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Legendary for its abundance of lakes, rugged pink granite shorelines and vistas of windswept trees Muskoka is a region in Northern Ontario, Canada much loved by cottagers and vacationers from near and far. The same iconic rocky terrain that is distinctive to the region also makes for some of the most spectacular and challenging golf courses around.
Designed by Thomas McBroom, the Port Carling Golf and Country Club opened its doors in 1990. Located in the heart of Muskoka, the course has a reputation as being one of the toughest 6,400 yard, par 70 courses in Canada. When owner Michael H. DeGroote, a self-confessed golf addict, purchased the course in February 2007, he had a very clear vision. He wanted to establish it as one of the region’s premiere golf destinations and upgrade the course to meet stringent United States Golf Association (USGA) standards. As a result, the course, located in Port Carling, Ontario, has undergone a sort of renaissance that has included major renovations to the course itself.
To fulfill his vision, DeGroote brought back Thomas McBroom to oversee the upgraded design. He also hired CGSA Superintendent Justin Heptinstall to coordinate the construction and installations. Heptinsall, a long-time Muskoka resident and golf-superintendent, and McBroom both brought to the project a strong desire to maintain the rugged natural beauty of the course while improving both its look and playability.
The course renovations, completed over the bulk of the 2007 and 2008 were, in a word, extensive. They included major landscaping, extensive tree work, a full irrigation upgrade, full bunker restorations and the lengthening and resurfacing of selected fairways as well as upgrades to many of the tee decks. In addition, holes one and four were completely rebuilt, work that included blasting away an intrusive rock face that obscured sightlines. Some 5,000 metres of pipe was installed on the course to substantially improve the drainage. Also on the list of renovations to dos was the complete resurfacing of all 20 greens to return them to the original size and eliminate the three inches of thatch that had grown in over time.
When it came time to determine how to resurface the greens, Heptinstall opted for Manderley’s A4 Premium Bentgrass sod, and ordered 105,000 square feet of soil free A4 in large roll format. Once a curiosity, soil free turfgrass is now widely accepted as the defacto standard for establishing turf when a rapid turnaround is need and that meets USGA specifications.
“I had worked with Manderley before and I knew they had the right product, in the quantities we needed, and in the large roll format that we were looking for,” said Heptinstall. “We began the greens renovations this past October and were on an extremely aggressive schedule, changing out two to three greens per day in order to beat the looming frost in November. With Manderley’s skilled crew, we were able to finish the job in less than three weeks – just in time for our first snowfall of consequence. Our newly resurfaced greens are now nicely tucked in for the winter with a protective layer of snow on top.”
Turf experts and course Supers are increasingly recognizing the advantages of soil free sod. The use of traditional, soil-based sod can lead to layering and drainage problems that inevitably negate any time or cost-saving advantages. By washing away the soil layer from the sod these problems can be mitigated. In addition, soil free sod has consistently demonstrated enhanced rooting capabilities that can result in as much as a 260 percent increase in root biomass. The rapid root growth results in a dense mat of turf developing quickly resulting in a much desired uniform and fast putting surface. For added protection over the winter months, Heptinstall had his staff spray the sod with a systemic fungicide right at the Manderley farm before the turfgrass was cut and washed.
“The process went a lot smoother than I had anticipated and I attribute that to having the right people - our staff, Manderley and the construction contractor - in place to get the job done. However, if I was to do it all over again, the only thing I might change would be the timing,” mused Heptinstall. “Our weather–imposed deadline was unpredictable and more than a bit nerve wracking. So, next time I think I might consider doing the work in the spring.”
Justin Heptinstall is Golf Course Superintendent with the Port Carling Golf and Country Club, www.portcarlinggc.com
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