A Refresher on Golf Course Etiquette

Course Etiquette Guidelines

1.  During frost delays and inclement weather, it is the Grounds Department objective to get golfers and golf carts on the course as soon as it can safely be done.  We will be in communication with the Pro Shop as to a time frame for the course to be open and the availability of golf carts.

2.  Repairing your ball marks plus 3 others will improve the condition of the greens.  Always push your ball mark inward and tap it down.

3.  If your divot is in one piece…..replace your divot.  If not, please use the divot mix supplied in the golf cart.  This divot mix is for fairways and tees only.  Do not put in the rough!!!

4.  After teeing off, please put your broken tee in the broken tee caddie.

5.  Obey the cart direction devices.  This will limit any damage that may occur and keep the traffic areas in more out of play areas.  Golf carts are not to be driven to the back tee boxes.  The golf carts should remain on the cart path at the tee box.

6.  During inclement weather, special cart restrictions may be put in place.  It is crucial that these restrictions be followed.  Failure to follow these restrictions can not only cause damage immediately but in the future especially during the heat of the summer.

7.  Cigarette buds need to be placed in the trash receptacles along with any other trash.

8.  Golfers at the range tee should be aware of other golfers on holes #8 & #11 as they have the right of way.  Please keep aware of this to limit anyone getting injured.

9.  Enjoy your round of golf and the beautiful surroundings.  If your golf games brings upon some frustration, please do not take that frustration out on the golf course.

Thank you for your cooperation and doing your part as a member of Idlewild CC.

Grounds & Greens

Ball Mark Repair...Let's Make This A Priority For Every Golfer

Repairing ball marks are a vital component of golf etiquette.  Repairing your ball mark properly aids in the greens recovery and helps in providing a smooth putting surface.  What is the proper way to repair a ball mark?  By pushing the turf together from the outside to the inside and tamping down the middle.  Please refrain from pulling up the turf as it damages the root zone.  Here is a short video that shows how a ball mark should be repaired.  Please make this part your routine each and every time you walk onto a green. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v..

Idlewild Tree & Beautification Fund

IDLEWILD TREE & BEAUTIFICATION FUND                                                                             MARCH 2016

 

                The Idlewild Tree & Beautification Fund is and has been instrumental in the continued improvement of the overall aesthetic beauty of the club.  Monies from the fund are used to address current issues and/or improve different areas of the clubhouse and golf course.  Winter tree work encompasses about 60-70% of the fund and the remaining is used to renovate landscaping, purchase new trees, and purchase tree related equipment.  Projects such as the renovation of the front entrance, tee box landscaping, and the work performed along Butterfield Creek are just some examples of the progress that has been made in the past through the use of the Tree & Beautification Fund.

                As stated above, a majority of the fund is used for tree work.  With a tree inventory of over 1800 trees a lot of foresight is needed in dealing with the Emerald Ash Borer, which has continued to ravage the Ash tree population.  With over 20% of our total population within the Ash tree family; it will require multiple years of removals to get this issue behind us.  The winter tree work was a success with over 70 infected trees removed.  The numerous wind/snow storms highlighted the large need for pruning of trees as well based on the amount of debris that has fallen from these storms.   The objective will be to continue to move forward with removals while addressing any safety issues first and foremost.  With so many trees within our borders, we could stand to lose a few trees and that would make a lot of golfers happy but at the same time we need to be vigilant in the replacement of priority trees that affect playability of the course in a positive way and/or serve as protection from the errant golf shot.

                Butterfield Creek will see some attention as we continually try to improve the visual appearance through tree removals and the addition of colorful landscape plantings in higher traffic areas.  This serves many benefits such as creek bank stabilization and increased air circulation to the turf in these areas.

                The Tree Memorial Program is a great opportunity for a member to honor someone and at the same time serve a valuable purpose to the great course we all love.  With the new tree planting, a bronze plaque will be installed at the base of the tree designation the tree as a Memorial Tree.  I look forward to the positive affect that I believe the Memorial Tree Program can have on both the golf course and in celebrating someone special.

                In closing, as the Golf Course Superintendent I truly appreciate the support of these two programs as they allow Idlewild Country Club to continue to move forward with respects to continued improvements in all areas of the club.  Thank you for your support!

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Kurt Sams, CGCS