So I played Pole Creek Golf Club in Fraser on Tuesday and had a great time. Former VGC Superintendent, Ben Krueger and I took to the course with 90 other RMGCSA members. The weather was great and the course was better. I even beat Ben!
Craig Cahalane is the Superintendent and he and his staff do a wonderful job with the course. Last year, Landscapes Unlimited installed a new irrigation system on 18 of the 27 holes. The course is playing great and the greens were in fantastic shape. Every area of the course was consistent from greens to roughs. Now that Craig has better control and can really focus on growing grass instead of fixing pipe, he has been able to provide a better golf course for the guests of Winter Park.
Sure there are a few wet spots here and there, but that is only because he is just learning to use the system. Landscapes finished in September last year and by the time they were complete it was time to shut down the system for the winter. Well they too had a wet spring and early summer, which means Craig has been using his system almost as long as I have in Vail.
So Craig and his staff are beginning to work out the details by changing nozzles, adjusting heads and run times. When soils are not used to absorbing moisture and providing a medium for growth they tend to bind up and become hard. Over time, through adjustments to the land, proper drainage or just providing enough moisture these areas will develop into better growing environments.
After one year at Pole Creek, most golfers would never have known such an extensive project occurred on the property last year. Here in Vail I believe we are headed down that same path.
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