THE MAPLE RIDGE MESSENGER

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

NOVEMBER 15, 2009 EDITION

GRILLE HAPPENINGS           Dick Esterson/Bill Williams/Entire Food & Beverage Staff

Make Maple Ridge part of your Thursday schedule…the BBQ lunch is beginning to become more popular as our diners taste our pulled pork meat with our own BBQ Sauce and the Thursday Night Grille Games have featured a blend of comfort food (meatloaf, lasagna) and favorites from the smoker / grill (chops, sausage, brats, chicken) followed by good fellowship in games.

If you are planning a Holiday Party, consider Maple Ridge as a host site or consider our cater-out food for off-site gatherings.  Thanks for your help and support!!!  HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

SEASONAL THANKS!!!                                                       Tom Kubik, General Manager

Thanks to all of our members who contributed to the Employee Holiday Fund.  This year your contributions are especially appreciated, because we, like many companies, have frozen wages in 2009 to help control operating costs.  The Christmas checks will be presented to our employees at the Employee Christmas Dinner on December 22.

So far so good with the “overseed the greens” experiment.  The greens are becoming faster, but the roller has been put to good use to keep them true.  Please continue to give us your feedback so that we do our best for conditions this year and to be able to make a decision for 2010.  The work to repair Number 9 drainage has begun just in time for Hurricane Ida to bring the work to a halt.  Weather permitting, we should have a spillway and pond surrounding the front and left side of the green in the next week or two. 

May your Thanksgiving Holiday bring you a warmness and contentment in your heart as we thank the Lord for each other and our many Blessings.  Happy Thanksgiving!

LET’S TALK TURF                            Doug Smith, Certified Golf Course Superintendent

Hackers Hell. Over the past four to six weeks there have been numerous inquiries concerning the condition of the rough.  At this time it seems the general consensus is that we have let the rough grow too high.  Truthfully, we generally mow the rough at 1.75” throughout the growing season except our initial spring mowing which is done at 1.50”.      Since we haven’t actually changed the mowing procedure in the rough I will briefly try to explain why you have experienced a change in the condition of the rough. 

During the early to middle of the growing season there is abundant over-head sunlight allowing the growth habit of the turf to become tight and dense as the blades of grass grow closer to the base or crown of the grass plant.  This growth habit forces the golf ball to sit on the top of the turf canopy making the ball more visible and giving the rough the appearance that it is being mowed shorter or more closely to the ground. During the later part of the growing season in the late summer and fall months we lose exposure to sunlight and the turf becomes less dense and more “loose and leggy”. 

This occurs because the blades of grass grow toward the top of the grass plant stem in an effort to capture more sunlight.  This type of growth habit allows the golf ball to fall through the turf canopy before it finally comes to rest on the ground, ultimately giving the rough the appearance of being mowed taller or at a higher height of cut. Hence the phenomenon called “Hackers Hell”!  In an effort to reduce the occurrence of this unfortunate phenomenon we will be reviewing our mowing patterns in the spring to increase the width of our fairways in many of the landing areas. And as always your suggestions and concerns are appreciated in helping us make Maple Ridge the best it can be. 

HANDICAP HEAVEN (BEATS HACKERS HELL!)  Susan McCollum, Member Services

          As per Maple Ridge tradition, 2010 handicap fees will be billed on the December 31 statements.  They remain $25 for adults, $15 youth.  Please notify me at 706-569-0966 or smccollum@wcbradley.com if you do not wish to continue the service for the upcoming year. 

For those who’d like to add the service or are unsure – you’ll be able to post scores on our computer or online (lower right, www.golfmapleridge.com homepage).  Having a handicap is required for participation in some Club tournaments, and will always help you establish a “points” quota for our Thursday and Saturday dogfights. Also, you’ll better be able to monitor your progress as a golfer, gain membership into the Georgia State Golf Association, receive it’s twice-monthly handicap updates by e-mail and a subscription to its bi-monthly magazine “Golf Georgia” – quite a bit for $25!

“SENSATIONAL SATURDAYS” SURGE!                Rick Jacobson, Dir. Sales & Marketing

          It’s been quite a few years since public play has been permitted at Maple Ridge, so we’ve reached into our bag of promotional tricks to allow limited access for six consecutive Saturday afternoons (November 7-14-21-28, December 5 and 12). 

After our hugely popular Saturday morning dogfight, with its “Omega Training” and ladies groups, the post-lunch exodus for “honey-do’s” and college football tends to leave afternoon play surprisingly light.  We often host church outings and other small groups, but on these six Saturdays, the public can call in for a tee time between 1 and 2 p.m. and play 18 holes with cart and range balls for just $30!  What a deal! It’s our way of introducing prospective members to beautiful fall course conditions and our “It’s Not Quite a ‘Free’ Fall, But it’s Close!” autumn recruiting drive.

Members benefit, too, as their guest fees drop form $45 to $30 during the rest of November.  On December 1, we’ll mail, with the monthly dues statements, member “winter guest passes” – containing six punches, each good for up to three guests at a further reduced $20 price.  Use all 18 guest opportunities through February, and you’ve saved $450 over the winter!!