Divot Mix

I do not believe in forcing a run-up shot in preference to a pitch in every case. But, when one goes to the trouble of placing a bunker across the left side of the green in order to force the tee shot toward the right side of the fairway, why destroy its effect by soaking the green so that any sort of pitch over the bunker will hold? -- Bobby Jones

November Green Links features watershed project

What can your local watershed group do for you?  In this month's Green Links from EDGE, Noah Jenkins of the Johnson Creek Watershed Council, and Steve Hoiland, GCSAA Class A member at Eastmoreland (Ore.) Golf Course, explain how a collaborative of the golf course, the watershed group, and other local groups improved wildlife habitat in their community. 

Green Links is hosted by David Phipps, GCSAA Class A superintendent at Stone Creek Golf Club, Ore. Phipps said, "In my opinion it is one of Portland’s greatest environmental success stories. By working with so many groups to achieve this success, Steve Hoiland and Eastmoreland Golf Course convinced many who would normally condemn golf courses to now believe that golf courses can be part of the solution and not the problem."

About the project, Hoiland said, "I believe that the projects have a positive impact on the streams. We have seen results by witnessing salmon spawning in the restored areas and we have observed an increase in many different types of wildlife. If you subscribe to the "If you build it, they will come" theory, then it has been a tremendous success. We are looking forward to many more projects with Johnson Creek Watershed Council. I still have ideas for improvements and will be looking for partners to help us reach our goals. While we do let the golfers play the course, the natural areas belong to all the creatures that inhabit it. We provide both golf and habitat in beautiful downtown Portland."

Rules of Golf changes for 2008 announced

Beginning in 2008, a golfer will be allowed to lift a ball for identification in a bunker or water hazard.  However, there now will be a two-stroke penalty for playing a wrong ball from a hazard. In match play, the penalty will be loss of hole.

These notable changes to Rules 12-2 and 15-3, which have been under consideration for several years, are among the amendments to the Rules of Golf agreed upon by the USGA and R&A Rules Limited that will be in effect starting Jan. 1, 2008. For a complete explanation of all the changes, click here.

GCBAA expands Sticks for Kids

The Golf Course Builders Association of America Foundation has signed a partnership agreement with the National Recreation and Parks Association to bring its Sticks For Kids Program to local park and recreation agencies belonging to NRPA.

According to GCBAA, 100 new programs were launched Feb. 1, 2007, covering 39 states and two international military bases. The new agreement includes a minimum of an additional 100 programs for 2008 and 2009 or a minimum of 300 programs by 2009.

The program consists of:

• 10 sets of golf clubs and bags
• Lesson plan
• Skill cards
• Marketing tools ( press releases, posters, decals, certificates of participation, stickers )

     
By taking children from the classroom to the practice areas and the golf course, the program teaches safety, etiquette, rules of golf, and integrity--all of which are excellent life skills--as well as the game of golf.

The skill cards include; grip, stance, swing, club selection, hill lies, sand shots, short swings, pitch shots, playing from the rough, putting, chip shots, and reading greens.
The program is year round and the clubs are left at the course for use by those who attend program.

NRPA affiliated courses interested in applying contact NRPA, www.nrpa.org, 703-858-0784 or GCBAA at 402-476-4444.