by Brian Duthu
Pro Shops
Despite fewer total rounds played vs. prior year, total revenue for December exceeded budget and exceeded prior year. All of the major categories (Green Fee/Cart Fee, Merchandise and Driving Range) exceeded budget.
On February 11, Lakes East/Lakes West will be hosting the 8th annual Teal Ribbon Tournament. The event is open to ladies and men and no handicap is required. It is a 9 hole event with a 9:30 shotgun start and lunch follows play at Sundial. Proceeds benefit the University of Arizona Cancer Center for Ovarian Cancer research. Entry forms are available at each clubhouse and may be turned in to the starters at any golf course.
On March 10, the 2nd Annual Can/Am tournament will be held at Lakes West. The format will be a two person best ball, with one American team and one Canadian couple. The cup will be awarded to the team with the most winning couples. Last year the American team narrowly edged the Canadians. In addition to the cup, prizes will be awarded equally between the American and Canadian teams, as well as prizes for longest drive and closest to the pin. A Pebble Beach vacation will be awarded for a hole in one on hole number seven.
Snack Shops
Total revenue for the snack shops exceeded budget by $2,800, capping off a great year. We thank everyone for their support of the snack shops.
Golf Courses
The preliminary aerification/over-seed schedule has been distributed to each course’s Green Committee and will be finalized in February. Once finalized, the schedule will be posted to the RCSC website. We will continue our practice of a single, more aggressive aerification. This year will be extending the number of days closed to allow time for fairway verticutting. There will be periods of two courses being closed at the same time. Fairway verticutting is a slow process that is difficult to accomplish during play. Taking the time to verticut will remove excessive thatch and increase the chances of a good over-seed. All courses will over-seed greens, tees and fairways this year.
Quail Run is currently in the process of removing invasive weeds in the sanctuary area around hole five. The branch interfering with play from the gold tee on hole #7 was trimmed by B&C Tree Service. Sprinklers are being edged and leveled as needed.
Riverview continues to play hard and fast, particularly around greens and tees. Green speeds remain extremely fast, as a reminder the greens at Riverview were not over-seeded, to protect them long term. Prepping a green for over-seed places tremendous stress on the Bermuda grass. As temperatures rise and the grass emerges from dormancy, green speed will slow down and playability will be increased. There are areas of settling around the course near irrigation lines. This is normal and expected and will be corrected by the contractor at no additional cost when the Bermuda grass is actively growing again.
Lawn Bowl/Grounds
All centers are having turf mowed and trees trimmed on a regular basis. The Bell center has received some new plantings, in the form of an Elm tree, some Roebelenii palms, some shrubs and some daisies. The new plantings take the place of the Carob tree that was removed.
Lawn Bowl greens are still in the period of minimal maintenance and will remain so until the Bermuda emerges from dormancy. We have been working with Southwest Turf support to review our agronomic program. The goal of the review is to ensure we provide a surface that can hold up to winter play.
During the Bell Recreation Center Fun Fair and Open House, the Bell lawn bowling greens will be open to cardholders looking to try lawn bowling. Members of Bell lawn bowling will be available to assist you. The Fair will be held from 9:00am to 3:00pm, on February 27. Please join us to roll some bowls and enjoy some popcorn.