Course Plans for 2024
Dear Habitat and Spessard Holland golfers:
As most of you know, Spessard Holland is closing May 1st, 2024, for renovations to the greens and some tee boxes. It is my goal that the course will re-open the weekend of July 4th. As of now, we are on schedule for that to happen.
You may be wondering what changes will be made at Spessard Holland during the closure. Concerning the greens, we will be installing new drainage, new soil, and laying down sod so we can meet our time frame. If we were to sprig the greens, the course could potentially be closed for 5 months. We decided that was not going to work for us, so sod was the best option for us to meet our deadline to re-open.
Greens have a life expectancy before they get contaminated with mutations that effect playability, with this renovation you can expect a much better playing surface and bring the golf course back to its original Arnold Palmer design. This will also include enlarging some areas to the original design including drainage. This renovation is long overdue and will be enjoyed for many years to come.
I was able to go to The Masters on Monday of this week and it is truly an incredible place to say the least. On the way back from Augusta Steve Lamontagne, who is now our Director of Instruction, and I stopped by Pike Creek Sod Farm just outside of Tifton, GA to look at the sod. It is hard for me to describe in words, but it looks absolutely incredible. When the sod is delivered it will be at ¼ inch height of cut. Right now you could putt on the grass with no issues. When they deliver and we lay the sod down it will be ready to play, but the process is roll, top dress, sand, water, and fertilize the heck out of it. So, the three to four weeks of grow in will allow the roots to dig into new dirt and give us an amazing putting surface.
Before we start the process, we are going to spray chemicals on the green to kill the top layer of grass to eliminate as much of the existing contamination as possible. All new green renovations do this, so not something new. The first application will start this Sunday April 14th, weather permitting, at 4:00 pm. Please do not go on to the greens as the chemical must dry for at least two hours. The spraying is safe to walk on after it is dry. We put a green dye in the water so we can see where the chemical is sprayed. Staff will be out to make sure no one walks on them. The greens will brown out and become very fast over the next three weeks. Approximately two weeks later we will do the same thing to ensure we don’t miss anything. I know it will be some inconvenience but if we want to have great greens over the next 20 years it is an absolute must. The greens the way they are now are only going to get worse.
Last thing to remind all of our golfers is that the weather has been extreme over the past 3 plus months. Rain in January and then dry, windy, and no rain to speak of. The wind is our biggest deterrent. This time of year the growing season is slow as cooler temperatures make it tough. The Habitat is limited to 33 million gallons of ground water to fill the lakes. The rest comes from rainwater that runs into the lakes and our max level of water pumped onto the course in one year is 74 million gallons total. Spessard Holland receives water for Melbourne Beach utilities, which is plenty of water but also very high in chlorine. I am asking everyone to please stay on the cart paths around the tees and greens and try to drive 90 degrees from the rough to the fairway when possible.
Next week I will also be doing a video to explain things but I am trying to get everyone that does not watch my riveting videos prepared for the renovations. Please call The Habitat Pro Shop for tee times for May and June or stop by and check out all the work we are doing at Spessard.
In closing, this is an important undertaking for the future of Spessard Holland. The staff and I want to thank each and every one of you for your continued support. The two courses can’t survive without you! If you have any questions or thoughts please stop by. I am always happy to talk.
The Habitat will close April 22-23-24 for aerification, we are doing this early because of the closure of Spessard Holland. The next aerification at Habitat will wait until mid-July.
Thanks again for your patience as we transform Spessard Holland for generations to come.
Sincerely,
Mike Yurigan
An Announcement from Golf Brevard
Golf Brevard General Manager & Director of Golf Mike Yurigan is back with an exciting announcement for the future of The Habitat and Spessard Holland! Click below to watch now!
Subscribe to our YouTube Channel!
Did you know that Golf Brevard has a YouTube channel with new videos posted monthly? Well now you do! Click the photo below now to visit us on YouTube and hit subscribe to stay up to date on the latest happenings at The Habitat and Spessard Holland!
A Note from Mike Yurigan
Hello fellow golfers,
Just a few updates regarding The Habitat and Spessard Holland golf courses. In September and October we had 16 days with rain to end and start the month. October first was the only day we had to close the entire day, that day we had almost three inches. This was the first day all year I can remember we had to shut down both courses. Unfortunately we need rain again as we are going on almost three weeks without a drop.
Now that the weather has changed some, dry air and low humidity, the ground dries out quickly. Spessard Holland is extremely dry right now and we have a leak in the ¾ hydraulic line we can’t find so watering has been difficult. I am asking everyone who plays if you see a spot somewhere on the course that looks like a small bubble coming out of the ground to please let the golf shop know. The leak could be anywhere, we think it’s by the wet area on #17. The reason it’s so important is the system can run but the hydraulic pump can burn up.
At Spessard, this week we are going to overseed specific tee boxes and the middle of the 18th fairway. The rye grass will take about 10 days to germinate so please try and avoid those areas until we take the ropes down. During the grow in we will be watering to help keep the seed moist so we can get a good germination so the tees will look great. At Habitat we will also do a few tee boxes to help through the winter. Next summer Habitat will also do a few tee boxes that will be completely stripped, leveled and regrassed. Over the many years the tee boxes have been top dressed with greens grade sand and not enough organic material. The tees that struggle have a deep sand layer and nematodes that eat the roots and literally live inside the root, they are microscopic. They are a huge pain, so if we can add a better base we can help control the little pesky things, which means better turf.
Finally,
A few golfers have heard that Spessard will be closing for six months next summer. I just wanted to let everyone know that the greens renovation will start May 1st and finish up on or before July 1st, 2024, two months only. We will also be doing a few tee box renovations during this time. I know a lot of you don’t see the videos that we put out so I felt I needed to send this out for everyone. We have a lot planned to do at Spessard and I think you will be very pleased with the work.
Habitat during the Spessard renovations will do a double tee start May and June of 2024. This will allow us to have tee times starting on the front nine and back nine at 7:30 to 9:20. Then tee times will start back up at 11:40 to approximately 1:30. This will give us the ability to get 128 or so off in the morning and 128 in the afternoon wave. Many courses do this every day of the week to try and get more golfers on the course. The biggest thing is we need to play in the 2 hour window so the golfers who make the turn can have the tee open. After 3:00 pm the first tee will open depending on the amount of play. If you have any questions please stop by the pro shop at Habitat and the staff can explain. This will only be for the two months during shut down at Spessard.
Thank you for helping save The Habitat and Spessard Holland golf courses, your support over the past 5 years is greatly appreciated. We will continue to improve and do our very best to make your golf more enjoyable.
Thank you again for your support, and all the staff at both courses!
Sincerely.
Mike Yurigan
General Manager/Director of Golf
Golf Brevard Inc.
November Rates
Spessard Holland
Standard Rate
18 Holes Riding | Open - 11am | 43.75
18 Holes Riding | 11am - 1pm | 38.75
18 Holes Riding | 1pm - Close | 30.75
18 Holes Walking | Open - 11am | 38.75
18 Holes Walking | 11am - 1pm | 33.75
18 Holes Walking | 1pm - Close | 25.75
9 Holes Riding | Open - 11am | 33.75
9 Holes Riding | 11am - 2pm | 31.75
9 Holes Riding | 2pm - Close | 28.75
9 Holes Walking | Open - 11am | 28.75
9 Holes Walking | 11am - 2pm | 26.75
9 Holes Walking | 2pm - Close | 24.75
Loyalty Rate
18 Holes Riding | Open - 11am | 36.75
18 Holes Riding | 11am - 1pm | 30.75
18 Holes Riding | 1pm - Close | 25.75
18 Holes Walking | Open - 11am | 31.75
18 Holes Walking | 11am - 1pm | 26.75
18 Holes Walking | 1pm - Close | 21.75
9 Holes Riding | Open - 11am | 27.75
9 Holes Riding | 11am - 2pm | 25.75
9 Holes Riding | 2pm - Close | 23.75
9 Holes Walking | Open - 11am | 23.75
9 Holes Walking | 11am - 2pm | 21.75
9 Holes Walking | 2pm - Close | 21.75
The Habitat
Standard Rate
18 Holes Riding | Open - 11am | 45.75
18 Holes Riding | 11am - 1pm | 40.75
18 Holes Riding | 1pm - Close | 32.75
18 Holes Walking | Open - 11am | 40.75
18 Holes Walking | 11am - 1pm | 35.75
18 Holes Walking | 1pm - Close | 27.75
9 Holes Riding | 2pm - Close | 30.75
9 Holes Walking | 2pm - Close | 24.75
Loyalty Rate
18 Holes Riding | Open - 11am | 38.75
18 Holes Riding | 11am - 1pm | 32.75
18 Holes Riding | 1pm - Close | 27.75
18 Holes Walking | Open - 11am | 33.75
18 Holes Walking | 11am - 1pm | 28.75
18 Holes Walking | 1pm - Close | 23.75
9 Holes Riding | 2pm - Close | 23.75
9 Holes Walking | 2pm - Close | 23.75
Summer Rates
Summer is here at Golf Brevard and with higher temperatures comes the sweet relief of lower prices for the same great golf. View our Summer Rates for Spessard Holland and The Habitat below and click the images to book your next round now!
A Note from Mike Yurigan
Dear Golfers, the Habitat will be closed for Aerification on May 15th, 16th and 17th. On Monday and Tuesday we will aerify the greens, tee boxes, and fairways. In addition we will be vertictutting the fairways and tee boxes. On Tuesday the irrigation company is returning to finish up a few odds and ends and on Wednesday after the dew is dry we will do a Chipco Choice application for mole crickets.
During the week prior our new pump station will be installed and the wet well and intake pipe will be sleeved. At the end of all this it is my hope that we can move forward and do other projects to help the course to become even more beautiful, though I believe it is currently looking and playing fantastic.
We are going to be very aggressive with the tee boxes, so you might find over the summer your favorite tee box closed for a few weeks for improvements. The clubhouse is being painted as I write this note to all of you at The Habitat. Hope you like the color!
Spessard Holland will be closed on May 30th and 31st for similar Aerification procedures. The golf course bathrooms at both courses are being completely overhauled with new fixtures and paint. The shelters at The Habitat are also on our refurbishment schedule and we hope to have them completed by the end of the summer.
Most of you have asked me why we have focused so much of our efforts on The Habitat. The simple answer is the infrastructure of the course was in a much worse state than that of Spessard Holland. The other major obstacle is The Habitat is double in size by acreage and, though we have been able to hire some great new faces, staffing continues to be an issue.
With all that said I would like to say a big thank you to the entire staff and maintenance crew at The Habitat led by Jamie Baker who has gone above and beyond the norm. I am greatly appreciative of their efforts. Dan Loveridge and his crew has done a wonderful job with all the issues that the ocean breeze and salt intrusion brings at Spessard Holland! We will be focusing our efforts on Spessard Holland this summer and are hoping to move forward towards our new greens in the Summer of 2024. I will keep you posted on the progress there!
The Aerification rates will be honored for the 7 days after we aerify. That is $19.91 at The Habitat and $19.77 at Spessard Holland for 9 holes or 18 holes. If you have any questions please call the Pro Shops for details. Our Summer Rates will begin on May 1st and continue through May, June, July, and August.
Finally, a huge THANK YOU to each and every one of you that plays at The Habitat and Spessard Holland. It is my wish that when you come out to play, hit range balls, take a golf lesson, or just to have a hot dog and a Coke, that you enjoy your time with family and friends. Know that we value your choice to spend your time at The Habitat and Spessard Holland.
I will continue to provide updates with a few more videos on when our next projects will commence at both courses. For me personally, coming up on 5 years with Golf Brevard and reflecting on the task that was in front of us back in the summer of 2018, it has been worth every minute. To the golfers who play, the staff and all the Board members who have helped support the nonprofit, thank you a million times over!
Callaway Demo Day
Don't forget! Our Demo Day with Callaway Golf is April 4th from 10:00am - 3:00pm! Come out and try the full lineup of the Paradym family, Jaws Wedges, and maybe even pick up an Odyssey putter while you're at it!
New Tee Sheet & Members Portal
On Wednesday February 1st, Golf Brevard will launch a new online Tee Sheet system. While there will be little change to how you book your Tee Times at Spessard Holland and The Habitat, there are a few features and policy updates we would like to make you aware of.
Members Portal & Exclusive Tee Sheet
Members will now be able to book according to their membership level. By creating an online profile we will now be able to guarantee that you receive the priority Tee Times included with your membership.
Gold Members | 14 Days in Advance
Annual Members | 14 Days in Advance
Loyalty Members | 10 Days in Advance
Non-Members | 7 Days in Advance
This will also give you access to our brand new online members portal where you can stay up to date on everything happening at Spessard Holland and The Habitat.
To gain access to these members only features, simply fill out the form linked below to request access.
*Please note that these features are only available to golfers with active memberships.
Non-Member Tee Times
At the heart of Golf Brevard is a commitment to public golf and the preservation of public golf along the Space Coast. Because of the overwhelming support from you and the thousands of golfers that play Spessard Holland and The Habitat every year, we have been able to make tremendous strides in improving the playing conditions at both courses. To best ensure that all golfers who wish to play have the most enjoyable day possible there are a few changes we must make to how tee times are booked.
Non-Member Tee Times are Available on a first come, first serve basis 7 days in advance.
Those wishing to book further in advance can access Tee Times 10 days in advance by becoming a Loyalty Member.
Tee Times booked online must be paid in full at the time of booking.
All taxes are included in the price listed at time of booking.
Tee Times are only available to groups of at least 3 golfers.
Groups with less than 3 golfers may contact the Pro Shop for information on potential availability.
Tee Times may be cancelled up to 24 hours in advance.
Full refunds are available to golfers who cancel up to 24 hours in advance of their Tee Time. Golfers who cancel after the 24 hour window may contact the Pro Shop to cancel their Tee Time.
*If you already have a Tee Time booked, your current Tee Time will not be changed.
New Toro Irrigation Coming to The Habitat.
We are thrilled to announce the next major project coming to The Habitat Golf Course. Click the video below to hear all the details of our forthcoming project.
Folds of Honor 2022
Thanks to the outstanding support from our players, volunteers, sponsors, staff we were able to raise over $50,000 for Folds of Honor from our annual tournament at Spessard Holland Golf Course. Click below to see more from a wonderful day for a wonderful cause.
Introducing Our Online Learning Portal
We are excited to announce that Golf Brevard has hired a familiar face to serve as our Director of Golf Instruction. Those that spend the majority of their time inland at The Habitat may already know that Gary Evans has transitioned from his role as General Manager of The Habitat Golf Course to his new role as Director of Golf Instruction for Golf Brevard. While Gary will still be integral to the operation of The Habitat, this transition will allow him to follow his passion for teaching and sharing his knowledge of the game to golfers new and old. We will have more information to share in the coming months, including the development and expansion of our Junior Programs at both Spessard Holland and The Habitat, but for now we would like to introduce you to our new Instruction page. This is a perfect page for anyone who is passionate about the game to bookmark as it will be filled with helpful tips for your game, announcements on clinics and demo days, and periodic check-ins from Gary himself. Click the photo or button below now to see the beginning of this project and stay tuned for much more in the future!
Golf Brevard Signs 10 Year Contract
We are thrilled to announce that Golf Brevard has reached an agreement with Brevard County to remain the stewards of Spessard Holland Golf Course and The Habitat Golf Course for the next ten years. Golf Brevard General Manager & Director of Golf Mike Yurigan sat down with Golf Brevard Chairman Steve Proctor to discuss what this means for Golf Brevard moving forward. Click below to watch now and make sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel while you’re there to stay up to date on that latest news from Spessard Holland and The Habitat.
September is Player’s Appreciation Month
As a thank you to our loyal golfers, the month of September is officially Player’s Appreciation Month at Spessard Holland and The Habitat! That means all tee times at The Habitat are just $19.91 and all tee times at Spessard Holland are just $19.77. Thank you to all of our loyal golfers for your continued support of Golf Brevard. We’ll see you on the course!
Thank you Mr. Wine!
It was with great pleasure that Carlton Wine presented Golf Brevard with a check for $500.00 toward our Tee box renovation project. We are building a great coalition of family and friends here at Golf Brevard that will pave the way for success down the road.