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
