KDUORWWH·V )LUVW - Carolina Golf Journal

local Golf Course news
By Craig Distl
Coming This Summer:
Bermuda Greens at Rocky River
Rocky River Golf Club is
installing Mini Verde
Bermuda grass on its greens
in mid to late August.
Golf course superintendent
Joel White spent the last few
with the progress of the project. The
club has launched a blog to keep the
public informed. The blog address is:
to provide optimum putting condi- summers focusing almost entirely www.rockyrivergolf.blogspot.com
tions throughout the entire golf on caretaking of the greens, which Both Crawford and Brickley,
season.
were comprised of G-6 bent grass. the director of golf, want to see the
Mini Verde is among the latest He sees the conversion to Dan Maples-designed layout return
generation of Bermuda grasses - Bermuda a positive for several to its status as one of the state’s elite
known as ultra dwarfs - which have reasons. First, the new grass requires courses. From 2002-2010, the
gained popularity for their similarity less water, chemicals and mainte- course was ranked among the top
to bent grass and tolerance of nance. Second, it thrives in peak 100 in the state by the North
extreme heat.
summer heat and needs only one Carolina Golf Panel.
In the last decade, increasingly aerification per year. And third, his “A project of this magnitude
hot Southeastern summers have crews can utilize the time normally really shows the commitment the
wreaked havoc on greens comprised spent caring for the greens to improve City of Concord has to Rocky River.
Rocky River’s #8 green ready for Mini verde
Bermuda grass, similar to bent
grass but tolerance of extreme heat.
other areas of the course.
“We’ll be able to work on
details a lot more,” White said.
A lot of serious golfers who played
this course, when it first opened,
realized what a really good course it
“The greens will basically keep is,” Brickley said. “The new greens
themselves alive; we’ll just define will put it back at the status level
the quality.”
where it should be. I think people
Once the project is complete, will be very, very proud of what
golfers will encounter larger greens they find here.”
and less slope. About 30,000 square During the greens project, the
Photo Credit: Rocky River Golf Club
feet of putting surface along the course and practice range at Rocky
of bent grass, a cool season grass edges of the greens will be reclaimed River remain open. Temporary
better suited for Northern climates. and severe slopes will be reduced in greens have been established and
Rocky River, like many clubs selected areas.
golfers can take advantage of
in the Southeast, came to the
“We’re going to soften some reduced rates.
conclusion that switching to slopes and expand the greens back out On weekdays the new 18-hole
Bermuda grass, a running grass closer to their original sizes,” White fees are: $15 to walk / $25 with cart.
that thrives in heat, will optimize said. “This will give us more hole On weekends, the rates are: $25 to
the quality of its greens on a regular locations and improve playability.” walk / $35 with cart.
basis, particularly in warmer months
when most golfers like to play.
“In consulting with the USGA,
we realized Bermuda grass is a more
sustainable model for the weather
The 18-hole championship
course at Rocky River serves dual
purposes. It is a municipal course
owned by the City of Concord and
also a resort destination as part of
For info on Rocky River Golf Club
at the Embassy Suites Golf Resort
& Spa, call (704) 455-1200 or visit
www.rockyrivergolf.com
patterns we’re seeing,” said director Concord’s Embassy Suites Golf
Photo Credit: Rocky River Golf Club
of golf Ryan Brickley. “After 15 Resort & Spa.
years, most courses are ready for a “The City of Concord is focused
greens restoration project anyway. on having one of the top golf
The timing for us worked out courses in North Carolina available
perfectly. We considered several for residents of Concord and our
options with bent grass, but our re- visitors, and we’re working handsearch
said Bermuda is the way to go.” in-hand to make that happen,” said
Rocky River will remain open Terry Crawford, general manager
with temporary greens and reduced
rates for the duration of the project.
Work began June 4th and will finish
for both the Embassy Suites Resort
and Rocky River Golf Club.
Golfers can go online to keep up
During the greens project, temporary greens
lets golfers take advantage of reduced rates.
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www.CaRolinaGolfJouRnal.Com - SummeR 2012 - 7