by Brian Duthu
Pro Shops
Free golf clinics are scheduled to start Saturday November 10 at Lakes West Golf Course. The remaining clinics will be held over the following three Saturdays. All Classes begin at 9:30 a.m. and are taught by PGA and LPGA professionals. Topics covered are chipping, putting, irons and woods. The free clinics are a great introduction to the game of golf or a great way to brush up on your game. There is no need to preregister and clubs are available to borrow.
Get Golf Ready classes will also begin in November, with sessions continuing through April. Get Golf Ready classes consist of four golf lessons in a group setting, followed by a fifth day of on course instruction over 9 holes. The cost for Get Golf Ready classes is $99 per session and registration is handled by Chris Linam at (623) 876-8419 or email at clinam@suncityaz.org.
We had 102 participants in our Patriot Day golf event at Lakes West on August 31. Patriot Golf Day was organized with the help of PGA of America to raise funds for the Folds of Honor Foundation. Rich Lybolt was the big winner on the men’s side, scoring the only gross skin on hole #1, worth $385. There were four men’s net skin winners, worth $96.25, Guy Shaw, Mike Bratton, Tom Adams and Merv Hying. There were many skins out on the ladies side, Terry Klatt won a total of four, followed by Kim Oh with a total of three. Through entry fees, the 50/50 raffle and pro shop collections, we raised a total of $1,300. The money raised is used to fund scholarships for spouses and children of military service men and women killed or disabled while serving our country.
On December 13 we will be hosting a fundraising tournament to raise money for our chosen Winter Celebration Charity, the Sun City Foundation. The format will be Beat the Pro(s), which will be Brian Duthu (PGA) and Chris Linam (Pro Shop Manager) and will be made up of two person teams. Teams that beat the Best Ball score of the Pros will equally share the prize pool. The entry fee will be $40 and the event will be held at Willowcreek Golf Course. In addition to bragging rights for beating the pro, there will also be a chance at a Pebble Beach Vacation.
We received the occupancy permit for the temporary trailer at South. Pro shop operations were moved to the temporary trailer the evening of September 12 and were operational by September 13. During construction, beverage options will be limited and food options consist of snacks; ice will not be available.
Golf Courses
Overseeding will begin on October 1, on North, Lakes West and Quail Run and reopen October 20. Riverview, South and Lakes East will close on October 22 and will reopen November 10. Willowcreek and Willowbrook will be overseeded as part of the closure and both will open for play November 10.
The Willowcreek/Willowbrook project is in the final stages, with all irrigation pieces installed. Work continues in the perimeter areas of Willowbrook and along hole 9 on Willowcreek, with the installation of plant material and decomposed granite. Willowcreek will be overseeded with the early wave of courses, but will remain closed until the scheduled opening of November 10. We expect some level of construction activity to remain well into October, remaining closed will allow this activity to continue unhindered.
Grounds and Lawn Bowling
The greens at Lakeview and Bell Lawn Bowl have received a final laser leveling, focusing mostly along the plinth boards. New sprinkler heads were installed at both locations. The corner heads were placed in the ditches, both to improve coverage along the ends and to reduce overspray. The locations of the previous heads will be filled in with concrete. The greens at Oakmont and Mountain View have received their final verticutting.
The softball field closed September 24 for overseeding and is scheduled to reopen the 22nd of October. Overseeding around the centers will occur during the first two weeks of October. The grounds crew will be installing new landscaping rock in the pool area of the Bell Center the final week of September.
