Sunday

Above, I am impressed beyond words on the job being done above the 10th hole, where the dam failed a few years ago. It is really nice to see the progress continue knowing this thing will be not of concern in our lifetime. The homeowner and engineers have really done a great job.

On a sadder note, below continues to be a common occurrence. While it is unrealistic to think all golfers will adhere to our divot policy, I do think we can do better. These perfectly good divots (now wilted and dead) should have been replaced. Instead, the voids are being filled with a pile of sand. I think the sand can indicate to guests that we don't want the divots replaces, rather sanded like Bernudagrass golf courses. However, the sand is a huge component of course care and etiquette.  Replace the divot and lightly topdress the divot to help prevent it from drying out. Your fairways would be so much more playable and nicer is we could get 50% of these folks on board. Considr policing your fellow members and guests in proper course care. Ball marks on greens are also an issue.  However, we tend to have more golfers who fix them improperly which results in a scar worse than not repairing it at all.  We do do have staff that, several days a week, go green to green plugging out improperly repaired marks. With divots, they need to be replaced immediately because once the root zone dries out, it's worthless. Staff is of little assistance with divots. It's up to golfers to take some level of interest in your golf course. The three areas, in my opinion, that you have the ability to impact the course in a major way are: 

1. Always replace your divots (and lightly sprinkle sand over the divot).

2. Fix your ballmarks. A good golfer even repairs one or two more!

3. Use caution in your golf cart!

Don't Drive through wet areas or extreme dry areas (wilt), make quick abrupt turns, drive carelessly on steep slopes, lock up the brakes on wet turf and for your own safety, use common sense and recognize the danger of golf cars and the fact they are not toys. This is really important during weeks like this one: kids camp!  While it's fun to strap the kids to the back of the cart or allow them to stand on the sides, this is seriously dangerous. Golf cars are built for 2 passengers and 2 only. Every year, we read stories in professional magazines where someone is killed due to improper cart use. It's happened locally at other clubs recently.  The story that troubles me the most is one that occurred 5 years ago in Charlotte, NC. A young teenage boy, standing on the bag rack, fell off the cart, hit his head and died. How tragic, not to mention the liability the club faced. Let's not ever let that happen at Highlands CC!  I hope you think of that next time you carry the kids or grandkids around the golf course. It just isn't worth the risk.  In fact, I tell my daughter, who is 11 years old and attends a golf camp or two at other facilities, to refuse to ride on a cart if that is the situation.  Let the instructor know that you will walk back in.  Again, It's not worth the risk. Another story that happened to a close friend- as a superintendent we spend a lot of time at the Club and with that, family time. He set his infant daughter, strapped in a carrier (pops out of the car seat) on the passenger side seat of his maintenance cart. He was going to take her for a ride while his wife ran errands. Somewhere along the way, he forgot she wasn't strapped to the cart.  Taking a turn too fast, the carrier (with baby attached) was thrown from the cart, and it ended with the young baby doing a face plant on the cart path. Imagine hitting a cart path with your head and and not being able to but your arms out to catch yourself!  There were complications from a skull fracture and other injuries but fortunately the child made a full recovery.  And finally, we all know the person who likes to drive the cart with one foot dangling outside of the cart. Well, if you witnessed what I did in the mid 90's, you would never do it again. At Reading CC, (PA) a golfer doing just this, turned the cart and his foot got caught and twisted between the ground and the cart. It quite honestly looked like the most painful thing I ever saw with my own two eyes. His foot was broken in multiple places. There is no telling how many pins and needles and surgeries that were required to allow that fellow to walk again. Or, walk normal.  In short, golf cars are perfectly safe when maintained properly (see Pat or the golf shop staff if you are unsure of the last time your art was serviced- they know what they're doing and will take care of you) and driven according to the manufactures specs and a common sense approach. In the case of golf cars, it's up to you to be safe!

The Highlands CC safety committee meets monthly to discuss/identify potential hazards around the campus as well as have an educational safety topic presented.  Cart safety for staff and members is one that regularly comes up annually.