THE COURSE
Monarch BeachComber • Winter 2017
M
aking major improvements to
a golf course isn't something
that happens overnight, but
Golf Course Superintendent Daniel
Miller and his staff are confident that as
they enter year two of a three-year plan
to optimize playing conditions at
Monarch Beach Golf Links and beau-
tify the surroundings, things are mov-
ing in the right direction.
Cool-season grasses that tradition-
ally take over during the winter have
been completely removed from the fair-
ways, and the maintenance team did
not overseed this year, allowing the
Bermuda grass to achieve
density and provide lush
turf coverage without com-
petition from other strains.
"By not overseeding, we
have been able to promote
much more consistent conditions that
reward well-placed shots in the fairway
or primary cut of rough," Miller said.
Bypassing the overseeding process
has also freed up Miller's staff to take
on other projects, such as removing all
other varieties of warm season turfgrass
found on the course like kikuyu and
seashore paspalum. They have also in-
stalled more than four miles of subter-
ranean drainage beneath the fairways
and rough. A new project will also blast
sand into channels below the turf in
some areas to allow salts to escape.
"While we're proud of the environ-
mental benefit of our commitment to
using recycled water only for all irriga-
tion needs on the property, this comes
with considerable agronomic chal-
lenges," Miller said. "Recycled water
originates in the homes and businesses
within our community and contains a
good deal of salt and other components
that are detrimental to soil health and
the growth of plants."
Other upcoming projects include
recontouring select green perime-
ters and collars, as well as replacing
liners in some bunkers to test the
performance of a new material be-
fore considering widespread re-
placements. Furthermore, new tee
boxes will be added to the first and
second holes to improve playability.
There's also a plan to put in sev-
eral more Monarch butterfly sanc-
tuary flowerbeds – in addition to
the two currently on property – to
provide a larger habitat for the re-
sort's signature wildlife. Drought-
tolerant groundcovers will be added on
some hillsides for ground stability and
beautification, and a handful of periph-
eral landscape beds will be replanted
with colorful perennials and succulents.
"These improvements throughout
the property have really enhanced play-
ers' experience when they visit Monarch
Beach Golf Links," Miller said.
SPLENDOR
IN
THE
GRASS
n
Transition
to
Bermuda
is
just
one
of
the
projects
under
way
to
ensure
top
conditions
year-round
EXPERIENCE
A FLYOVER
TOUR OF THE
GOLF COURSE
Bermuda grass from tee to green.
