2015 Golf Course Renovation

It was exciting to be in the audience when the votes were announced in favor of the Copperleaf Vision 2020 project. To be spread out over two years, the entire project involves updating the security building, additional parking at the Clubhouse, expanding the dining room, modernizing the kitchen, resurfacing the tennis and Bocce courts, updating the pool, constructing a fitness center and, of course, renovating the golf course.

An immense amount of work has been completed in the planning stages from both staff and volunteer members and with all neighborhoods passing a favorable vote, putting those plans into action is now underway.

During the summer of 2014, the kitchen, dining room and parking lot modifications will be completed with the remaining projects undertaken during the summer of 2015.

Kipp Schulties, our golf course renovation architect, was thrilled to hear the news of the positive vote and will now begin to draft more detailed drawings to renovate the course using his approved Master Plan. A bid package will be created detailing the scope of work and sent to invited golf construction contractors to bid on the project. Prospective contractors will be interviewed by the Golf Course Construction Committee and a contractor selected toward the end of 2014.

A rendering by Kipp Schulties highlighting the plans to Hole 8

The golf course will be closed next year from April 13 until a projected opening date of October 31, however, for those of you that are year round residents, there will be an extensive Reciprocal list of golf courses for you to play during the renovation period. Jason Miller, our Head Golf Professional, will be reaching out to area Club's to secure an expanded Reciprocal season beginning at our closing date and extending to opening day.

Having previously assisted in the construction of 54 holes of golf including 36 holes at Tiburon Golf Club and 18 holes at Golf Club of the Everglades here in Naples; I am prepared to once again assist in a successful renovation at Copperleaf. Our Assistant Superintendent, Riaan Potgieter has also assisted in the grassing of 36 holes of golf including 18 holes at Stone Bridge Golf Club and 18 holes at Vasari Golf Club. We have an excellent team in place to ensure a successful project and hope that Mother Nature will be on our side during the summer of 2015.

Our team of employees are excited about the proposed changes to the course

The bulk of the renovation work will revolve around the greens complexes as many of them are being slightly relocated and elevated to not only improve playability, but to also improve drainage. At present time our greens are constructed too low and this has a negative impact on water infiltration and oxygen exchange within the soil, in particularly during heavy rain events and high water levels in our lakes during the summer. As the greens are reconstructed, Kipp will provide some improved, yet subtle, movement to the putting surface for all members to enjoy.

Ground Penetrating Radar was used to evaluate the drainage on our greens. In this image of Hole 16, over half of the greens drainage system was under water and simply not draining.

After heavy rain events, rain water pools on our greens surfaces, as seen here on Hole 5. 

Other improvements planned for the renovation include the rebuilding of any remaining bunkers as well as the addition of new bunkers in strategic locations. All cart paths will be over-laid with new asphalt with several locations being modified to improve playability. Rock walls will be constructed on Holes 2, 6, 15 and 18 as well as modifications to the existing walls at the Putting Green and Hole 11 to enlarge the play areas. All Coquina Waste Bunkers will be eliminated and asphalt installed in its place. All tees will be leveled and widened where appropriate to maximize the playing area and several tees will also be aligned with the fairway to improve playability. Finally, all turfgrass on the fairways and roughs will be replaced with Celebration Bermudagrass to provide a consistent and uniform playing surface.

Some exciting changes to the golf course will involve the modification to several lakes. Hole 5 will have the lake extended considerably toward the tee complex; Hole 7 will have the two lakes connected to the left side of the fairway; Hole 9 will have the lake on the left extended partially toward the fairway and Hole 16 will have the lake extended toward the Blue tee. Beside the aesthetic improvement to the course, the soil generated from these sites will be used to elevate the greens and improve the greens surrounds.

The connection of the two lakes on Hole 7 will be one of the major changes to the course

To prepare the course for the renovation, all  turfgrass on the tees, fairways and rough will have Round Up applied to it during the week of March 16. Within 7 days, the grass will begin to turn off color as it begins to die. A second application will be made during the week of March 30 to ensure the successful elimination of the original turf. The Round Up will be applied in the early morning hours and will not be applied any where near existing plant material on the golf course or residents gardens. Appropriate nozzles and surfactants will be utilized to eliminate any drift potential.

This image, taken by the USGA at another Florida course is an example of what Copperleaf will look like toward the end of March, 2015

The Greens will not have Round Up applied to them as they are going to be completely excavated during the renovation. They will remain green until April 12.

Putting Greens will remain green and healthy leading up to the renovation

Without question, visually, the golf course will look different during this turfgrass elimination process; however, it will play very well with additional ball roll on the fairways and an overall different golfing experience.

However, for those of you planning vacations or renting your homes during the last weeks of March, please know that the golf course will be different; so please plan accordingly and educate any guests or renters ahead of time.

The actual construction of the golf course will take between 100 to 120 days; and the establishment, or "grow-in" of the turfgrass a further 100 to 120 days; depending on weather. These final 3 months are critical to be able to strengthen the grass before play commences and the cool weather returns. Expect the greens to be extremely firm and a little slower than you have been used to for the first 6 to 9 months of play or at least until they have gone through a summer of growth. It will be a priority to protect the turfgrass above all else while it matures and becomes fully established.

I am personally looking forward to the project and making the improvements to an already enjoyable golf course. With the upgrading of the other amenities over the next 2 years; Copperleaf will continue to be a premier Community within SW Florida and a place that you will proudly call "home". If you have any questions about the project, please do not hesitate to contact me at davidd@copperleafgc.com at any time.

2014 Summer Closures

As the summer heat and humidity begin to return to Copperleaf, many of you will be heading North or planning your summer vacations. As you make those plans, I wanted to remind you of the scheduled course closures for this year.

Beginning May 14, the course will be closed each Wednesday through to the end of September. Many smaller projects are completed on these days without the need to prepare the golf course for play or impacting golfers. These projects include spiking, verti-cutting and sanding greens and other cultural practices including aerification of tees and roughs as well as golf course enhancements and detail work.




Hole 1 Green before aerification (morning)




Hole 1 during aerification (midday)

During July and August, the course will be closed for 10 consecutive days each month. During this time, the greens are aggressively aerified to remove organic material and dilute the soil profile with new sand. All fairways are verti-cut and aerified to remove thatch thus providing a high quality surface to play from.


This amount of time not only allows for the work to be completed but importantly, allows time for recovery. When the course opens for play, it is in excellent condition for our full-time residents and reciprocal players.




Hole 1 Green after aerification (afternoon)

  

September also has a 3 day consecutive closure allowing for end of summer fertilizing and top-dressing of fairways. Applying sand to the fairways is a relatively new practice at Copperleaf and provides improved ball roll, improved drainage and superior turf conditions.

Verti-Cutting of Fairways

  


Aerification of Fairways

The end result of these closures is a course that has received the necessary remediation after a busy golfing season. The impact of over 43,000 rounds of golf and golf cart traffic has a dramatic impact on the ability to provide quality playing conditions.

 

Aerifying Approaches

Soil compaction that inhibits water, nutrient and root penetration; organic material build up that prevents fertilizer uptake, promotes turf diseases and provides "spongy" conditions and year round turf growth require aggressive cultural practices.

Fortunately, Copperleaf has an extensive Reciprocal Golf Course list that allows our Members to play at local area golf courses at discounted rates during these course closures and the summer months. For an up-to-date list, please visit the Pro Shop.

If you are planning trips either to or from Copperleaf this summer, please be aware of our course closing schedule and plan accordingly.

In summary, the course will be closed on the following dates:

Each Wednesday beginning May 14 ending September 25

July 8 - 17

August 12 - 21

September 16 - 18

Posted by David Dore-Smith

Director of Golf Course and Grounds Maintenance

Copperleaf Golf Club

Location:Copperleaf Golf Club





Golf Course Etiquette

As the summer rains and cultural practices become a distant memory and the Northern golfers descend on the green grass of Copperleaf; it is important to be reminded to follow some basic golf course etiquette routines.

The Practice Tee is one of the first amenities that any golfer at Copperleaf utilizes. The large tee and peninsula of target greens allows all golfers to hone their skills and get accustom to the playability of the Bermuda grass. However, without proper etiquette, the Practice Tee can quickly become an eyesore as it is peppered with divots. With a little education, golfers can utilize the practice tee as desired and help to preserve the turf quality at the same time. Rather than hitting your practice ball in random locations; please utilize a single strip of grass, from front to back. If more shots are required, move over 3 inches and create a new strip. This method of practicing will greatly reduce the amount of top-dressing material needed to repair the divots, increase the recovery time of the turf and provide a superior practice area for all to enjoy.

The image above shows the correct way to take practice divots and damage caused
by 25 divots used in random selection

The scattered divots shown here will take an extended period of time, as well as additional sand, to recover

The use of the 90 degree rule is enforced on a daily basis at Copperleaf. For those of you unfamiliar with the concept; the 90 degree rule simply encourages golfers to drive as far as possible along the cart path before entering onto the turf to play their next shot. This protocol helps to protect the turf quality at the beginning of the rough and fairway. The compaction to the soil created by literally thousands of golf carts traveling over the same area is quite extraordinary and to expect turf grass to thrive under those conditions is unrealistic. Water, nutrients and roots simply cannot penetrate into the soil and unsightly, damaged turf is the result. To help encourage golfers to continue along the cart path, Copperleaf utilizes small green and white stakes to help direct traffic. However, there are still many instances where golfers fail to comply with the 90 degree rule.

In this example, a golfer has driven on the tee slope to enter the fairway rather than utilizing the 90 degree rule

To improve turf quality, it is beneficial for golfers to scatter as they enter and exit the fairways to improve turf health. Try not to follow a golf cart in front of you or the dew patterns of prior golfers. Also, please keep golf carts in the fairway as much as possible in southwest Florida during the winter months. The Bermuda grass rough simply cannot grow and recover in the cool weather from the cart traffic and provide the contrast desired by the different heights of cut.

The damage to the turf is evident in this area after 250 golfers played the course the previous day.

When traveling along the cart paths on your golf cart, it is critical to remember to keep all four wheels on the path at all times. This is particularly important around tee and green complexes. Many golfers deem it necessary to park their carts with two wheels on the turf grass as they walk onto the tees and greens. Once again, this constant compaction of the soil is extremely detrimental to healthy turf grass and ultimately results in an unsightly appearance.

The turf on this tee walk up has been damaged by golf carts constantly putting two wheels onto the turf

 With the amount of play that this course receives, ball marks are always a talking point amongst our golfers. It is critical, for the golfers behind you, that all ball marks be repaired. It is important to remember that on the Bermuda grass greens, found here in southwest Florida, that ball marks be repaired by twisting the turf from the outside in. Once the depression has been filled, use the bottom of your putter to smooth the turf to a level that "you" would be satisfied to putt over.

Ball marks on Bermuda grass greens need to be repaired by twisting the turf from the outside in. Do not lift up!

 Although bunkers are considered a hazard in the rules of golf; it is only fair that all golfers have the chance to play from them in a equal fashion. If you are unfortunate to have to play from a bunker, please rake the sand in a suitable fashion that you do not penalize players behind you. As with ball marks on greens, leave the bunkers in a condition that you would be satisfied to play from. At Copperleaf, the rakes are left in the bunkers with the end of the handle resting on the edge of the turf grass for an easy reach.

Rakes are positioned in the bunker toward the fairway

With help from the golfers of Copperleaf and the hard work of our Maintenance staff, the upcoming golfing season should be an enjoyable one for all. We look forward to seeing you out on the course and practicing good "etiquette".