By Brian Duthu
Pro Shops
We will be hosting a “Beat-the-Pros” tournament on Thursday, December 8th at Willowcreek Golf Course. This event is held in conjunction with other RCSC Management Team sponsored events that are held throughout the year and raises funds for our annual chosen charity. This year’s chosen charity is the Sun City Foundation. The Sun City Foundation supports RCSC members who have outlived their resources through assistance with RCSC annual property assessments and transportation. Through the foundation RCSC members are able to continue using the facilities and remain active and social. The format will be a two person scramble and lunch will be provided by Famous Dave’s.
A new instructor, John Martin, Class A PGA Professional, has joined our other independent teaching professionals, Sarah Bakefelt, Bob Day, and Bob Jennings. John replaces Billy Edmundson who recently stepped down from his position. The four professionals conduct our “Get Golf Ready” classes, our free golf clinics held in November and March and are also available for private lessons throughout the year. Contact information for the professionals can be found on the www.suncitygolfing.com website or at one of our golf pro shops. The free golf clinics have been well attended during the fall sessions (October and November). In the past, well over 300 golfers or prospective golfers have attended these sessions. The final clinic will be held on November 19 with a 9:30 a.m. start at Lakes West. Registration for Get Golf Ready classes is also underway, the cost of the classes is $99 which includes 4 days of instruction as part of group of 8 students or less, as well as a 5th day of on-course instruction. The program covers swing fundamentals as well as golf etiquette and an introduction to golf rules. The program is part of a national initiative of the PGA of America to grow the game of golf.
In addition to our charity event, RCSC Pro Shops and Snack Shops are also selling Duck Bucks to raise funds for the Sun City Foundation. The purchase of a Duck Buck enters you in the Duck Race held on December 9th as part of the Holiday Celebration event held at the Lakeview Center. The ducks are released from the waterfall and race to the finish line. If your duck finishes in the top 3 you win a share of the pot based on the number of ducks racing. There are two separate races held on December 9 so don’t be left without a duck in the race. In addition to the duck race there are other fun events held during the on the annual Holiday Celebration, such as a pie walk, a mini golf hole-in-one contest and a money tree. There is a rumor that Jolly old St. Nick will be taking time off from toy building and providing photo opportunities. The evening ends with a lighted boat parade.
Snack Shops
Through October, snack shops have exceeded budgeted revenue by $5,759, we continue to thank everyone for their support. Snack shops are now operating under winter hours and remain open until 5:00 p.m. except in the rare cases of significant inclement weather. We respectfully remind everyone that all food and beverage consumed in the snack shops or adjacent patios must have been purchased through the snack shops.
Golf Courses
All courses are now open from over-seeding; Lakes West, Willowbrook, Quail Run and North are scheduled to lift cart path restrictions on November 18th. We have been receiving mostly positive comments on course condition, post over-seed and they are appreciated. With the extended period of warm weather, the bermuda grass has not entered full dormancy. Once we have a frost, course conditions will take on a different appearance.
As play increases, so does the stress on our courses. We remind all golfers that we all have a responsibility to keep our courses in good condition. Golfers can assist by filling their divots, raking sand traps, replacing rakes in bunkers parallel to play and repairing ball marks. During times of cart path restrictions, please remember to take your sand bottle to the fairway.
The key dates of the 2017 Willowcreek renovation are as follows:
• February 27, 2017 – Work on Willowcreek pump station begins (both courses remain open)
• March 6, 2017 – Mainline installation at Willowcreek begins (both courses remain open)
• March 20, 2017 – Willowcreek back nine will be closed. (Willowcreek Front 9 Open,
Willowbrook Open)
• April 10, 2017 – Both Willowbrook and Willowcreek will be closed due to the heavy construction
presence around the clubhouse
• November 2017 (Date TBD) both courses open
For those that are interested, plans for Willowcreek green reconstruction are posted in the Willowcreek/Willowbrook pro shop. Final plans for the turf reduction concept are in the final stages and will posted in the pro shop once they are available.
Lawn Bowling
Dennis Dulaney, South Golf Course Superintendent, has been placed in charge of the lawn bowling greens. The lawn bowl team will continue with the normal day to day maintenance of the greens. Dennis will be responsible for developing the overall agronomic plans for the greens throughout the year.
With the growing season being extended, due to higher than normal temperatures, the amount of irrigation water applied has been increased. As temperatures normalize, we will closely monitor the moisture content of the greens, in an attempt to reach the drier conditions requested by the committee.