Golf course in great shape
The Whitefish Lake Golf Course is now open on both the North and South sides with turf conditions in great early-spring condition.
We wintered very well with very little damage from the exceptionally long winter months. Snow cover on the greens provided a good insulation from the extreme cold and with proper preparation by the maintenance crew our turf emerged ready for the new season.
Last fall we completed extensive drainage work on the South Course to handle the usual early-season springs. This process has proven to be very successful with the normally wet areas becoming playable already.
New Greens
Last fall, in late September, we initiated significant changes to No. 6 on the North Course and resurfaced the No. 2 green on the North Course.
The results of those improvements are very evident as they too are coming out of winter strong with their newly sodded putting surfaces.
While No. 6 will appear to be unchanged when viewed from the teeing area, players will notice the difference once they get to the green. The putting surface of No. 6 increased from roughly 5,000 square feet to now 7,000 square feet and it affords more hole locations and options. No. 2’s green was also resurfaced with T1 Bentgrass and the contours were softened significantly.
When will we get to play the new greens?
This is a very frequently asked question of our staff and green superintendent Dick Collins. Our best estimate is for both greens to be playable by the end of May, all of which is subject to weather conditions that promote growth.
One of the biggest mistakes golf courses make is to allow play before the new greens are ready for all the traffic. That said, expect us to error on the safe side for the long-range health of the new greens and to protect our investment.
No new projects
For one of the first times in years the WLGC does not have any major projects planned for the season. This year’s improvements — we always want to keep moving forward — will center on the long-range renovations of bunkers and cart path upgrades.
Cart paths are like regular roads and need continual maintenance and improvements. Our goal is to address the oldest paths first and widen and resurface those paths. Where it is feasible to do so, we will move the cart paths to be more out of play.
Bunkers become contaminated with dirt over the years and the sand needs to be replaced. To lessen the infiltration of dirt and rocks we have been placing a sod barrier on the bottoms as we renovate bunkers and this appears to be an effective approach to slowing down the infiltration and also holding the sand in place along the bunker slopes.
Gold tees
In response to numerous requests from our players, and to follow the play it forward movement of the USGA, the WLGC staff has set new gold tees for our player’s better enjoyment of the game.
The new tees offer yet another option to match the player’s skill level and opportunity to hit more greens in regulation. The new gold tees are rated and scores can be entered in the computer system for handicap purposes for those using this option. Play it forward and enjoy the game more. And remember, “While we’re young.”
Get tuned up
All of us need to get a tune up each spring if we expect to get better or to maintain our games. WLGC has a very high quality Golf Professional staff that is ready to assist you with your swing improvements and even you approach to the game. Call the Shop (862-5960) and schedule an individual lesson. I know I need one.