Rough Project Part 3

If you've been keeping up with the most recent blog posts, by now you should have a better understanding of the upcoming rough project.  Now its time for the fun part, the benefits that are obvious and maybe a few you haven't thought of.

As we discussed earlier, one of the main drivers in the project was limiting the amount of water we will use to maintain healthy rough.  Our estimate is that we should cut our water usage in half.  Great for the ability to maintain a firm and fast course, even better for our bottom line. Along those same lines, we will see a reduction in fungicide usage, annual seeding expense, as well as savings associated with the shorter growing season (e.g., fuel).

All of the financial reasons are valuable for selling a project, but in my mind, the greatest benefit will be the playability of the Riviera Bermuda.  In years past, we were becoming a course know for our brutal rough (not necessarily in a good way).  Maintaining Fescue/Blue rough with significant Common Bermuda contamination at 2.5-3" is about as tough as it gets for the average player.  When the rough is thriving, lost balls and difficult lies not only take the enjoyment out of the game, it also slows rounds.

The beauty of the Bermuda will be the ability to maintain the turf at a wide range of heights.  Our intent is to maintain the primary rough as close to 1.5" as we can.  Around greens we will have the ability to create low mow chipping areas, as is detailed in the Master Plan.  From tee to fairway, we will now be able to maintain walking paths.  All these changes are designed to make the game more enjoyable for our members and guests.

However, there are times occasionally when we are looking to make the course a little tougher for a specific event.  With the aggressive growth habit of Bermuda, simply skipping a mowing or two will have the rough as tough as we would want it.  I anticipate with the new height of cut, we will now have the ability to maintain the perfect mix of penalty with the ability to locate your ball and recover.  Not somewhere you necessarily want to be, but a more consistent lie compared to what we currently have. 

Essentially we are building on the success of the Zoysia fairways and expanding this concept into the rough.  Cool season grasses have their place, but when the bulk of our rounds are played in the heat of summer, we need a turf that is thriving at this same time.  With the Cool Season rough, the necessary inputs were putting too much emphasis on an area that should be a lower priority.

Thank you for following along as we detail the upcoming project.  If you have any specific questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.  Tomorrow I will be discussing changes we will be making to the Native Areas.