New Years' Resolutions

It's that time of year when a lot of us ponder ways to improve ourselves. Over the last few weeks, I have been thinking about ways to make the Luck Golf Course have a competitive advantage. It is no secret that the number of golfers is not growing, so we have to make our venue more enticing to the golfer. Over the past 3 years, we have had the opportunity to improve the playing conditions considerably through the generous contributions to our Donation Fund. With the rebuilding of 4 greens, installing over a half mile of drainage, and the removal of several hundred trees, the course now has a new and different look and feel.

Many years ago, I heard a motivational speaker address an audience of golf course superintendents. She had a quote that has stayed with me and helps keep me centered when life, family, and work needs attention. "Elephants don't bite, mosquitoes do." In essence, it's the little things that matter. With that in mind, I have scratched out several details that I would like to see improved upon this upcoming season. This holds true not only on the course but in our course business operations as well. The list, in no particular order:

1. Season long bunker maintenance schedule. With a reduced budget and a large project to finish, bunkers were definitely ignored.
2. Improved regular greens maintenance program. This will include cup changing, verticutting, topdressing, and rolling.
3. Details in edging of trees and cart paths. This includes line trimming and the use of round up.
4. Mowing patterns.Over the course of the season, edges of the greens, tees, and fairways will tend to wander.
5. Improve our customer service with speed and efficiency. This will include social and electronic media.
6. Launching several new marketing campaigns to include a wider customer participation rate.
7. Continue to establish and implement a long term plan for continued financial success.

With that, I wish everyone a Happy New Year.

Progress

The tree cutting project continues on like syrup in January, slow but sure. All of the marked trees between holes 4 & 5 have been removed and the brush burnt. The only thing remaining is the removal of the logs to be used/sold for firewood.

Of course there will be cleanup in the spring of small branches and debris. The areas where the burn piles were will be cleaned up and seeded as well. The first glimpse of the benefits of this project are seen here at the approach to the 4th green. With the removal of all the trees inside the cart path on the left as well as thinning several between the path and the 5th tee, this will allow not only the improve the shade/wetness issue in this area but an enhanced playability of the hole from the players standpoint.

The next area of work are the trees between holes 4 & 6. All the marked trees except for 15 have been removed. Brush piles are currently being burnt. The thinning of the trees will make the errant shots easier to recover to the proper hole for advancement.

With the holidays on us, work will resume sometime after the first of the new year. There are still plenty of trees to go but I'm confident we will be done before spring. Happy Holidays!

Trees vs Forest

Work is slowly continuing on removal of trees. We are almost done with the removal of close to 100 trees in the area between holes 4 and 5. All the brush is burnt so far but we need to still remove logs for firewood sale or use. These pictures show the thinning of the herd of trees. I am looking foreword to seeing the enhanced improvements not only to the turf quality but the playability. There are still plenty of trees here as the golfers will be able to experience the trees as the forest will disappear.

The next area we will attack will be the area between holes 4 and 6. With the forecast calling for mild temperatures, we are anticipating some more progress.