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Golf

World Woods changes help greens, fairways

Rolling Oaks opened again Friday after a five-week shutdown; Pine Barrens is to be renovated starting today.

By JOHN SCHWARB
Published July 6, 2004

BROOKSVILLE - Standing just off the 18th green at World Woods' Pine Barrens course Wednesday, one could hardly believe that less than two months earlier, worms and shade had been lethal weapons.

The turnaround in conditions at the nationally renowned golf facility has been that dramatic and that fast.

Renovations are continuing, with the Pine Barrens course scheduled to close for 24 days starting today. The Rolling Oaks course, however, opened Friday for the first time in five weeks.

The alternating course closings were crucial in battling a number of issues plaguing the playing surfaces. Trees around many of the greens had grown to the point of providing damaging shade, preventing sunlight from reaching the ground.

Underground, microscopic worms called nematodes were feasting on root systems of the turf, leaving discolored and dead playing surfaces behind.

So World Woods officials fought back. And they appear to be winning.

"It's not really amazing. It's what we needed to do," maintenance director James Rawlings said.

"People are amazed because (the results) are so obvious."

Greens and several fairways on the Pine Barrens course (recently awarded a five-star rating by Golf Digest) had slipped below the level of the $100-plus greens fee charged during peak season (current rates are $40 for 18 holes Monday-Thursday, $50 Friday-Sunday), but players in recent weeks could see a change.

With a powerful pesticide called Curfew (recently approved by the Environmental Protection Agency for use on greens) and tree removal, the signature World Woods course has begun to return to form.

"What we haven't been hearing has been really key," World Woods director of golf Stan Cooke said. "(Before) people weren't feeling as though they were getting a good product. And based on the reputation and the fee that we were charging, they very well may have had a good point.

"We haven't had any criticisms, and we've had nothing but positive comments coming back through the door at the end of the round."

Throughout the property, 2,008 trees have been removed and more are marked with ribbons, targeted for removal. But course officials have worked in conjunction with the design staff of original architect Tom Fazio, ensuring playability issues were not compromised in conjunction with the uprooting of so many trees.

"The eye appeal has gotten better here. I never would have guessed that by eliminating trees it would have improved the visual concept of the golf course, but it has," Cooke said. "On the playability side, that's improved on the same accord as a result of more sunlight and better surfaces."

Original renovation plans called for the Rolling Oaks course to remain open all summer, but owners allowed it to be shuttered for widespread changes from resurfacing cart paths to refurbishing bunkers and greens.

"It's a tough thing to do when the economy is bad, but it was the difference in being successful," Rawlings said. "If we had Rolling Oaks open (throughout), those greens would still be lousy. We'd never get them where they needed to be."

With the holiday weekend over, Pine Barrens will now get a respite from golfer traffic while its work continues, including more applications of Curfew.

Rawlings said he never would have believed it before, but initial test applications of the pesticide on greens in May were so successful, he said golfers could have played two days afterward.

Golfers playing now might even wonder what all the fuss was about in the first place.

[Last modified July 5, 2004, 18:59:04]