What to Expect From Poppy Hills– Post Renovation
We need your help! T
he time has come for the highly anticipated opening of the newly renovated
Poppy Hills. As an NCGA member, it must be exciting to see the changes implemented by Robert Trent Jones II Golf Course Architects and Poppy Hills superintendents Manny Sousa and Matt Muhlenbruch. Poppy Hills replaced and
redesigned all putting greens, sand capped the course to im- prove drainage and completely renovated and relocated bun- kers. Greens are considered the most important feature of a golf course and are at the heart of most renovation proj- ects. As a rule of thumb, new greens can take two to three years to fully mature after ini- tial seeding. The maturation process depends on a variety of factors, particularly weather, turfgrass species, construc-
tion process and the growing environment. Players will likely en-
counter firmer surfaces after opening, and superintendents generally manage new putting surfaces conservatively (raised mowing heights, reduced roll- ing) in the first few years as these surfaces can deteriorate due to maintenance stress and weather-related circumstances. The superintendent’s
ultimate goal is to ensure the long-term health of the green while providing a quality play- ing surface. This protects the investment of the members or owners. If taken care of properly, putting greens can typically last between 15-30 years. Over the past 20 years,
fairway renovations have become more commonplace as facilities endeavor to save
water, reduce disease and improve. The entire course at Poppy Hills was capped with five inches of sand and hydro- seeded, which will increase drainage and allow the roots to penetrate deeper, in turn allow- ing the golf course to use much less water. From a playability standpoint, golfers will notice that the new sand-capped fair- ways will provide firmer and faster conditions over time. As with greens, superintendents will treat newly seeded fairways with extra caution. When renovating bun-
kers, facilities are usually aiming to improve drainage, lower maintenance costs and improve visual aesthetics. As a player, you will most certainly notice the visual changes. You will also notice the quality and playability of the bunker sand. It will take six to 12 months
before the sand firms up to optimal playing conditions. Post renovation upkeep
is not only the responsibility of the superintendent and his crew, but also a responsibility of the player. You can do your part—whether it’s at Poppy Hills or any of the exceptional Northern California facilities that have made changes— by making sure to repair ball marks and other marks as time allows, replace divots with sand and seed, properly rake bunkers and follow the rules and regulations established by the golf course superintendent. On behalf of the GCSANC,
congratulations to the NCGA, Robert Trent Jones II Golf Course Architects and the entire Poppy Hills staff on this incredible transformation. It is good to have you back.
Golf Course Superintendents
By Jeff Jensen, Southwest regional representative of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America
For more information, visit
gcsanc.com or follow us on Twitter @GCSANC. 44 /
NCGA.ORG / SPRING 2014
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