#4 and #14 Improvements Complete
The golf course maintenance staff remains busy as they seek to improve playability on both #4 and #14.
On a calm day with soft conditions, the island hole is nothing more than a simple wedge. When the wind blows and the greens firm up, the island hole can often become a blow up hole. The same can also be said for higher handicappers that lack the ability to hit a highly lofted shot that produces spin.
In order to make the hole slightly more forgiving, golf course maintenance team members have decreased the width of the closely mowed fringe and increased the width of the taller and thicker rough. The intent behind this change is to reduce the number of balls that hit the green and roll into the hazard upon their release. With a consistent 36 inch collar or fringe around the green, more balls will likely be played from the taller and thicker rough. This will increase the difficulty of shots that remain out of the hazard, but off the green. The project was completed with minimal expense since the sod was salvaged from the rough in front of 14 green.
In addition to the project on #4, golf course staff members also extended the fairway on #14 to run all the way to the green. The purpose of this change is two-fold. By extending the fairway through the green, higher handicappers that struggle to keep the ball in the air and those players who enjoy playing the ground game will have the opportunity to run the ball onto the green without the risk of getting caught in the rough. Additionally, both those players going for the green in two and those laying up will no longer have to contend with the thick rough that previously existed in front of the green. On days when the course is playing firm and fast, the ball may even be played short and run onto the green creating more shot options depending on the hole location. Please refrain from driving on the sod until the traffic control has been removed. All fairway sod will be aerified and topdressed regularly to promote rooting and smoothness.