Maintaining Executive Courses
 

It appears that there is still a major problem with Executive Golf courses maintenance. Just a few cases, Bonita Pass was closed to fix the greens several months ago. When it reopened, the greens were excellent. Golfed there just before they closed it again, several greens were damaged by what appeared to be by the mower, big brown areas. Pelican just reopened and the day we golfed it the green on hole 5 had by damaged by what appears to be the mower. Just this week, we played Roosevelt, which had been recently renovated, and the greens had numerous brown streaks in them and full of crab grass. Seems like it is wasting a lot of money to renovate these courses and then ruin them by poor maintenance.

Do you're suggesting the new Executive Course Director, isn't any better than the last one? I'm shocked!

Do the people that maintain the courses have any specialized training?

Do the people that work on the golf courses just do golf courses? Or do they do other maintenance around the Villages like mowing common areas and putting in flowers?

Do they have a manager to examine their work?

All Executive Course (owned by the District) maintenance is contracted out, under the supervision and direction of Donald Jones.

The previous Director of Executive Golf Maintenance left in January, Mitch Leininger. I'm not sure it was relevant, in an interview with Don Wiley, he claimed to have a Degree in Turf Management from Penn State ... he did not. Also, the complaints about Executive Course maintenance were off the charts.

The new guy was hired without a 4 year degree in Agronomy, as was required by the Job Posting.

Not that I'm questioning that the District hires only the best and most qualified.

So “Brown Streaks”….could have been a hydraulic leak in the mower….something you don’t realize until your hydraulic tank is drained of fluid and go to lift a mower deck.

Are you saying the other “Brown” areas are from the mowers “scalping” the turf due to an incorrect mower deck / blade height or is that a “Fungus” that took off before being noticed?

Lots of reasons for brown spots.

Here's an idea, what about have a sandbox at each tee box. Not everyone has a sand bottle, especially if they are walking...

They should

Did I read that right?? The job requirements were a 4-year agronomy degree and this guy was hired with an Associate's degree? Really, counting to 4 only requires the fingers on one hand

and for divots anywhere except the tee, carry the sand in your hands?????? GET A SAND BOTTLE!!! (not specifically you, but anyone who doesn't have one. Also buy a pitch mark repair tool and learn that the rakes are not there for decoration)

Posing your question on this web site will not solve your question. Attend a PWAC meeting and ask them your question. Daniel Jones attends one of these monthly meeting once a quarter. I'm sure you are smart enough to figure out which one he attends. Or write a letter to the CDD representative who represents your district at the PWAC meeting, and have your representative ask Daniel the question.

Bonita Pass's greens were diseased and scheduled to be replaced with a full renovation this year. They are doing what they promised.

Roosevelt's greens were not fully renovated, they were trying to buy some time until they could get to them next year. Cold wet weather or hot humid weather will expose the underlying reason they need to be replaced. New gravel base, full 10 inches of USGA specified green base and then Tif Eagle grass.

Pelican has new, fully renovated greens. The new greens have very short roots and need time to grow down to the drainage portion of the green. But, if it's improper maintenance, than Daniel Jones needs to know. If he is not personally checking on conditions and solving problems, then he should be replaced.

You read it right. I've been trying to track down the guy's resume since he started in the job. I knew he didn't have the degree. Finally found his resume this morning.

I'm surprised. When it all hit the fan last year, I made an issue out of the fact that Mitch was lying about his resume. He got interviewed by Don Wiley & told Don he had a "Degree in Agronomy" from Penn State (he didn't). I suspect that had something to do with him leaving.

Now they advertised the job, with an absolute requirement of a 4 year Degree in Agronomy ... & hire a guy who went to a Community College for 2 years. The guy may be a world beater, but if you're willing to hire someone without a Degree, the Job Posting should have said that. How many qualified people didn't apply, because they were able to actually read the job posting and knew they "weren't qualified" per the requirements?

How much do they pay? Enough to attract someone with the qualifications they want?
As far as people not applying, we know that often you don't have to meet all the quals, you just need to be the most qualified of the unqualified. If people didn't apply, that's a life lesson for them.

It makes me wonder if TV has gained a reputation as a place where you can't succeed with the resources provided. People who would excel at the job either won't take the pay, or decided the job isn't worth the brain damage.

There's a lot of truth in your post.

In my limited experience, the District hires people who are about 1 step below really being qualified, but are willing to work for a discounted salary, to get the job. I've seen it over & over & over again.

I read the Golf Maintenance Director job postings and being in the business, I have some experience with the subject. The offered Salary, didn't match the qualifications they were looking for and it was perfectly clear to me, they weren't going to be able to hire someone with the qualifications, for the offered pay.

Just speculating, but I suspect the perk of being able to send one's children's to The Villages' school system, is the "bonus" the District uses to attract staff willing to work cheap.

My suggestion is to remove all the bunkers from the executive courses and put that maintenance money toward keeping the greens in better shape. Most executive golf course players don't need to be playing out of bunkers and imagine the pace of play benefits!

Likely should be mowed twice a week and not with the type
Of mowers they are using!!! There is a better type that doesn’t ruin the greens!! I noticed that too

I’ve seen y’all’s skill level on the executive courses. You guys aren’t good enough to be complaining the way you do. Better conditions would probably make your scores worse ������

Remove the sand and turn them into grass bunkers. Won't be easy to get out of but will fix one maintenance issue.

The degree from PSU is specifically for golf course superintendent and sports field management. It’s highly specialized in that direction.

Posting re exec course
 

This is the district’s review of the courses.


Golf Course Maintenance - The Villages Community Development Districts

Great idea as long as people use it

A good superintendent is needed but bet the bottom line is that the course maintenance is under funded. How many times do we hear complaint about rising fees. Fertilizer alone has doubled in price over past 5 years

Great idea. Holes like #2 at Oakleigh are almost impossible for 99% of anyone who can not hit a more lofted iron. Most people do not know this but building/maintaining bunkers are more costly than greens

Disagree. Like to play the Executives for practice. I put little emphasis on the putting, because most greens don’t resemble conditions on the Championship courses and I don’t want to throw off my game for when I’m paying good money to play real golf. Practicing ball striking off the tee boxes, and bunker shots, are the reason I play the Executives (plus my wife likes those courses). Sometimes I hit into the bunkers purposely so I can get some practice. Of course, I often have to rake the bunker and place my ball because it’s in an unraked footprint.

Most folks don't know it, because it's not true. Not even close.