Odds and Ends

Last night and today we received a total of 0.6 inches of rain.  It looks like a couple great days ahead and we'll make the most of them.  

Below, you can see an advertisement High Hampton is using to build their staff.  The competition in the area for the same people in the same labor pool is getting more intense every year.  High Hampton and others have relied heavily on social media marketing to get the word out about the benefits they are offering staff.  Western Carolina University is a huge source of labor for those Clubs in the Cashiers area.  Rarely do these students make it to Highlands because of the distance and fact they would pass a dozen potential employers before they even arrived at Highlands town limits.

Club Survey

Below, several of the comments in the Club Survey criticized the noise we make in the morning.  This impacts those residing in the Fairway Villas the most, when we blow off walkways and parking areas before any members, guests or vehicles limit our access.  I can totally appreciate this and it's something I have been looking for an alternative.  Fortunately, the technology has really come a long way in regards to battery powered tools.  This week, I purchased an electric Stihl brand backpack blower that will be used for this purpose only.  I believe this will eliminate the concern over early morning noise.

And speaking of the Club survey, if there was one area on the golf course that drew some minor criticism, it was bunkers.  However, none of the comments were specific.  My team wants to do whatever will enhance the experience on the golf course.  In order to do that, we need to know where we are coming up short.  Bunkers are a very subjective feature to say the least.  Our bunkers are difficult to play from for a number of reasons.  First, they are all disconnected from the green, except for #2 and #14.  This is a tremendous challenge because of the distance required to carry that yardage (think of #3)!  Others have incredibly steep faces like #16.  When it comes to the playability of the sand itself, a lot of rain will compact them and make them very firm (traditional Highlands issue).  When it is dry, they get soft and dusty.  This winter, we are renovating all of the bunkers on the golf course, down to the drainage and liner.  This means all new sand will replace the previous bunker sand.  This coming season, please don't hesitate to drop me a note about your thoughts.  By getting specific information, we are better able to enhance the golfer experience!  We want to hear from you!