THE MAPLE RIDGE MESSENGER

The Official Newsletter of Maple Ridge Golf Club, Columbus, Ga.

SEPTEMBER 1, 2009 EDITION

CHANGE IN OVER SEED STRATEGY THIS FALL / WINTER!!! …

Tom Kubik, General Manager; Mike Gill, Director of Golf; Gene Matthews, Head Golf Professional; Doug Smith, Certified Golf Course Superintendent

For several years, our USGA Consultant, Pat O’Brian, has recommended that we discontinue our practice of over seeding the greens for winter play. We have resisted the industry trend for two main reasons: 1) We have traditionally over seeded; 2) We were concerned that because of the number of rounds played that our putting surfaces would become bumpy and unplayable during the winter months. There has been an ongoing debate among our management for the past five years and this year we have decided that we will conduct an experiment and not over seed the greens.

There are several factors that support this decision: 1) Better playing conditions through the fall since there will be no afternoon watering cycles to catch you off guard or cause muddy lies in the approach areas from excessive watering; 2) We have purchased a greens roller which will help to keep the greens smooth during the non growing season of the winter; 3) Healthier turf in the spring transition as there will be no struggle for the Bermuda grass to recover from winter dormancy.

Should the weather stay mild as it normally does into November and December and become mild again in March, we should be looking at maybe mid-December through February as the “Painted Greens” months. Our membership has let us know in no uncertain terms this summer that fast greens are more desirable than slow greens…so the winter greens should meet that desire.

We will rely heavily on your input during the winter to help us decide if this practice is a go or a no go for future years. On paper it sounds like a no-brainer…better turf health and better playing conditions that help make Maple Ridge the best it can be.

Thank you so much for your continuing support!

SUMMER SWOON? HARDLY SOON! Rick Jacobson, Dir. Sales & Marketing

It may have cooled down a bit in recently, yet we see nothing but heat and action in September and October! Recapping our August 22 “Potential Member Day” means a hearty welcome to newly signed-up friends from Ft. Benning’s Captain’s Career Course Mark Vidotto (U.S. Army, from Houston via Shreveport) and Eddy Holton (U.S. Marine Corps from Camp Lejeune and Long Island, NY); returning member James Bong, owner of Mimi Beauty Supply; Ambassador Member Guerry Clegg, well-known Columbus realtor and Ledger-Enquirer sports columnist and 19-year-old David Russell (CVCC and American Heating & Cooling), who says a few of his entrepreneurial friends will join soon.

Hey, hey!! As I type, two more fine young Army men came off the course and joined: Taylor Ward and Jay Diller, Michigan natives and Michigan State U. graduates! Just goes to show, play “The Ridge”, you’ll want to join before you leave! Welcome, guys!

Quite a few member prospects have approached us in the past week, so allow me to remind you that A) our September 19 “PMD” spots are already starting to fill up; B) we offer big group discounts on initiation fees for two or members who join at the same time, and C) members get a healthy commission when the friend(s) they referred joins, in the form of $75 to $125 credit to your Club account.

You just gotta love our continuing heavy schedule of major golf events! The Club Championship Sept. 11-13 features the unique Friday “One-Club Tourney”, a 9-hole event followed by a back-lawn barbecue. Two rounds of Men’s, Senior, Super Seniors, Ladies and Ladies Seniors competition will produce winners for the coveted reserved parking spots. It’s about fun, not pressure, so we encourage new members to give it a whirl and enjoy your Maple Ridge membership to the max! Sign up at the golf shop!

Let’s not even look too far into October, which is also heavily packed with activity:

Men’s Golf Association third session kicks in Sat. Sept. 17 and the popular Ridgefest Invitational two-man scramble lurks Oct. 3-4. Along the way, we host the private outings of Young Life (Sept. 15), Wal-Mart SW Georgia Tournament to benefit the Children’s Miracle Network (Sept. 22), the St. Jude Children’s Hospital Shootout (Sept. 25). The Georgia State Golf Association presents Girls Golf Day, a statewide instructional and promotional effort, on Sept. 19 from 2-4 p.m. And of course, the usual Thursday Dogfights and dinners, Friday Couples Golf, monthly Dinner Club and more.

TWO MCGLADREY TEAMS ADVANCE TO CHATEAU ELAN NEXT MONTH!

Maple Ridge Golf Club will send two teams to the PGA McGladrey Team Championship sectionals at Chateau Elan Resort in Braselton, GA on Thursday, Sept. 24. Playing with the two winning teams will be Director of Golf Mike Gill and Head Pro Gene Matthews. Eighteen three-person teams competed locally on Saturday afternoon, August 29 for a chance to go further.

Initially, it looked like only one winning team would head to Braselton from Maple Ridge, as signup fell several teams short of the 18 required to send a second team. Heavy recruiting by the golf staff Saturday morning resulted in enough late entries to allow for a second team to represent Maple Ridge. Winners at Chateau Elan and at 40 other state finals reach the nationals from October 26-28 at the famed Pinehurst Golf Resort in the Sandhills of North Carolina.

Michael Ray, Terry Register and Donnie Russell topped the field with a 14-under-par 58 in the net best-ball event using 75% of each player's handicap. A three-way tie for 2nd place created a need for a predetermined chip-off about an hour after these three teams finished. Closest to the pin off #7 from about 40 yards out would win it, with each golfer getting one try.

The teams drew lots for order of play. Ken Blackmon’s gap wedge to about seven feet held up for several attempts till Rick Jacobson's bump-and-run settled about five inches closer. The last two efforts ran off the green or fell short, so Scott Boutwell, Jake Keen and Jacobson advance to the sectionals, teaming with Gene Matthews. Ray, Register and Russell will play with Mike Gill, as the format shifts slightly to include the two net best-balls each hole per foursome.

All contestants received a handsome McGladrey Team Championship travel bag and a sleeve of Titleist golf balls. Complete results follow:

1 Michael Ray - Donnie Russell - Terry Register 58 -14

T-2* Jake Keen - Scott Boutwell - Rick Jacobson 60 -12

T-2 Bruce Bright - Ken Blackmon - Bob Stamm, Jr. 60 -12

T-2 Larry Jay - Charlie Hamlin - Rickey McRae 60 -12

T-5 Jeff Keefe - Scott McClung - Danny Sellers 61 -11