Golf course improvements

By PATSY STODDARD Editor

The Millsite golf course advisory board met on Nov. 18 to discuss the course and its current status. Mayor Jackson said money is always a tough go at the golf course. The board is looking for ways to promote the course and to make the course more playable. The goal of the board is to help the course be successful as well as profitable. The golf course has improved a lot through the years and continues to improve as the back nine fills in.
The board sees using volunteer labor as a way to improve the golf course even more. The board can make decisions on the golf course as long as no money is involved in carrying out projects. If money is required then the board recommendations must be approved through the Ferron City Council. The board complimented the crews at Millsite for keeping the course in good condition. To date the golf course has spent 44.5 percent of its annual budget. This is an encouraging sign. The budget year runs to June 30, 2015.
The greens this year have been exceptionally good and smooth rolling. Problem trees have been removed from the course. Leonard said, “The tournaments were pretty good.”
One concern for the board is now things are starting to look up, the raising of the Millsite dam project is upcoming. The project is expected to be bid in spring/summer 2015 with dirt work beginning as soon as next fall. Eric Luke said he has talked to the engineer of the project and requested the remediation work be done up front so play can continue on the front nine of the golf course throughout the dam project. One problem will be getting to certain holes when the spillway is reconstructed. Unless a way is found for the carts to get to the lower holes, play may only be available on holes one, eight and nine. Hole three is totally gone and the spillway project impacts hole two. The hill between holes three and four will be used for fill dirt.
Hole four may be playable if you can find a path around the spillway project. Taking carts down the road would be a safety issue, but with the reservoir being drawn down low for the dam project a cart path might be able to be constructed to get to hole two in that area.
It was mentioned any time the dam project is discussed the scope of the project changes. So Mayor Jackson suggested to members that any improvements for the next while, until the dam project is completed, be on the back nine.
It was suggested to apply more fertilizer to the course next year and to the greens once a month. Vertical mowing was also worked into the golf course maintenance program this season. This is a mechanical process to remove excess thatch, reduce turf canopy density and extract organic material from the turf region at or below the plant crown area. Verticutting isn’t aeration, and it isn’t grooming. This type of mowing will be used at least once a month next season. It was suggested the course be watered for 10-15 minutes each hole, sometime during the day to prevent the course from drying out. A recommendation was made to remove trees back 10-15 feet from the fairway on hole 15.
This fairway is narrow and even balls hit well have a tendency to roll four-five feet off the fairway into the trees. A volunteer group can come and mark trees for removal and help in this process. Then the cleared area can be leveled and seeded in the future. Top soil would need to be added to these cleared areas. Some of these projects can be worked on throughout the winter. Hole 14 is one of the most difficult on the course and it was recommended some trees be removed along there as well.
Volunteers will concentrate on improving one hole at a time. Ideas for fund raisers for the golf course were discussed and will be implemented next season. Golfers from Carbon County will be included with the fundraiser too, to bring them across county lines to Millsite more often. Cost of play was discussed along with golf pass fees and cart fees. The course committee will do a walk through of the course to determine what improvements can be implemented right away and to determine future projects.
This fall cow manure has been spread across the entire course. Top seeding after the manure has worked its way in was also suggested. Luke suggested the course be aerated twice each year and the greens sanded. It was suggested the recreation department purchase a top dresser which can be pulled behind a tractor or four wheeler, this could be used to smooth and level ball fields as well as the sand traps at the golf course. It could be used throughout the county.
Committee members include: Mayor Trent Jackson, Moge Cologie, Shannon Hiatt, Eric Luke, Jordan Leonard-golf pro, Ryan Winn, course superintendent and Patsy Stoddard and other members not in attendance include Kent Wilson, Randy Magnuson, Garrett Hansen and Gary Denhalter.
Millsite Golf Course is offering golf passes for 2015 for $250 if purchased by Dec. 31. Prices will go up after the first of the year.
Golf passes make great Christmas gifts. Contact Millsite Golf Course at 384-2887 or Jordan Leonard at 435-749-9069 to secure your pass for next year.