I always enjoy visiting members at their facilities. The passion they utilize on the job always
shows through. I always learn a lot and
often get the opportunity to share that information with other members, in
newsletters or on my blog.
One such visit
occurred recently and offered some insights into one member’s efforts to grow
the game. 15-year GCSAA member, Mark
Prieur, at Trafalgar Golf Club in Milton, Ontario, has undertaken several
initiatives. I learned quickly that my
visit took place on Ladies Day. Flag
sticks were wrapped in pink VinylGuard with correlating cup liners. This simple set-up is enjoyed by the members,
and was inexpensive to accomplish.
Another area of the course has seen quite the buzz lately,
too. Prieur has had past experience with
beekeeping and has resurrected the practice at Trafalgar. While this is not unique to golf facilities,
it was my first up-close experience with a hive. The hive will help pollinate the clubs small
vegetable garden and is located next to an adjoining farm. Prieur explained that the hive should produce
nearly 100 pounds of honey in the fall.
Growing the game long term begins with engaging
children. Prieur and the staff have
developed a six-hole loop that is tailored perfectly for children. The loop includes a “road hole” finish, at a
grueling 29 yards long! The loop
utilizes unused space adjacent to the first tee. The pins are cut down to
approximately five feet tall and sunk into cups into the middle of push-mowed
greens. Tees are marked using old rope
stakes with hole yardage stenciled on the side.
The space is packed on weekends, with member’s children and
grandchildren utilizing the course. The
users need to be shorter than the flagsticks and often are slightly taller than
the fescue areas that surround the fairways.
Maintenance takes very little time and labor, and the returns have been
great! Trafalgar now offers camps for
children five years old and up, utilizing parents as caddies. Offering the program to non-members has
turned the small, once overlooked space into a revenue stream for the
club. Growing the game, and the bottom
line!
Feel free to reach out with questions. I can also connect
you with Mark Prieur.
If you have successful ideas or initiatives that others
might enjoy, let me know and I will do my best to share.
