From Tee to Green

Golf course wear patterns

Golf course turf is extremely sensitive to any type of compaction, and patterns of over use shows up quickly when the weather is hot and dry. Even repeated foot traffic creates worn or bare spots on the turf over time.

Carts are particularly damaging to turf, especially in areas of limited irrigation and where trees compete for the available water. It is really important to help maintain a quality-playing surface by not driving carts in the trees.

With the extreme heat we have had the past few weeks, coupled with only moderate irrigation in the rough and treed areas, we are experiencing very noticeable decline in grass growth in those areas of the golf course.

The board of directors has taken some action to limit cart use in the trees but cannot rope off everything on the golf course, so we ask your cooperation and willingness to keep the carts out of the trees.

The most sensitive areas are on the South Course along the fairways and in the birch trees. Plans are in the works to eventually improve the irrigation into the trees and rough, but currently we need players to refrain from driving in the trees.

The board agreed to allow cart traffic to use the 90-degree rule on the South Course — except for holes 9 and 13 during July and August — as an experiment to see if minimal damage would occur. If the experiment works and players cooperate, it may be possible to adopt a long-term policy that will allow better cart access on the South Course.

However, if the current abuse of cart operations continues, the board may be forced to once again limit carts to paths only for holes 6 to 13 on the South Course.

Early hours for maintenance crew

The Whitefish Lake Golf Course maintenance crew does a great job everyday getting the course ready for play by mowing greens, moving hole location, cutting fairways and rough, keeping the irrigation system operating efficiently while also conducting course improvement projects.

These excellent staff members generally do this work while the rest of us are still asleep dreaming of our next great round of golf. It is the policy of the Whitefish Lake Golf Association to have the employees continue working as long as their mowing, raking, etc. does not interfere with the golfers in the area.

Sometimes that means they may be mowing while golfers are playing, but with 36 holes to maintain, it is necessary to be as efficient as possible. If they stop every time a golf group is in the area, they would have to stop working every eight minutes and could not possibly complete the day's assignments.

If the workers are disturbing your golf game, simply notify the crew members, and they will accommodate your reasonable request. Take the time to thank our green crew staff when you get the opportunity, and let then know you appreciate the great playing conditions we see everyday at Whitefish Lake Golf Club.

Club championship Aug. 12 and 13

The annual club championship will be played on Aug. 12 and 13. Men's and ladies' flights will be formed in senior, regular and junior age groups.

The competition will once again be very heated, with a large group of contenders in each bracket. Last year's Women's Club Champion, Chelsea Ray, is currently competing in the America's Cup Tournament in Arizona, while Sam Krause represents the boys' division in Utah.

In the men's division, expect Carroll Lilly, Steve Gold, Jason Johnstone, Shawn Tucker, Chris Conners, Krause, Derek Denning, Zac Wooten and Tyler Holtet to battle to the finish.

Jenson will try to recapture her previous championship status, along with Karen Jacobson, who has been playing some awesome golf.

Registration will be available in the Golf Shop within the next week.

Holes-in-one

Joe Kerns hit a hole-in-one on the North Course's number six hole with a seven iron.

Jim Brown hit a 173-yard hole-in-one on the South Course's number 15 hole with a six iron.