were made include: moving the forward tee over to the left, adding moguls on the right side down by the approach, and keeping the approach bunker in place - for a total of 4 bunkers. 

Master Plan - new 10th hole

Yesterday we outlined the changes to the range.  One of the major changes was to convert our current 12th green complex into the short game practice area.  The view from the back of the clubhouse would be stunning -with a large expanse of bentgrass surrounding 2 practice greens.  The look would be very similar to that of Congressional seen below:

 

 

 

To allow for changes to our practice areas, and provide a better overall use of our space/property, a new par 3 10th hole is planned.  The tees for the 10th hole would be where our current practice putting green is now - using the lower half of that practice green and converting it into a tee.  The new 10th green would be placed across the valley where the current forward tee on 12 is.  After this hole is constructed, our current 10th hole will become the 11th hole and the current 11th hole will become 12.  From there we continue on to the current 13. 

 

Here are the main changes in the plan outlined below:

• Construction of a new green and bunkers near the current forward tee on 12.
• Convert part of the current practice green into tee space for the new hole.
• Alter cart paths around the area.
• Allow room for a future clubhouse expansion to the east if that was desired.
• Opens up room to the east of the parking lot for large events (provides green space that is not in play, this was accomplished with our recent 10th hole renovation)
• Allows the 12th green complex to become the short game practice area.

As you can see above, this new par 3 would not be possible until we moved our old 10th tees up.  The changes we made on our current 10th hole allows us space to someday construct this hole which will then allow us to adequately renovate the practice facility.

 

 

Above is the existing view from the putting green looking towards 12 tee.  In this picture are a few trees that have been removed since the picture was taken. 

Here is the proposed view of the new par 3 10th hole.  The bentgrass tee would flow into the bentgrass approach of the short game area to the right and provide a look as outline above.  I can imagine the beauty of this area after construction, grabbing the attention of anyone walking around the corner of the building.  Any guest of the club would sure to be impressed after seeing this signature par 3 and first class practice facility. 

 

Golf course Master Plan - Range

Two years ago the Grounds Committee enlisted the help of an Architect to construct a comprehensive golf course Master Plan.  The reasons for a Master Plan were/are: 

• Give guidance on future changes to the course.
• Create continuity of any changes over a period of time (even though Boards and Committees change, the plan does not).
• Improve the course for today's golfer.
• Provide a plan for the club to work towards. 

Basically, the Plan is a road map for the Grounds Committee, keeping us on the right path and guiding us even though personnel on the Committee may change.  To accomplish the entire plan in one shot would be very costly and there is no intention of doing that in the near future.  What we can do now is pick off smaller project that coincide with the plan and start making minor changes that can be afforded to keep our course relevant in today's game of golf.  You will notice that certain parts of the plan need to be accomplished before other areas can be changed, this is one reason we started on our current 10th hole.

When first meeting with the Architects (Hills and Forrest Golf Course Architects) we provided them with our goals, they were:

 

These goals laid the groundwork for the Architects, they then came back to us with a Master Plan for the course.  After some minor adjustments we came away with a first class plan that meets our goals.

 

Over the course of the next few weeks I will begin to highlight the plan and provide commentary and information.  I am doing this now for a few reasons: 

• Many members know there is a plan but have not seen the details and are very curious on the potential changes.
• We have begun to make changes to the course and Members should know what other changes may look like.
• The recent changes to hole 10 laid the ground work for future completion of other projects.
• The Long Range Planning Committee is studying the interest in future projects and now is the time to highlight our potential. 

The first pieces of the Plan that I want to highlight are the driving range and short game practice areas.  In my opinion, this is our weakest link on the property with our bunkers being a close second.  As our culture changes, we are seeing more and more usage on the practice areas as many members do not have time for a 4 hour round but can squeeze in a quick 1 hour practice session during lunch or after work.  An adequate and course-comparable practice facility is becoming a must for relevant private clubs.  As more and more members and golf teams use the practice areas, tee space becomes a issue; and as golfers continue to hit balls further, length and safety also becomes an concern. 

 

Below is the plan for an updated practice facility, there are some major changes here, they include:

• Creating a fairway down the middle with target greens and bunkers to funnel shots down the center.
• Bowl out the range to aid in keeping balls on the facility for more efficient ball pick up.
• Provide tree screening.
• Move the teeing ground back to provide more length.
• Remove the current short game practice area and enlarge the teeing ground.
• Move the short game practice area to the current 12th hole.
• Move the east teeing ground to the corner for added safety.
• Alter the cart paths around the range tee.

You can click on the picture to enlarge it, here you will see all the proposed changes.  The major change is making our current 12th hole a short game practice area, this takes 12 out of play and allows us to move the range tee further back.  A new par 3 10th hole would be built to replace 12, more on this later. 

Our current view of the range facility.

The proposed view of the range facility.

 

Over the next few weeks I will highlight a section of the course and provide details on the Master Plan.  Next up I will review the plan on the new par 3 10th hole that will replace our current 12th hole. 

 

Trimming hedges

We continued work out on the course this week, completing some tree pruning and trimming the hedge row between 9 tee and the road. 

Thank you to Zach, Sam and Nate for your help in keeping this area of the course in fine shape. 

 

Christmas break help

We brought in the reserves this week as our summer staff is now on Christmas break.  Despite the frigid temperatures outside, they have been bundling up and getting things done.

Today we trimmed the hedge row along the range tee. 

 

The previous few days we spent some time splitting and delivering firewood, next week we plan to start trimming trees. 

Greens closed for the season

Today will be the last day the greens will be open for play.  Effective tomorrow the greens will be closed for golf and we ask that all members stay off the greens throughout the winter.  The tees and fairways will remain open all winter for those ambitious members that would like to walk a few holes during any winter warms spells.  We will not be placing pins in the approaches as we have in the past, this is due to the few members that will play to them during the winter and the fact that they routinely blow down.  Therefore, if you wish to hit a few shots on the course over the winter, feel free to come out, we just ask you stay off the greens.

The Grounds Staff thanks you for a great year.  We are already making preparations for next year and anticipate a successful 2017.

The cost of trees

Trees are what makes Findlay Country Club a great course, but they don't come free.  About 40% of our labor between now and the end of March will go towards trees: leaf clean-up, picking up sticks, trimming trees over the winter, tree removal, tree planting and splitting firewood.  We can also look at what trees cost us over the summer: string trimming around every tree at least once a month, stick clean-up every time there is a storm, blowing off tree debris daily on the playing surfaces, the inefficiency of rough mowers having to dodge trees and the damage that roots cause to mowers over time.  The amount of our resources spent on trees is staggering.  I am not advocating for a tree free FCC, just passing on information worth noting. 

Today we spent 16 man hours on stick clean-up alone due to the high winds last night.  This had to be done to allow us to clean-up more tree debris - leaves.  We hope to get through the property one more time with a thorough leaf clean-up, but that job can't get done with thousands of damaging sticks in the way. 

On to leaves tomorrow, course should be looking really clean by the end of the week.  The great thing about turf that keeps growing and a course full of trees - job security! 

 

Christmas lights

Despite the unfriendly weather today we were able to get all the Christmas lights hung.

It takes 6 guys - one full day to put up all the lights.

 

 

Think of Findlay Country Club for your holiday parties this year, we would love to have you!

 

Grounds update

Last week Friday we completed the finishing touches on the new fairway bunker on 11.  To cap off the project, we took sod from the beginning of the 11th fairway and relocated it to the expanded fairway around the new bunker.  Next spring we will seed the beginning of the fairway into rough, shortening the fairway to coincide with the Master Plan.

With that large project behind us we are now focusing on other projects and tasks to close out the season, we have a heavy work load to complete before the snow flies.  This week is a shortened week and rain today that won't allow us on the course, but we are continuing to knock items off our to-do list. 

Monday was irrigation blow-out.  We also cut down the natural area behind the clubhouse. 

Yesterday we planted 6 trees on the course, picked up sticks from the recent high winds, blew out fresh water lines and mulched leaves. 

 

Our to-do list still contains - mulching leaves, repairing the bridge on 8/9, fertilizing fairways, spraying fungicides before the snow hits, trim the hedges on the range and 9 tee, winterize the water feature by the locker rooms, deep clean all the equipment and get Christmas lights up next week.

Progress made

The bunker on 11 is almost complete, just a few more finishing touches.

Monday we started moving soil.

Tuesday was edging, drain lines and the start of sod.

Wednesday was drain tile, sod and sand installation. 

 

We need to repair one corner of the bunker that we used for an access point, sod also needs be installed in the enlarged fairway in front of the bunker.  Per the Master Plan, 11 fairway can be shortened on the tee side.  We will take sod from the start of the fairway and transfer it over to the new fairway by the bunker. 

Bunker project

The fairway bunker renovation on 11 is progressing well, the weather we are having has been excellent. 

Monday, we started at the old forward tee on 10 - shaping the landform to better fit the surrounding area, softening the valley beside 12 tee.

Work then began on filling in the old fairway bunker on 11.

Next came the addition of the new bunker.

Once the bunker was built, we put a hard edge on the inside.

Drainage lines were then dug and sod has begun to be installed. 

 

Today we will be installing drain tile and laying down more sod.  I anticipate tomorrow we will be able to put sand in the bunker. 

Removing the old bunker

The first step on the bunker project was to remove the usable sand within the bunker and remove the sod surrounding the work site.

First thing this morning we removed the sand, keeping the good sand for the new bunker.

We then removed all the sod surrounding the worksite.  By the end of the day tomorrow we will have the area ready for the shaping of the new bunker. 

Bunker project started

The new fairway bunker on 11 has started.  After some delay waiting for an available date by the contractor, we are now ready to roll.  The contractor (shaper) will be here Monday to implode the existing bunker and shape the new bunker.  If you get the chance to walk out there soon, you will see red flags marking the perimeter of the new bunker. 

 

 

All the sod around the existing bunker and around the new bunker was cut today.  We will begin to remove the sand and all the necessary sod on Thursday and Friday.  Monday, the Shaper and Architect will do their thing and we will be right behind them laying new sod, installing drainage and adding sand.  If the weather is cooperative, we should have everything relatively wrapped up by the end of next week. 

 

 We will also be re-grading the old forward tee on 10, removing the 'tee' landform and shaping it to fit the surrounding area. 

 



Irrigation line repair

A 3" valve on our irrigation system had to be replaced, today was a good day to shut down the system and get this completed. 

The valve was on the south side of the driving range, the old valve would not close properly - not allowing us to shut off the range to make repairs. 

At about 3' down, a fair amount of digging had to be done to give us room for the repair.

A large pipe calls for a large pipe wrench. 

Greens aerification completed

Yesterday we aerified all the greens, the unofficial end to another great season.  When we aerify we use ample sand to fill in all the holes, this sand will be present for quite some time - until the grass grows through the sand.  Some years this may be 10 days, other years the sand is there until next spring.

Monday, we started the day off early be applying a heavy coat of sand to the greens while it was still dark.  At first light, we double aerified the greens - once with a 'deep tine' machine making holes 3/4" round by 10" deep, and once with our machine, going 4" deep.

After the sand is dry, we drag the greens, apply more sand and continued to drag the sand around, filling in the holes.

We are now starting to smooth the greens by rolling. 

 

Overall, this aerification went great, the greens will be in good shape heading into winter and we are looking forward to another great season in 2017. 

As we inch closer to winter we are starting to make preparations for the end of the season.  All the annual flowers have been pulled, next on our list is chopping down all the perennials.  Today we removed all the tee markers from the course allowing us to be more efficient with our limited labor this time of year.  Feel free to use any part of the tee as you play for the remainder of the year. 

A little rain delay

We saw 1.5" of rain over the last 48 hours.  The rain this morning didn't allow us to get out on the course to perform maintenance, we tackled other projects around the shop before being able to get back out. 

Rob and Dan B. power washed all the equipment.

Evan and Jim are basically rebuilding the back end of the rough mower.

Wayne and Eric completed a thorough cleaning of our chemical storage.

I love it when I come across a shelf looking like this, thanks Eric!

It doesn't get better than this

Why would you not take time out of your busy schedule to enjoy your club?  It doesn't get better than this:

 

 

The view from the patio is amazing.  After your round of golf with friends, relax on the back patio. 

 

The colors are starting to pop on the trees.

 

Grab your spouse, father, kids or friends and enjoy a round out on the course, show off the beauty that you are privileged to enjoy at any time. 

The mums at the front entrance welcome everyone as they enter.

 

 

Don't let this fall pass you by, enjoy the club today!