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Originally Posted by Rich Iwaszko
Lotta chatter......thoughts... in no particular order
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Obviously the executive course greens were not built to USGA specs. They lack proper drainage and possibly not enough loam used.
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Pro's are not greenskeepers, turf managers are. Again, a green doesn't get crusty overnight.
Solutions, redo greens to usga specs..........get more boots on the ground, qualified greenskeeper with less courses to monitor and to watch and analyzing conditions daily. It may cost more, BUT, you won't have to redo courses every so many years.
My biggest fear is that USGA Specs were not used when the greens were built. Time to make up for that. And adjust cultural practices for each course as determined by its peccadillo's. No more cookie cutter maintenance practices.
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At the PWAC meeting a couple of weeks ago, Mitch Leininger said he thought the Executive Course greens were built to USGA specs. Upon further review, it seems that some are and some aren't. Some are straight "push up" greens.
According to the District, the "renovation" contracts all specify USGA Greens. I've seen the standards and I'm not convinced we're getting what we're paying for. I have spoken to the District and they've gone out of their way to listen, comment and perhaps consider tightening up their specs in the future.
As you know, you can build greens to Augusta National specs, and if you don't take care of them, they're not going to last. Rebuilding golf courses every 10-12 years (which is now the official cycle per the District), is the craziest thing I've ever heard. How many times did you guys "rebuild" Pocasset? Course maintenance in a place like TV is a 365 day a year challenge for professionals. The mow/fertilize/rebuild process is flawed.
Regarding your comment about PGA Professionals:
Apparently, the Golf Professionals in TV are also tasked as "Executive Golf course renovation design consultants and construction managers". I wrote a letter to the District last week and made the claim that "PGA Professionals manage golf, not construction and/or design". While most PGA Professionals are knowledgable, they're not agronomists, designers or construction managers.