Golf Course Inspection Summary of January 2009
The overall condition of the front 9 was very good. With the winter weather taking its toll on the golf course the golf course superintendent and staff have stayed ahead of the curve. Open items will be reviewed monthly by the Golf Committee with the Golf Superintendent and Golf Professional. Review of open issues from previous inspections are also included in this report.
2008 Summary: The LWW golf course inspection program has proven its ability to identify playability issues with follow up until correction. Without the cooperation of the golf course superintendent, golf committee and LWW Board, the inspection program can’t succeed. During 2008 the inspection reports have identified over 70 issues with only 7 issues remain open. The open issues do have estimated completion dates.
Tees: Overall rating was 4. Turf density is good with the exception of tees 4 and 9.
Tee 4 (White): Turf density was very poor. This tee has a history of poor condition. There needs to be a permanent fix to a longstanding problem.
Estimated Completion: Determination to be made by Golf Committee
Tee 5 (Red): Tee marker needs trimmed. It appears that red tees physically separated from white tees tend to be neglected.
Estimated Completion: 1 Feb 2009
Tee 6 (White): There is a depression in the middle front of the tee adjacent to the white yardage marker.
Estimated Completion: 1 Feb 2009
Tee 9 (Red/White): Turf density very poor: Similar issue as the 4th Tee.
Estimated Completion: Determination to be made by Golf Committee
Fairway/Rough: Overall rating was 4. Both have very good turf density and are in good condition for the winter season.
Hole 1: The encroachment of the rough into the fairway is affecting playability. This issue was documented in the May inspection and corrected in August. Since that time the rough was allowed to expand.
Estimated Completion: 1 Mar 2009
Hole 2: Bare area left of cart path near hazard.
Estimated Completion: 1 May 2009
Hole 4: Numerous bare areas to the left of cart path, starting approximately 100 yards from the tee where the cart path curb ends, and extends 250 ft.
Estimated Completion: 1 May 2009
Hole 5: Wet area in rough just past the small pine tree on the right approximately 250 yards from the green. It may be a water line leak.
Estimated Completion: 1 May 2009
Hole 6: Wet area in rough near the right green side bunker, between the bunker and cart path.
Estimated Completion: 1 Apr 2009
Hole 6: Bare/Dead area by fountain.
Estimated Completion: 1 May 2009
Hole 7: Bare ground near turnout area by green. Golfers not staying on path thus creating shortcut around tree. Place cart sign directly cart flow.
Estimated Completion: 1 Feb 2009
Hole 8: Bare area between the cart path and green.
Estimated Completion: 1 May 2009
Hole 8: The three 4x4 fence posts needs to be removed. There can’t be any justification to have 4x4 posts six feet from a green. Fix the problem with the green/apron but don’t create obstacles that affect playability.
Estimated Completion: 1 Mar 2009
Greenside/Fairway Bunkers: Overall rating was 3 +. The overall condition of the bunkers was quite good. The rating would have been higher except for a minor maintenance error. When sand was added to the bunkers, the sand was raked over the trap lips. Now there is no delineation between the trap and the rough. Basically the golfer has to guess whether they are in the trap or not.
Estimated Completion: 1 Mar 2009
Type of bunker sand used. The players have been asking the inspection team why the sand at LWW is so fine. We would suggest a test program be implemented where different types of sand are added to separate bunkers and let the golfers decide.
Estimated Completion: Determination to be made by Golf Committee
Hole 9: Both bunkers require additional sand.
Estimated Completion: 1 Feb 2009
Apron: Overall rating was 3+. Majority of aprons are uneven. This area has seen the high and low ratings over the last year. The apron condition did show a great improvement during the summer months but needs to be addressed again.
Estimated Completion: 1 Apr 2009
Greens: Overall rating was 4 +.
Green 5: Fungus on the front left of green.
Estimated Completion: Area has been treated
Open items from previous reports
Hole 13: Fairway distance marker missing. The sprinkler was replaced but the marker not reinstalled. The sprinkler head is on the right side of the fairway approximately 136 yards from green.
Estimated Completion: 1 Feb 2009
The encroachment of the rough is affecting playability on holes 13. Hole 13, the rough on the right side of green needs to be expanded 30 feet to enlarge the landing area.
Estimated Completion 1 Feb 2009
Greenside/Fairway Bunkers:
Holes 11, 12, 15: To improve playability and to conform to the golf master plan recommend removing the following bunkers. Hole 11, remove the right rear bunker; Hole 12, remove fairway bunker on the left side of the fairway and replace with a mounded grass area; Hole 15, remove the fairway bunker on the right side of fairway replacing with a mounded grass area.
Estimated Completion 1 Apr 2009
Practice Area: Overall rating was 3. The reason for the low rating was the synthetic green area above the practice sand trap. This area in compacted with sand and mold. Recommend that Ken Wolford and Jim Knight formulate a plan for correction.
Estimated Completion 1 Mar 2009
Cart path on hole 15 needs repaired. The 90 feet of cart path from Lake Wildwood Drive to the 15 tee needs replaced.
Estimated Completion 1 Mar 2009
Green 8. Over the last few years the right side of the green surface area has been considerably reduced and patched with varied types of grasses. This has led to a smaller and more oval green. If there is a problem with the right side that can’t be rectified we would recommend expanding the green on the left side and left rear of the green. The larger green area would provide additional pin placement areas and reduce wear.
Estimated Completion….. 1 Mar 2009
Hole 7 fairway. The black tee will soon be used and the left side of the rough needs to be reduced. The black tee points directly to the left rough.
Estimated Completion….. 1 Mar 2009
Inspection Team:
Gary Turzak, Sandy Turzak, Ken Towns, Raymond Lamberton-James, Ted Hodges