A Cover Update

A couple of weeks ago, we wrote about covering portions of our driving ranges that are in need of recovery.  The covers the golf course maintenance crew put down were moved two weeks later and the results were excellent.  Below are some pictures that were taken on the Reserve and Members Club ranges.  The first picture is on the Reserve Club range after the cover had been moved.  As  you can see the covered turf has recovered nicely.

The second picture we have added is on the Members Club range and it shows perennial ryegrass seed that has germinated while being covered for 2 weeks.  The area directly under the cover was topdressed and seeded directly before the cover was put down.  As you can see the ryegrass has germinated well under the cover.

New Range Covers

      If you have been on the driving ranges at St. James this week you may have noticed some black covers on certain spots of the range tees.  These covers have been placed on spots of the tees that need recovery and seed germination.  While we believe that this idea will prove to be a success at St. James, we can not take the credit for it.  Troon North, our sister course in Scottsdale, Arizona, have been using covers similar to this for a while and have found them to be a great tool for regenerating used parts of their driving range.  The areas under the covers will be checked during weekly range maintenance on each course and will be moved to different portions of the range as needed.  Below is a picture of the covers on the range at The Reserve Club.  We will post pictures of the turf after the covers are moved in a couple of weeks.

  

Driving Range Improvements

Recently, the driving ranges at the Members and Players Club got an upgrade.  Shapemasters, a local golf course construction company, laid a concrete slab on the back of the driving ranges at both the Members and Players Club.  These concrete slabs will soon be topped with golf range mats that will be used at various times for practice throughout the year.  We have posted a picture of each slab that was laid below.  Thank you for patience as we constantly strive to improve your golf experience at St. James Plantation.

Players Club Driving Range

Members Club Driving Range