HomeMy Public PortalAboutResolution 20-21 Adopting the 2020 McCall Golf Club Golf Course Master Plan City of McCall
RESOLUTION 20-21.
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF MCCALL, IDAHO, ADOPTING THE 2020 MCCALL
GOLF CLUB GOLF COURSE MASTER PLAN, PROVIDING FOR RELATED MATTERS,
AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, the McCall Area Comprehensive Plan in the "Reflect" portion identifies the need to
conduct a golf operations facility and needs analysis; and
WHEREAS, the McCall City Council contracted with a golf course architect professional
consultant David B. Druzisky to assess and create a Golf Course Master Plan; and
WHEREAS, the Golf Advisory Committee, Men's and Women's Golf clubs, staff and other
influential golfers were interviewed; and
WHEREAS, the consultants took all the information and prepared the Golf Course Master plan;
and
WHEREAS, the final McCall Golf Course Master Plan was presented to Council on September 24,
2020.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Mayor and City Council of the City of McCall,
Valley County, Idaho that:
The McCall Golf Course Master Plan is adopted, and a copy of the Plan is attached hereto as
Exhibit 1,and by this reference incorporated herein.
This resolution shall be in full force and effect upon its passage and approval.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the McCall City Council of the City of McCall, Idaho, on September
24, 2020.
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* Robert Giles, Mayor
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Golf Course Master Plan
August 2020
Prepared By
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2201 W. Forest Grove Ct.
Eagle, ID 83616
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Contents
Section Page
Introduction 3
Architect's Approach &Assessment 7
Course Component and Asset Analysis 15
Aging Asset Chart 29
Course Area Calculations 33
Conclusions 35
General Design Recommendations 36
Proposed Area Calculations 39
Proposed Scorecard 43
Priorities,Implementation,Budget Estimate 49
Conclusion 55
Attachments
Industry Life Cycle Chart 56
Irrigation System Analysis 57
Course Images
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McCall Golf Club
Golf Course Master Plan
Introduction
McCall Golf Club Golf Course Superintendent Eric McCormick initially contacted me mi
September of 2019 to discuss the merits of developing a Master Plan for future
improvements to the city of McCall's 27-hole golf course facility. Various small projects
had been completed over time and Eric was interested in a more comprehensive plan
that could be used to guide future efforts. The discussion centered on re-design projects
being promoted by the Golf Advisory Committee as well as aging course infrastructure
and its impact on his maintenance routines. Upon conclusion of our conversation,we
agreed that before they did anything,it would be best to have a plan of attack to
address these types of issues in that would help the city and the golf advisory
committee identify and prioritize needs.
My first visit to the course was in late October where I spent time touring the course
with Eric and discussing the course and facility from the perspective of the grounds
department. Understanding when each of the nines were built, it was clear that much
of the facility was old and the focus of the master plan would need to be on its
infrastructure. We also met with City Manager Anette Spickard to discuss the process
and scope. It was a good meeting and I was able to convey the value of having a well
thought out plan that responsibly balanced priority needs with ideas for improvements
that today's golfer looks for in a round of golf.
Winter settled in soon thereafter, so little was accomplished on the course until spring.
In the meantime, a meeting was arranged in Eagle at Ban Burry Golf Club with several
of the previous McCall Golf Club Golf Course Superintendents. Their input gave us a
better understanding of past renovation efforts over the last 30 years or so including
what led to the work. In addition to Eric McCormick,in attendance were Craig Collins
(1974-75), Brian Mickles (1981-88), Craig Jackson (1988-90), and Charlie Denham (1991-
95). Irrigation consultant Greg Baer was also in attendance. It was a great gathering,
and much was ascertained and clarified regarding when specific projects were
completed and for what reasons.
The project scope has included analyzing the property and developing a"Master Plan'
which consists of this descriptive text and plan illustrating the resulting proposed
recommendations. Maps of the existing course were also generated. The goal of the
effort is the acceptance of the recommendations as a guide for all future improvements
or upgrades to the golf course as a city asset.
At the core of the effort has been an extensive evaluation of course infrastructure and
the identification of opportunities for enhancements based on the strengths and
weaknesses of its design. Additional value was placed on ways to improve efficiency
and or reduce maintenance costs which are continuously on the rise. The resulting
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Golf Course Master Plan
recommendations are a direct result of that analysis of the collected data and reflect the
professional conclusions drawn.
Among the surprising things I learned about McCall Golf Club was that the original
nine holes were developed in 1928,making the course one of the oldest in the state. The
2nd nine was then added in 1968 with the newer Cedar Nine having been added to
round out the 27-hole facility in 1995. It is unknown who may have been responsible
for the design or lay-out of the original 9 holes in 1928,but evidence suggests that Bob
Baldock was involved in the 1968 addition. Robert Muir Graves was the Architect of
record for the Cedar Nine.
With this in mind, we have proceeded with the realization that many aspects and or
components of the original 18 holes are possibly quite old and that no comprehensive
re-design or renovation effort has ever been carried out. That said, many of the greens
have been rebuilt at some point along the way for various reasons, chief among those
being severe winter damage. Much of the course infrastructure has well exceeded its
life expectancy and is being held together quite well by the existing staff. But majority
of it is reaching the point where it will require attention. The Cedar nine is now 25
years old and much of its original infrastructure is reaching the end of its projected first
life cycle and will need to be addressed soon. At the core of the final recommendations
is the necessary replacement,upgrade, or renovation of those aged elements.
Of interest to many will be recommendations addressing design aspects of the courses.
This includes opportunities for design adjustments that will add interest and fun to the
round. Playability, shot values, scoring resistance, and aesthetics have each been
carefully studied and addressed. Much about the game has changed since the 3 courses
were built and adjustments will be needed to elevate the facility to those new standards.
Throughout the effort has been a dedication to the diverse skills and abilities of today's
golfing public and improving their overall golfing experience.
At the inception of the process a mission statement was developed that identifies the
intent and goals of the Master Plan effort. Crafted by the committee this simple
statement has allowed the work to remain focused and directed. It is as follows:
Golf Course Master Plan Mission Statement
To provide an excellent outdoor family friendly experience while maintaining championship
quality golf conditions at reasonable rates. Excellent service will be provided to encourage the
growth of golf for all to enjoy.
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Golf Course Master Plan
Majority of my contact with McCall Golf Club has been with and coordinated by Golf
Course Superintendent Eric McCormick. Eric provided valuable information
throughout the effort regarding the course and its facilities and he was always helpful
when I asked for his input. There is tremendous value in having the golf course
superintendent involved with a course master planning process since they are the ones
directly tasked to provide a golfing experience that meets the expectations of the
customer while adhering to strict budget requirements.
Progress was reported to the Golf Advisory committee and head Golf Professional
Allan Morrison, PGA at milestones during the process. Perspective was also solicited
by the committee throughout the process. It was a decent size group and meetings
were generally well attended. The following committee members participated:
Michael Hayes Rita Bolli Neal
Ken Stearns Kristin Christensen
Suzanne Gebhards Kara Jeffus
Todd McKenna
With a notice to proceed occurring in early November of 2019, little was conducted
until early 2020. Much of the effort was carried out over the spring and summer
months and included numerous visits to the course and a couple meetings with the Golf
Advisory Committee. The ongoing global pandemic slowed the process a little,but
with a majority of my work conducted outdoors on the golf course we have been able to
get through the season with a few careful gatherings with the group and complete the
plan. I believe the group enjoyed their participation and each gained new insight
regarding philosophies and principals of course design and renovation as it relates to
McCall Golf Club.
This text is intended to further support the final recommendations and can be used as
desired by the City, Golf Advisory Committee, or course management to help determine
future projects. The hope is that all involved gained an appreciation of the importance of
reinvesting in the course as a public asset of the City of McCall.
Time spent on the course has allowed me to gain a comprehensive and intimate
understanding of the course, its weaknesses and strengths,its players, and its composition
of facilities. Many details have been analyzed and researched and are important aspects of
the eventual work and implementation of the recommendations. I have thoroughly
enjoyed my time with the people I have met during my visits and the staff has been
professional, responsive, and a joy to work with.
A point that I cannot emphasize enough is that no plan of recommendations will satisfy
everyone 100%. Throughout the effort it is hoped that individual opinions can remain
secondary to the betterment of the course for all players. I alone should bear
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responsibility for specific recommendations. This I accept by offering my professional
involvement in this project.
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Golf Course Master Plan
Architects Approach & Assessment
McCall Golf Club is to be commended for its dedication to providing the residents and
visitors of McCall a fun and enjoyable golfing experience. The facility is a favorite of not
only the locals, but many of Idaho's golfing population as evidenced by the success of the
numerous highly attended tournaments it hosts yearly which bring players from afar to
participate While things have been difficult for many golf facilities around the country in
the past decade, McCall Golf Club has maintained its strong position in the marketplace,
signaling that it is doing something correct. This healthy position will allow proactive
renovation efforts moving forward to ensure a quality experience for the golfing public.
Good Business-
With that success, comes the responsibility of maintaining the asset. The previously listed
mission statement establishes a focus and objectives for course preservation. This is the
basis for what I consider a Business Plan for the golf course. As with most successful
business operations, the business plan, or in this case the Master Plan is the roadmap by
which all endeavors are guided. The master plan identifies individual areas of
opportunity or need while considering the entirety of the course. Like a good book,
changes to the content within one chapter, or in our case a golf hole,will have bearing on
the others. The master plan takes into consideration all aspects of the course that
interrelate to form the overall golfing experience. In addition,both the short and long
term are weighed into each recommendation made.
The passing of time has had considerable impact on the playing fields of the game. It is
likely this will continue. The master plan for McCall Golf Club combines
recommendations for the responsible upkeep of the course infrastructure and features
based on industry standard life cycles. Value is added with opportunities I have
identified for design adjustments that will set the course up for the future enjoyment of
the game. Proven and timeless design traits are used to enhance the golfing experience for
all players.
Beyond the enhanced golfing experience, recommendations have been made with
consideration to the business of market share. With a focus on daily service operations it
is easy for facility managers to forget that their course is a business that must be
competitive and sustainable economically within the marketplace. As a professional Golf
Course Architect, I give due consideration to this and incorporate elements and strategies
meant to improve the facilities market position. As stated above, McCall Golf Club is
currently doing well within the local market even though new facilities have entered that
market over the past 15 years. But McCall Golf Club must remain diligent and moving
forward to maintain that position.
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As with all business, increasing labor wages will have a significant impact on profitability
moving forward. If greens fees are not equally increased, the only alternative will be
budget reduction which is already challenged. Currently,46% of the course maintenance
budget is related to labor. Labor provides the detailing necessary to meet the daily
expectations of the course management as well as golfers. In golf, great value is placed on
consistency by the golfing customer. Throughout the master plan, areas typically
requiring high labor have been targeted and opportunities to off-set the increase in costs
have been weaved into the final recommendations.
The Courses -
In general, McCall Golf Club is a nice public facility of moderate to short length, is well
maintained, and at its core is a sound design and is located within an attractive setting. Its
evolution since the original nine holes were constructed in 1928 is obvious from a design
standpoint,particularly with the newest 3rd nine having a considerably different feel and
look. Golfers feel it provides a pleasurable round and as observed,presents the golfer
very few overly penal challenges throughout their round.
The course offers a casual golfing experience and is best suited for middle to higher
handicap players,which is a vast majority of the golfing public. Apart from a few shots,
the golf holes do not pose an overly difficult challenge for the better golfer. Currently
there are no bunkers on the older 18 holes resulting in limited interest off the tees at times.
Overall back yardage is very short for the modern game and the low handicap longer
players easily overpower most holes. While the scorecard reflects suitable yardages for
the forward tees,few actual forward tee areas exist on the older 18 holes. Having been
developed 25 years ago, the newer Cedar course provides a more standardized
distribution of tee options but can be improved with additional forward positions. Many
of the greens still contain areas of severely sloped or dramatically contoured surfaces.
This provides some of the greatest challenge to scoring especially as the green speeds
increase throughout the season. A round at McCall Golf Club is typically fast paced, but
the course can get busy and at times the pace slows.
For some, the attributes identified above translate to "easy" or "uninspiring" golf. The
origins of golf suggest it was a game about challenging obstacles as one creatively
negotiated their way through the course in the least amount of shots possible on any given
day. McCall Golf Club is lacking some of this sporting"spirit" that a percentage of golfers
appreciate and look for in the courses they play. Additional interest can be added for
those players while not increasing challenge for others.
Like art, the best designed courses stir emotions,stimulate the senses and are a fun
experience. Combined, these traits create a memorable and enjoyable golfing experience
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which should be the objective of every golf facility. The following are carefully considered
areas of focus that have meaningful impact on the quality of that experience:
The Property-
Most of the worlds highly regarded courses are blessed with a great piece of property
where attributes related to location,landscape and form come together to the benefit of the
golf. A few must rely solely on the creativity of man. McCall Golf Club is routed over and
through 2 different and attractive landscapes in a beautiful environment that is nicely
suited for golf in the months bracketed by spring and fall. After holes 1-4 of the Birch
nine, the holes of the older 18 and holes 1-3 of the newer Cedar traverse over open and
generally flat woodland prairie. Aerial photos of the area illustrate these areas appear
similar today to how they did in 1928. Original tree groupings remain, combined with
trees that were planted to help separate and divide adjacent holes. Shiner creek runs east
to west through this area of the property and provides some strategic and penal interest
on a few holes.
Topography on the original 18 holes is subtle with majority of the golf features built up
from the natural ground. Fairways are routed over the natural grade and feature only
slight movement. Most features (greens and tees) are smaller in scale but compliment the
width and length of the golf holes. There are no significant changes in elevation on most
of the holes and considering its overall shorter length, this portion of the course can be
walked easily. The original 18 holes benefit from a"core" type routing configuration
where numerous holes are grouped together and are not disrupted by houses or roads
which is always preferred.
The remaining holes of the facility extend to the east and south and up into varied and
moving hilly terrain that was mostly covered with native trees prior to the development of
the land in the mid 90's. The corridors that were cleared for the golf holes are on the
narrow side which results in a penal challenge for the less than straight player. Homes
populate the perimeter of most of the holes on the Cedar but are generally well hidden
from view by the dense trees. The features on the Cedar course are slightly larger in scale
and more modern in design and construction than their predecessors. While still not long,
the Cedar course was designed to check all the boxes of preferred lengths and directions
for the holes while routed in a manner that would provide premium to an adjacent
housing development.
The resulting apparent differences are something that the master plan addresses.
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Yardage and Par-
To satisfy today"s diverse golfing market, courses need to provide a wide variety of
yardages to choose from ranging from 7,200 yards down to 4,500. This is now supported
by available player distance data for all levels of players. Though this range is ideal,its
not always possible or practical to achieve as it is dependent on what the property allows
with the design or budget as longer and larger courses require more land and cost more to
develop and maintain.
Most holes on the course do not have adequate area to extend lengths to an appropriate
championship yardage from the back markers. By no stretch of the imagination (or of the
tees)will the course ever play at a true championship length by today's standards (7,400
yards plus at elevation), nor does it need to. Individual holes do and may with further
refinement take on championship characteristics. It is also this architect's opinion that this
fact is in no way detrimental to the potential quality or overall success of the course,
particularly as a public golfing facility. But it is a fact that must be understood, accepted,
and factored into the master plan recommendations.
On the Aspen and Birch nines I am recommending the addition of a new set of tees at
the Gold forward position as well as the Silver. This will vastly improve distribution of
the players based on known playing abilities. With correct yardages all players are
given fighters chance of reaching the greens in regulation. Since this translates to
greater enjoyment for those players, this is also an important aspect from a marketing
and sales standpoint moving forward.
Establishing actual Silver and Gold teeing areas will alleviate some of the pressure and
resulting wear on the existing tees which would then become predominantly used by
the Blue and White marker players. With the greater available area, each will be able to
be adjusted with greater variance on a day to day basis to help add interest.
Overall yardage on the Cedar course is good,but most holes still require actual tees to
be established at gold tee yardages. Other recommendations are made on various holes
to improve variety with adjustments to tees including new teeing area, shifts, additions,
or bunker adjustments. The most aggressive opportunity is at the 1st hole where the
tees are shifted left as they extend forward to allow more golfers the option of
attempting the dynamic risk-reward shot of carrying the corner off the tees.
In addition, it is recommended that the available blue tees be used on the longer holes
where they are currently being moved forward. This will provide the lower handicap
players a few longer holes off the tees as originally intended.
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Golf Course Master Plan
Game Attributes-
McCall Golf Club is comprised of a broad demographic of player abilities with
emphasis on mid to higher handicaps. This point has been given due consideration
within all recommendations. Two key design traits where this point is applied are
playability and resistance to scoring. Along with shot values, these are underlying
traits of any good or great golf course and are comprised of many individual design
nuances that have been factored into the recommendations within the master plan.
Addressing these traits also requires a balance within the recommendations. While
several areas can be made more suitable to the shot making skill level of the average
player, other aspects can be folded into the course in terms of strategy and shot
selection to maintain or expand challenge for the better player. Slight repositioning of
bunkers and reconfiguration of tees for a broader range of yardage options are
examples of where these aspects have been addressed and improved. Many similar
opportunities are also located at the greens.
As with all successful master plan efforts, there must be an overall dedication to
playability. Not to be confused with"ease of play', playability is best described as the
ability of all players to negotiate their way through a round without undue penalty. In
making sure that a proper fairness exists,we must be careful not to dampen the
sporting spirit one enjoys when playing the course by removing all challenge. While
playability is not an overriding concern with the existing course, some areas for
improvement remain. Key among those are the areas of excessive slope within many of
the older green surfaces which become nearly unplayable for all golfers when the
greens hit their stride mid-summer. Within all recommendations care must be taken to
do no less than maintain aspects of playability which contributes to the fast pace to a
round at McCall Golf Club.
While there are no bunkers on the Aspen and Birch nines, Shiner creek and a few lakes
provide interest on numerous holes. Several come into play in a dynamic manner such as
Shiner creek on Aspen holes 5 and 7. Others can be looked upon as potentially too
challenging and penal such as the ditch crossing in the approach of Birch Par 3 #7 green.
Others are for the most part out of play and could be modified to bring them into the hole
and create greater interest.
Aesthetics-
Of interest to this architect during a Master Plan analysis is discovering opportunities to
further enhance the visual character and styling of the course. These attributes have
considerable impact on the golfing experience and helps give a course its own unique
identity. While some courses require a heavy hand by the architect, others like McCall
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Golf Course Master Plan
Golf Club rely on the beauty of the native property and setting. With good design,
bunker style, tee form, green design/size, landscape and trees, and water features all
come into play as each are brought together in composition and presented to the golfer
to negotiate. The quality of the design is identified by the consistency, composition, and
quality of these elements.
Throughout the 3 courses of McCall Golf Club, Attributes of the Cedar course differ
from the older 18 holes. These newer 9 holes differ slightly with larger scale and better
overall composition of the features. The existence of bunkers only on the Cedar course
also sets that nine apart. Tee form and configuration is also slightly different on the
Cedar nine. These differences in tees and bunkers between the original 18 and later 9
holes can be easily addressed in future renovation efforts.
The open character of the holes routed through the open woodland prairie areas also
have a different look and feel from the holes that run through the trees and over the
varied terrain, but in no way does this detract from the experience. Consistency
between the features can be used to insure a good relationship between the holes in
each area.
If not well designed or composed, course features will leave little impression on the
golfing experience. This translates to an unmemorable experience and leaves the golfer
with no lasting impression. The greens on the older holes are very basic in their design
with many containing sever slopes rending areas un-pinnable. These are among the
weakest aspects of the course. Improving this aspect will require straightforward
design refinement of the features when they renovated to bring them up to current
standards and condition. Others will benefit with more aggressive alteration which has
been included within the recommendations of this Master Plan. When properly
renovated with better overall composition and enhanced design attributes, the holes
and features at McCall Golf Club will suggest a higher level of design excellence that all
players enjoy.
In select and specific areas of the course more significant design changes have been
suggested to address what has been identified as either the weakest aspects of the course
or that provide the greatest opportunity for enhancement.
Condition-
Golfers put considerable value on course conditioning when judging their golfing
experience. Expectations can range considerably and are typically high with emphasis
put on consistency. What most golfers do not understand is what exactly effects course
conditioning and the ability to provide the conditions they demand on a consistent
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basis. Mother nature has a far bigger role than what most golfers credit, and in most
cases, there is nothing that can be done about it.
While many of the green areas on the older 18 holes have been renovated or rebuilt over
the years,many remain old and are structurally composed differently hole-to-hole,
resulting in a broad range of maintenance challenges. Many of the individual elements
of the courses are at a point where they are hitting the end of their anticipated life cycle.
Chief among those are bridges and crossings that are near dilapidated and potentially
pose a hazard if not addressed soon. The result is areas of the course or features that
show wear and tear, are inconsistent in their performance, and have a negative impact
on playability as well as aesthetics. Most significantly, these areas also become much
more expensive to maintain at the level desired.
The bunkers on the Cedar course are now 25 years old and require refurbishment if
they are to be maintained correctly. Majority of the tees are no longer level and need to
be regraded and resurfaced. Unlevel tees is one of the traits that bothers players the
most. Cart paths in many areas are starting to erode and deteriorate and replacement is
needed. Steep areas within many of the green surface reduce the available pin areas
resulting in worn out areas over the course of the season. New varieties of turfgrasses
are also more resilient to common stresses including the severe winter conditions often
experienced in McCall.
As with any industry, standards change as materials improve or are invented. The
features and components of the course are 1 to 2 generations behind. When renovated
these areas will be brought up to current standards and the result will be greater
maintenance efficiency,improved aesthetics, and better consistency in their preparation
for play that all will appreciate during their round.
Facilities -
As the facility evolved over the last 90 years,so has the location of the Clubhouse and
related amenities. The current clubhouse,while it has some programing weaknesses,
appears to serve the needs of the golfers and staff effectively overall. The expansive
area of open pavement surrounding the building for cart staging also appears to work
well for.most situations and daily activities. Improvements to the paving in the future
are recommended to enhance the aesthetics and traffic patterns of the area as design
standards and specification for all future paving efforts is improved.
McCall Golf Club currently has a limited assortment of practice amenities. Sitting on
roughly 6.5 acres of area, the range is undersized for a 27 hole public facility. At 160'
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Golf Course Master Plan
wide the range tee can only provide 18 practice positions. This can be challenging at
busy times of the day and for events. This may also hinder revenue that could
otherwise be generated through range only use. With a length of 285 yards,most
golfers can safely practice with all clubs,but at the elevation of McCall, longer players
are limited. Unfortunately, the property is already fully utilized, and no options exist
for adding length to the range. An optional design for the holes west of the range has
been developed that would allow the tee to be expanded slightly and the addition of a
new dynamic practice chipping area or practice putting green. To help off-set the
limited size of the range tee and the resulting wear to the turf, a new artificial turf tee
line is recommended. Artificial turf materials have improved in recent years and could
be a viable solution in this situation.
Putting practice is conducted on the one 6,500 SF practice putting green located adjacent
to the parking lot west of the clubhouse. Cart path adjustment were made in 2017 and
the green expanded slightly west. This is a good location and while a bit undersized the
green is good with all areas of the surface being well suited for practice and warm-up
use. Expansion would require reconfiguration of the parking lot to allow the green to
be enlarged to the south.
A 6,000 SF putting green located between Aspen hole #1 green and hole #9 tees can be
used by golfers for chipping and short pitch practice. The primary function of the green
is to supply turf to be used to replace damaged turf on the course putting greens and
therefore is generally flat and may be taken out of use when large portions of the turf
are removed for use elsewhere. Otherwise,pitching and chipping practice is possible
only at the range, but targets are very minimal.
Nice improvements have been made in-house at the maintenance facility and while
split into two distinct areas, is of ample size. As the epicenter of the facility, and keeper
of the expensive maintenance equipment it is important that this area be up to par.
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Golf Course Master Plan
Golf Course Assets, Infrastructure and Components
Current Life Cycle Analysis
Aging Asset General Description Page 15
McCall Golf Club General Description 16
Individual Assets -
Greens 18
Tees 20
Bunkers 21
Paths 22
Irrigation 23
Drainage 24
Grasses 25
Lakes and Waterways 26
Course accessories 27
Maintenance Facility 27
Crossings and Structures 27
Aging Asset Life Cycle Charts Page 28 - 31
Asset Quantities Page 32- 33
Conclusion and Priority Recommendations Page 34
Independent Irrigation System Analysis Back
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General Description - Golf Course Aging Assets
A primary component of a comprehensive master plan analysis is the assessment of the
existing course infrastructure and components as physical aging assets. A golf course is
made up of components and materials that require timely upgrades,replacement and
or repairs beyond what is addressed through standard maintenance practices. Golf
courses cannot only be maintained and then played, though unfortunately many are
and the facility and resulting golfing experience deteriorates. Like other business
facilities or holdings, golf course components are assets that have specific life cycles and
require management to maintain. These cycles can and should be mapped and
projected to be used to develop a long-term management plan for the facility to
maintain its integrity.
Golf course components degrade over time in numerous ways. Many components such
as tees and bunkers simply wear out from use and recurring maintenance practices.
Some mechanical and technological items simply go bad with age. Other components
become outdated because newer standards and golfer expectations have been
established. Meanwhile the evolution of the game with a broader range of players and
increased length by the better players outpacing the configuration, size or durability of
certain features or components. All aspects are also exposed to the elements,native to
the course location which weighs heavily on their integrity.
Aging of the course can have a significant impact on the golfing experience and
eventually its positioning within the marketplace. Old infrastructure often leads to
poor or inconsistent conditions. This is realized by golfers during their round and
leaves a poor impression on their experience. Newer facilities with new putting
surfaces, bunker sand, level tees and consistent maintained conditions throughout set a
benchmark that other facilities within the marketplace will be weighed against.
Most importantly failing infrastructure has significant impact on every-day
maintenance routines. When features and elements on the course are degraded,
maintenance practices required to keep those areas up to a standard conducive to play
become inefficient and often excessive. If more time is needed to maintain one area or
element on the course, other areas may go unattended.
Though there is a range of acceptable conditions within the marketplace, the objective
of all golf course maintenance operations is to provide the most consistent playing
conditions possible. While mother nature will always impact conditions,most other
inputs can be managed when course managers are given the appropriate tools. Bunkers
that drain and don t erode when it rains, grass varieties that are selectively bred to
thrive in specific climates,better withstand volumes of play and frequency of
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maintenance, and an irrigation system that distributes water efficiently in times of
drought and effectively at night when there is no play are things to strive for.
Without replacement or upgrade of the old pieces, a course will be unable to stay
relevant or meet the standards desired by the golfers. At the same time,maintenance
cost's increase and practices become less and less effective.
McCall Golf Club-
McCall golf club represents a fairly unique situation with 3 nine-hole courses that were
constructed over a period of nearly 70 years. The age of the 27 golf holes can be divided
into 3 distinct time frames as follows:
Newest Nine Holes- The Cedar course was developed between 1993 and 1995 and is
now 25 years old. Components of the infrastructure on these holes have exceeded their
initial life cycle time frame. Others are now nearing that milestone. No major
renovation efforts have occurred on these holes to date. Sections of irrigation have been
added since the original construction to extend watering across golf holes. Other minor
adjustments have been made including a slight adjustment to the approach bunker and
additional drainage on hole 7. A new forward tee was added on hole 8. Several green
surfaces have been re-sodded after winter damage.
All 10 bunkers of Mccall Golf Club are located exclusively on the Cedar holes. A more
modern design, the Cedar nine contains a greater number of tees that are better
distributed out over a greater range of yardage options better suited to golfer
demographics of today. This results in 38% more tee surface area than the other 18
holes. Greens are roughly 25% larger overall and do not contain the amount of steep
unusable areas within their surfaces that is found on the older holes. These 9 holes
were designed by Golf Course Architect Robert Muir Graves,ASGCA.
1968 69- The 2nd set of 9 holes was developed in 1968 -1969. As an addition to the
original 9-hole course these holes were originally routed as its own contiguous loop that
started and returned at the original Clubhouse location on Davis Rd. With the addition
of the existing clubhouse in 1988 the configuration of holes changed to the current
Aspen and Birch loops. These mid age holes (51 years) are currently holes 1,3,4, and 9
of the Aspen Course, and Holes 1 -4, and 9 of the Birch courses.
Several renovation projects have been completed on these holes since its opening. In
reaction to severe winter damage in 1979/80,numerous greens were rebuilt between
1981 and 83. Those included Aspen 1 and 4, and Birch hole 1 and 3. The effort included
the addition of a 12" layer of local sourced sand placed over gravel and sub-drainage.
Aspen 1 green was again rebuilt in 2017 to a new design.
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In conjunction with the green re-builds at Aspen 6 and 7, the adjacent pond was
enlarged. A new irrigation system was installed in 1996. Asphalt was installed on
paths in 1990. Other individual projects have been carried out on various holes to add
drainage,replace, or add irrigation and add railroad tie bulkheads at tees. Asphalt
patching was completed at a few deteriorated paths.
Original 9 Holes - The original 9-hole course was developed in approximately 1928.
This makes the original McCall Golf Club 9-hole course one of the oldest courses in the
state of Idaho at more than 90 years old. The original 9-hole routing extended from the
original clubhouse location on Davis Avenue and consisted of current holes Aspen 2
and 5 - 8, and Birch 5 - 8.
Stemming from severe winter kill damage in 1979/80,numerous greens on the original
course were rebuilt. Included were current Aspen 2 and 4, and Birch 5, 6, 8 and 9. In
that effort(1980-1983) current hole 5 Aspen was extended from a par 4 to a par 5 with
the relocation of the green complex beyond Shiner Creek.
Again, asphalt was installed on the paths in 1990 with several sections patched since.
The irrigation was replaced in 1996 throughout. .
No record has been found of what changes or projects that may have occurred on these
holes prior to the addition of the 2nd nine in 1968.
Clubhouse-Until 1988 the course started and ended at the original clubhouse location
along Davis Ave. Construction of the existing clubhouse required some modification to
the adjacent existing holes in the following years. In addition, the putting green was
added where it currently resides, and the practice range was developed.
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Life Cycle Components Description
Greens
The effect of time on greens is assessed in several ways. The standards for putting conditions
on greens today directly relate to physical structure,turf type and surface slope percentages.
Over time as capabilities of maintenance practices have improved,golfer's expectations for
greens have risen significantly. To meet those market demands,new and improved grass types
have been introduced and mowing equipment has been improved significantly. Multiple
generations of grasses have been introduced and used since the original benchmark grass
variety,Penncross Bentgrass was introduced in the mid 50's. Courses that contain older grass
varieties are typically also managing aggressive undesirable grasses (poa annua)within the
green surfaces and collars. Though the existence of these invasive grasses is common in golf
greens,they do require increased resources to maintain effectively. While suitable in some
specific locations and instances,these mixed conditions result in inconsistent and lesser quality
putting conditions on most courses. New grass varieties are far denser and resilient and when
managed effectively keep invasive varieties from contaminating the surfaces over time. When
only one grass type is being managed there is less need for chemical treatments within
maintenance routines.
Older greens were designed with the slower green speeds of their time which were the result of
higher mowing heights. The result was slopes and movement within the usable (pinnable)
areas of putting surfaces ranging from 1% to as much as 5+%. As maintenance standards have
improved and green speeds have increased over the last 50 years,acceptable and fair surface
slope standards have changed. Acceptable percentage for slopes within usable and pinnable
sections of greens are now at.5% -3% maximum. Unfortunately,this has rendered significant
portions of surfaces on older greens unusable. When pin locations are limited to fewer areas
within existing surfaces,those areas get too much concentrated use and become worn and
stressed.
Over time excessive build-up and layering of sand material from routine topdressing practices.
Sand can also build up from adjacent bunker shot blasts,altering the depth of the sand in those
specific areas only. This impacts the ability of greens to properly drain or provide a consistent
growing profile. Sub-drainage piping(if there is sub-drainage) can become blocked and the
green subgrade no longer conveys water effectively resulting in poor turf health related
challenges such as diseases. The USGA has established recommended specifications for putting
green construction that has been recognized as the industry standard. The intent of the USGA
recommendations is to insure proper and consistent green structure and performance on each
hole of the facility. This consistency from hole-to-hole allows course managers to apply
maintenance routines that are consistent throughout the facility which is the key to great
playing conditions and cost efficiency in those practices.
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McCall Golf Club-The biggest challenge concerning greens at Mccall Golf Club is lack of
consistency in their structure and surfaces. This is the result of greens that were built at
numerous times and to differing standards of specification and process.
The greens of the Cedar course are now 26 years old but were built to a more modern
specification and are consistent green to green. Because they are newer the surface slopes are
generally appropriate throughout and support a good variety playable area and pin locations.
Originally seeded with an intermediate variety of Bentgrass,surfaces now also contain poa. In
general,the surfaces support puttable conditions,but are approaching a point where a
resurfacing would be beneficial.
A portion of both the 1968 and 1928 holes were replaced in the early 1980's following a severe
winter where the green surfaces did not recover. Replaced over the following 3 years records
suggest that most were rebuilt slightly different and by different contractors depending on the
year built. The specification use was a slight upgrade from the original greens and contain
more sand. Several also included sub-drainage. Surfaces were sodded with one of 3 available
Bentgrass varieties when the projects took place,but now also include poa.
The remaining greens are a combination of 1968 and 1928 vintage and it is uncertain what their
composition exactly is. Some greens perform better than others and some have sections within
that may struggle when other areas do not. It appears the green surfaces are primarily poa with
a mix of other Bentgrass varieties that have been inter-seeded over the years.
Majority of the green surfaces on the Aspen and Birch courses contain significant areas of
excessive slope that are not suited for playability and pin locations. This reduces what are
already small surfaces into even smaller useful areas. Slopes measured on many of the surfaces
exceed 4% with many areas above 5%.
Overall,the greens on the Aspen and Birch courses average between 3,500sf and 4,000 sf. This
is well below a recommended size for a public facility and when combined with the excessive
slopes,results in a focusing of wear and tear on the surfaces over the course of the golfing
summer season.
Maintenance staff does a very nice job keeping the greens in good condition each year
depending on how they come out of the winter. New greens built to a higher standard and
with newer grass varieties would provide superior conditions over a longer period of the
season and would be more resilient to the climate. New greens should be slightly larger and
contain more suitable surface slopes allowing use to be evenly distributed and managed.
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Tees
Tees on the golf course age in numerous ways. In the short term,tee surfaces become rutted
and unlevel from the physical wear and tear of play. Most often these can be addressed with
maintnance sub-routines on a yearly basis or as they arise if budgets and resources are
available. Some might require resodding while others can be addressed with a heavy top
dressing and seeding efforts.
In the long term tee slopes and banks will weather,settle,erode down or become compacted
and uneven from the physical impact of general use and maintnence practices. Combined with
the short term effects over time, the result can be"hilltop" tees or other similar uneven areas
that reduce overall area and even result in improper alignment. Par 3 holes are particualrly
suseptable to this condition as divots from iron play are made and filled repeatedly over time.
When at this state, simple re-leveling efforts are not adequate and tees are rebuilt.
In addition,superior construction techniques,newer construction materials and higher
expectations have raised current standards. An example is that surfaces can be laser leveled to
insure a consistent and even slope while maintainng good surfae drainage patterns. New grass
types or varieties may have also been intruduced that would be more suitable or resilient at low
mowing heights and to off-set increaed use.
Tee configuration and Yardage Distribution-
Over the past 30 years the variety and number of golfers playing the game has greatly
increased. For many older courses this results in the need for more teeing area that is properly
distributed at a broader range of yardages. Proper tee distribution provides appropriate
playability for all golfers and improved speed of play. In addition,advances in club and ball
technology have resulted in the need for additional yardage to be added to the back tee
positions in an effort to maintain the intended challenge. Because of this change in golf
demographics and numbers,average tee size that is recommended to best distribute wear and
tear has increased by approximately 30%. Typical course tee yardages now should range from
4,500 yards at the forwardmost tees to upwards of 7,200 from the tips depending on the
elevation and market target of the facility.
McCall Golf Club-Averaging just over 3,000 sf in area,the tees on the Aspen and Birch courses
are undersized by a significant amount. Most par 4 and par 5 tees should be approximately
5,000 sf. This results in a focus of use and wear over the coure of the season with a majority of
players using the same sections as is evidenced by many of the surfaces in need of leveling.
Many of the indidual tees are properly sized but there simply isn't enough of them to distribute
play among. Additional new tees combined with expansion and level of the existing tees is
recommended to address both condition and improved playability for a large population of the
golfing customer.
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Most of the tees on the Aspen and Birch are also raised up off the native ground 3'. This results
in steep tee banks that are difficult traverse by mowers and golfers alike. This additional height
is uneccessary and has resulted in many of the tee edges rolling off and loss of available usable
surface.
Tees on the Cedar course represent a more modern standard in size and distribution averaging
nearly 5,000 in overall area per hole. The par 3 tees are undesized and should be expanded as
possible when next addressed for-leveling and improvement.
Forward play has been distributed in recent years with the addition of teeing area mowed into
the leading edge of several fairways. This has been a positive for a perentage of the golfing
public but should be improved and made more permanent with dedicated level teeing areas for
each.
Bunkers
Because of their nature,bunkers age swiftly and require significant resources to be maninted to
today's standards for play and golfer expectations. Maintenance routines far exceed simple
sand raking and include redistribution of the sand as it moves throughout the floor over time,
compaction of the sand to provide firm conditions,and perimter edging. Most require attention
beyond these typical maintenace routines within 10 years depending on resources and climate.
Design style also has an influence on bunker life cycle. Bunkers that get more use also require
greater attention.
Over a period of time sand quality is diminished from dirt contamination from the subgrade
and along eroding edges along with grass debris from adjacent edging or mowing. Other
contamination builds up over time simply due to their exposure to the open environment and
related weather and seasonal change.
Areas above greenside bunkers also suffer from sand blast build-up along the edge and where
these areas extend into the collar,tansition and green surface grades.This build-up may also
result in higher and steeper sand faces over time. In some cases bunkers may contain too much
sand that has built up through sand addition or"sweetening' efforts. Excessive sand depth
raises bunker floor heights and makes it diffficult to provide consistent conditions with fried
egg lies more prevalent. Subdrainage pipes may require cleaning to again properly convey
drainage from within the bunkers. All these items impact playability and make it difficult to
maintain bunkers in a consistent condition over time.
As with other elements,new construction practices and materials provide upgrade
opportunities to current standards targeted at reducing the impact of these callenges. Subgrade
lining materials are now available that can be used to help preserve new sand for a longer
period of time and will greatly reduce erosion and related repair and labor depending on the
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location and climate. Rising costs of materials such as bunker sand are a strong consideration
for these applications in the long term.
McCall Golf Club-Interesting there are no bunkers located on the Aspen or Birch courses.
The newer Cedar course contains a small number(10) of strategically positioned bukers. Built
in 1993 these have reached their first life cycle limit and require refurbishment in the coming
years to maintain their integrity. Sand has been added over time to keep levels suitable for
play,but the shapes and edges have altered with the passing of time as all bunkers do. New
specifications for bunker construction will improve bunker condition while reducing
maintenance requirements. Refurbishment includes new sand,repair of sub-drainage as
needed,reestablishment of shape and size,new perimter grasses with sand build-up removed
and the intruduction of a liner between the sand and subgrade to help minimize erosion and
contamination of the sand.
Cart Paths
Because of their intended use and physical make-up,cart paths wear at standard rates that are
then compounded by the frequent irrigating and drying of the course. Asphalt and concrete
also ages by the action of freeze and thaw in those related climates. Asphalt has a much shorter
life expectancy than concrete but can typically be re-surfaced once. Cart path subgrades are
typically not prepared in a manner(compaction and base materials)that would facilitate long
life expectancy and structural integrity. Frequent irrigation also speeds up the aging process.
With the overall increase in rounds and broader golfer types,cart use has dramatically
increased over time. Older courses are often challenged with the need to add or extend older
paths to properly carry this additional traffic. Paths are of greater importance adjacent to Tees
and Greens and when properly designed with curbing,pitch and drainage are conducive to
carrying drainage away from high traffic use areas. Proper location,relationships and routing
is paramount to successful path installation. An aspect often overlooked by golfers is the
importance of cart paths for maintenance access,especially in times of poor weather and during
the off-season.
McCall Golf Club-Now 30 years old the asphalt paths throughout the course require attention
and should be resurfaced. Occasional patching has helped prolong their condition for use,but
that practice will no longer sustain usable paths.Their alignment is generally good,but all paths
locations should be assessed prior to any new path installation work. Clearing of snow and
winter use of the paths has also added to the damage and deterioration of the asphalt paths
over time.
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Curbing for traffic control was used sparingly in key areas along tees and greens in the form of
RR ties and timbers. Much of this curbing is also deteriorating and will need to be replaced
with something more appropriate when the paths are addressed.
It is recommended that the existing paths be ground,excess material removed,and some be left
in place as base material for a new asphalt layer. New paths must be finished flush to adjacent
turf grades to ensure drainage run-off patterns are maintained or improved. 8'wide paths will
serve both golf cart and maintenance vehicle purposes.
Irrigation System
Various aspects of golf course irrigation systems hit their life expectancy at different rates.The
life cycle of an irrigation system also varies with the region,climate,water quality,irrigation
practices and quality of original design and install. In regions like McCall we typically see the
first life cycle to be between 15-20 years.Within that timeframe,exposed mechanical and
electrical components such as heads and control systems will need replaced once with
computers used by the control system more frequently. Underground components such as pipe
and wire have a longer life and often reach the 30-40-year mark depending on the integrity of
joints,valves and other potential weak points. Excessive pressure within the lines over time can
also stress and shorten the life of pipe. For McCall Golf Club,yearly freeze and thaw can result
in issues each year.
Over the last 15 years irrigation practices have changed to meet the demand for better course
playability and to reduce water use. A 10 to 12-hour watering window timeframe used to be
acceptable,where today the standard is now 6 to 8 hours. A shorter water window allows for
better maintenance practices and a reduction in wet conditions in the morning that golfers
appreciate. In some locations,off-peak hours pumping power consumption can be had at lower
cost rates. Shorter and compressed water windows increase irrigation demand on the golf
course at any one time and require larger mainline pipe and pumping systems to distribute that
additional higher volume of flow in shorter durations.
A new design with better control translates to improved conditions area by area throughout the
golf course. Some systems previously designed with multiple heads on each control station
result in difficult conditions to manage and maintain effectively. Greater control on an
individual head basis allows staff to water only those areas requiring the water and not adjacent
areas that otherwise do not need watering. Water saving and improved playing conditions are
the result.
The spacing between adjacent sprinkler heads has a direct correlation to consistent turf
conditions. 70'wide spacing that may have been an acceptable standard 25 years ago is no
longer standard,particularly where water availability,conservation and cost is relevant.
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Current systems are designed with sprinklers rarely greater than 65' apart. This reduces water
waste by improving distribution uniformity. As water regulations increase,systems with tighter
spacing will be best suited to meet restrictions and better off-set increasing water costs. New
pumping systems are more efficient users of power than older systems and financial returns on
those efficiencies can be significant. Shorter watering windows may also allow a facility to
contract a power use agreement with the local power providers in a shorter window and at the
times they provide credit for.
McCall Golf Club-New on the Aspen and Birch courses in 1997 and now approaching 25 years
in the ground,repair frequency on pipe,joints and valves is increasing. Increases in the
irrigation labor budget should be anticipated in the coming years which may in turn take staff
away from other areas.
The system on the Cedar course is approximately 5 years older and requires similar attention.
Significant additions were made to the original design to help distribute water out to the limits
of the golf holes. These additions were completed with little consideration to the engineering of
original design and are not very effective with poor distribution uniformity and hydraulic
pressures.
Some aspects of the original design do limit the effectiveness of the watering including the lack
of control in fairways with multiple heads on each watering station and the lack of isolation in
key areas such as greens and tees. Some of these can and should be addressed in the renovation
of those areas or in an eventual irrigation system replacement. A comprehensive master plan
specific to the irrigation system should be considered in the coming years to help map out
needs in this area.
See separately attached report developed and provided by Baer Irrigation Design.
Drainage Components
The life cycle of drainage components on golf course can vary significantly. While HDPE pipes
that have been properly installed may simply need occasional cleaning or clearing through
time,corrugated metal pipes that were used most frequently in the past may require
replacement earlier. Grate inlets used on the surface within turf also require replacement or
renovation sooner due to their exposure with plastic versions needing it earlier. Quite often
existing underground drain lines and structures are damaged by subsequent invasive project
efforts such as irrigation installs and repairs. Invasive roots can also find their way to lines
where trees are present.
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Areas that are improperly drained result in wet and poor turf conditions that when left
unaddressed can become larger problems. On many courses,the continued development of
adjacent property uses might require additional on-course drainage to be installed where
previously not necessary. Most drainage projects on golf courses are divided into two
classifications and scales. Storm drainage systems help move heavy rain and or flooding events
through the course property effectively and reduce damage to the course features and elements
during those larger events. Most golf course drainage is intended to remove daily nuisance
water from irrigation and typical rain events where it may collect and settle and not move off
the areas of play. In this case the addition of drainage consists of the addition of small
underground drainage lines,surface inlets and French drains in select troublesome areas to
improve playing conditions and to help facilitate effective daily maintenance. In some
locations,areas exhibiting issues can be addressed by improving the slope of the ground surface
to achieve positive fall to a defined collection point. Poor compacted soils can also compound
issues.
McCall Golf Club-
Several locations on the golf course exhibit issues related to poor water and drainage run-off.
Most of these are caused by flat grades and or run-off from adjacent properties or areas entering
the golf. Some can be addressed with minor grading and others will require the addition of
small nuisance water sized subdrainage pipes,like what is found in other previously addressed
locations. These issues are not significant,but when addressed will improve conditions for bot
maintenance and golf play. Examples include the fairway and right rough on Aspen#9,the
fairway along the cart path at Aspen#2 and Right of the green on Birch#8. Specific areas
requiring the addition of drainage system are identified on the Master plan.
Grass types
With the passing of time new grass types and varieties have been introduced for golf course
applications. These new grasses have been developed to provide superior playing conditions
often with reduced maintenance requirements and chemical applications. Most have been bred
for particular use in specific regions and climates. Other advances in maintenance practices
now allow in some cases the use of grasses previously not suited for certain applications. Grass
types can also dictate play depending on its texture,need for irrigation and tolerance for
potential height of cut. Older courses typically contain a mix of varieties including the grasses
originally planted combined with a varied amount of other invasive species or mutated
versions over time. These invaders often provide poor playing conditions and are difficult to
eradicate without significant impact to play during removal. Selective herbicides are now
being developed that can be considered within a program intended to transition to mor suitable
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turf varieties without course closure. The impact of new grasses on greens'.and tees was
identified above.
McCall Golf Club-Tees,fairways and rough are all a blend of bluegrass,Ryegrass and Poa
Annua,typical for this environment and grassed more than 20 years ago. In general,this seems
to be a good variety for the fairways and rough on the course and is a good match with the
Bentgrass/poa greens. Damaged areas are easily seeded with Ryegrass when repair is needed.
Damaged high play areas are sodded with a rye/bluegrass blend or similar which is readily
available in the marketplace. Mowing heights are also suitable for the type of play at McCall
GC. Green surface grasses were addressed in the section pertaining to greens with new
varieties now available that would provide superior playing conditions and ease of
maintenance.
Turf health on greens and tees is directly correlated with the usable area in these areas of
focused play. As identified above,tees and greens on the Aspen and Birch holes are generally
undersized with many of the greens having too few pinnable locations due to excessive slopes
within the surfaces. Turf upgrades at these key features can occur when each are renovated.
Lakes and Streams
Depending on how they were constructed,lake and stream banks erode over time. In some
natural settings instances eroded edges can be acceptable,but more often this appears unkept in
an otherwise maintained landscape. When these elements relate to maintained turf edges they
need to be maintained and eventually re-established to insure a suitable appearance and
integrity.
Where employed for lake sealing, geomembrane lake liners eventually require replacement to
ensure water is not lost and proper water levels can be maintained. Filling lakes with water
requires pumping and water costs and should be done only as needed to keep those costs
minimal. In addition, there is nothing more unattractive than a dry or exposed muddy lakebed.
Shallow lakes need to be deepened to ensure proper water temperatures which translates to
cleaner and healthier water and to control algae growth. Related lake control structures and
infrastructure require replacement as they age and lose function or to adapt to changing
conditions and governing agency requirements. Storm water and sediment control are key
aspects that demand appropriate attention for liability as well as integrity.
McCall Golf Club- The various lakes and ponds located on the property vary in age and
purpose. It is believed that several of them were created to provide fill material in the
development of the tees and greens during the original construction of each group of holes.
In general,the lakes on the course are simply excavated low areas that receive water either from
Shiner Creek or from the irrigation system. None are sealed to fully contain water. The
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wetlands and pond located on the Cedar nine receive water from the wastewater treatment
facility located east of Hole 6 as-surface flow.
The lake located beyond Aspen hole 1 is deeper than the others intended to serve as the
irrigation reservoir for the course. This lake is fed from the lake along Birch hole 8 where the
well is located. As the irrigation reservoir this lake should be maintained to ensure proper
depth with removal of any sediment that might build up over time. TBD
Course Accessories
An often-overlooked component,course accessories,including ball washers,benches,signage,
drinking water stations and trash containers can have a significant impact on the presentation
of the golf course. These elements should be assessed on a routine basis to insure they are in
quality condition and are consistent throughout the course. These elements eventually wear
out and should be replaced. Flagsticks,flags,practice green hole pins and range distance or
target markers and flags also fall into this category.
As a public facility,information signage should be used to direct traffic,identify locations,and
help keep golfers safe where appropriate.
Maintenance Facility
Maintenance efficiency and levels are directly related to the quality of the resources and
facilities available. An undervalued asset, the maintenance facility is the center of control and
activity from which the care and upkeep of the golf course is conducted from. A dedication to
those facilities typically suggests a similar dedication to the course. Labor cost and equipment
maintenance and upkeep is affected by the effectiveness and efficiency of the facility. In some
cases,the facility is highly visible and should be enhanced accordingly. Most governing
agencies have increased regulatory requirements on these facilities and upgrades for safety and
environmental requirements should be kept up with.
McCall Golf Club-The current maintenance facility was constructed in 1969 and coincided
with the development of the 2nd nine holes. Improvements and upgrades have been made to
the facility over time including ongoing efforts this year. Located at the threshold of the course
entry,improvement efforts should include screening and beautification. Paving of the yard
should be considered.
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Crossings and Structures
Physical structures on a golf course can vary from simple bulkhead retaining walls at tees or
lake edges to major storm water controls meant to safely and effectively contain or move large
events through the property. Others include bridges or culvert type crossings over creeks or
drainage ditches. In all cases these are exposed to the environment and can degrade over time.
On many courses these structures were not engineered and may be undersized or improper for
their application. Failing drainage structure can result in deteriorating condition on the golf
course if left over time or can be exposed in an event or happening. Cart and player bridges
now must be design for safety and with liability in mind.
McCall Golf Club-Culvert crossings are in use at various locations of the course path network
to traverse Shiner Creek and other similar drainage or waterways. Many of the crossings
identified are in a state of deterioration and need to be repaired or in most cases replaced with a
more suitable structure.
Player and cart timber bridges are also in use on the course in numerous locations and
consistent with the culverts,are old and in a state of deterioration. Their integrity and golfer
safety is a paramount concern and these should be addressed.
Rail tie and timber bulkheads have been used at various locations including tees that help
define and expand the limits of those areas. Several of these will require replacement or
removal in favor of other solutions in the coming years. Many are causing awkward and
inefficient mowing and edging requirements. Most can be removed when paths and tees are
renovated.
Aging Asset Life Cycle Charts
The following charts illustrate the industry standard life cycle expectancy time frames of
course features, components and infrastructure compared to the age of these areas on
each of the 3 nine hole courses. For purposes of this report,holes of the Aspen and Birch
courses have been divided by their date of original construction representing the original
early 1928 holes and the 1968 group of nine holes.
- Color transition bars represent the industry standard life cyle time frame for the
identified component- New (greeen) to Red (expired).
- Grey bar represents current age of component at McCall Golf Club.
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McCall Golf Club - 1928 Original Holes
Course Components Life Cycle- Spring 2020
Tee Structure
Tee Surfaces
Green Surfaces Remodeled
Green Surfaces Original
Green Structure Remodeled
Green Structure Original
Asphalt Cart Paths
Cart Bridges
Irrigation Piping
Irrigation Heads and Control
Irrigation Pumping Systems
Pump House
Drainage
Grasses Fairway
Grasses Rough/Other
Lake Hole Birch 8 green
Lake Aspen 2
Pond Hole Birch 7
Storm Drainage/Lake...
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100
Years
McCall Golf Club - 1968 Golf Holes
Course Components Life Cycle - Spring 2020
Tee Surfaces
Tee Structure
Green Surfaces Original
Green Surfaces Remodeled a
Green Structure Original
Green Structure Remodeled
Asphalt Cart Paths
Cart Bridges a
Irrigation Piping
Irrigation Heads and Control
Drainage
Grasses Fairway a
Grasses Rough/Other
Pond Aspen 6
Lake Aspen 1
Storm Drainage/Lake Structures
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60
Years
Page 31 of 60
McCall Golf Club
Golf Course Master Plan
McCall Golf Club - Cedar Nine Course
Course Components Life Cycle - Spring 2020
Tee Surfaces a
Tee Structure
Tee-Range
Bunker Sand
Bunker Structure
Green Surfaces
Green Structure
Asphalt Cart Paths
Irrigation Piping
Irrigation Heads and Control
Drainage
Grasses Fairway
Grasses Rough/Other
Lake Hole 2
Pond Hole 6
Pond Hole 8
Lake Hole 9
Storm Drainage/Lake structures
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40
Years
Page 32 of 60
McCall Golf Club
Golf Course Master Plan
McCall Golf Club
Aspen Golf Course Areas Tally
Hole Tee (SF) Fairway (AC) Bunkers (SF) Green (SF) Path (LF)
1 2,341 1.51 0 4,554 1,440
2 4,593 0.33 0 4,109 600
3 3,205 1.44 0 3,594 1,300
4 2,4311 1.77 0 3,152 1,235
5 2,9111 1.58 0 3,094 1,865
6 4,168 1.10 0 2,420 1,350
7 3,046 1.39 0 2,486 1,210
8 3,030 0.33 0 4,211 700
9 2,512 1.96 0 4,245 1,600
Total 28,2371 11.41 0 31,865 11,300
Ave 3,137 1.27 - 3,541
Practice 18,212 4.79 6,532 400
_McCall Golf Club
Birch Golf Course Areas Tally
Hole Tee (SF) Fairway (AC) Bunkers (SF) Green (SF) Path (LF)
A 1,753 1.58 0 4,945 1,680
2 3,303 1.25 0 4,260 1,200
3 3,818 0.03 0 3,422 1,115
4 5,1541 1.06 0 4,089 990
5 1,734 2.28 0 6,065 1,770
6 3,032 2.07 0 2,442 1,350
7 3,082 0.00 0 3,374 768
8 2,614 1.87 0 3,969 1,050
9 3,397 1.76 0 3,721 1,240
Total 27,887 11.90 0 36,287 11,163
Ave 3,099 1.32 - 4,032
y f
McCall Golf Club
Cedar Golf Course Areas Tally
Hole Tee (SF) Fairway (AC) Bunkers (SF) Green (SF) Path (LF)
1 4,417 0.77 0 5,109 1150
2 6,399 1.93 9,955 6,204 1710
3 6,231 1.69 1,056 5,351 1700
4 5,622 0.20 2,118 4,516 800
5 4,657 1.06 1,198 4,640 1665
6 3,321 0.14 0 4,130 770
7 4,5331 2.12 2,562 5,531 2285
8 5,3731 0.13 1,094 4,429 705
9 4,128 1.15 0 4,684 1390
Total 44,681 9.19 17,983 44,594 12,175
Ave 4,965 1.02 1,998 4,955
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Conclusions - Asset Management Analysis
The time frames for the assets identified above are provided as generalizations or
averages. Many have additional smaller components or portions that may require
attention or replacement sooner. A complete and detailed line item breakdown of each
category of course asset and their individual components is recommended prior to the
commencement of any project or detailed planning effort.
Based on the finding of this study, combined with observations in the field, the
following is a recommended prioritization of the areas requiring attention:
1st Priority Items-
1. Creek culvert and bridged crossings and similar structures.
2. Level and expansion of tees throughout the Aspen and Birch courses. Par 3 holes
of Cedar.
3. Bunker Refurbishment Cedar.
2nd Priority Items-
1. Rebuilding of Aspen and Birch Greens.
2. Irrigation system replacement Cedar
3. Asphalt Path Replacement
3rd Priority Items-
1. Irrigation system upgrades Birch and Aspen
2. Drainage improvements in select areas of concern.
3. Lakes and Ponds
These recommendations are strictly based on condition and impact of the assets
identified without consideration to design quality and opportunity. In addition, some
projects should be completed prior to others due to the invasive nature of the work and
impact on the areas to be re-worked. (Example- Irrigation should not be installed prior
to the rebuilding of tees or greens.)
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General Design Recommendations
Greens
Golfers and industry professionals alike will agree that greens are the most important
aspect of a golf course. Courses are weighed first and foremost on the quality of their
greens. The finest courses all have very good if not great greens. While that greatness
starts with design,many qualify them solely based on their speed, trueness, and
consistency. No other area of a golf course is more scrutinized, as it should be.
Because of their importance, greens require careful and thorough analysis in a master
plan effort. All aspects are studied and examined to determine their merits and if
recommendations for changes might be warranted. The 3 primary areas that contribute
to green quality are:
1. Physical composition of the subgrade -soil structure, drainage, USGA vs
push-up.
2. Surface quality - turf type, condition, and consistency
3. Overall design-including the surface and as a complex.
Conclusions on the first two areas of study are spelled out in the infrastructure analysis
section of this document.
The greens at McCall Golf Club are smaller in size averaging less than 4,000sf on the
older Aspen and Birch nines,but a typical 5,000sf on the Cedar. Compounding the
challenges related to smaller surfaces on Aspen and Birch is the high percentage of
steep slopes that are unusable. Usable pin areas on surfaces range between .5% slope
and 3% slope with steeper transitional slopes between. Numerous greens on the older
holes exceed 5% with a few greater than 6%. The 4th green on Cedar also exceeds
acceptable percentages as it is likely the front portion has settled since the original
construction. Otherwise, having been designed and built within the past 25 years by a
qualified Golf Course Architect, the Cedar greens exhibit generally sound design
attributes.
The biggest concern with the greens is their inconsistent composition from hole to hole
and the challenges that result related to maintenance and playability.
There is considerable opportunity to enhance the golfing experience with new designs
for many of the greens on the Aspen and Birch courses. New designs would include
increased size and more appropriate slopes.
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As described in the earlier section, opportunities exist to provide superior putting
conditions by replacing the existing failing surfaces with a new Bentgrass turf.
Standards for green surfaces continue to be raised with the introduction of new courses
within the region or the renovation of greens at existing facilities. Examples of what is
possible can be found in nearby facilities and markets. While fine putting conditions
and fast speeds can be achieved at times at McCall Golf Club with the current surfaces,
it is becoming more and more obvious the old surfaces are less than adequate. The
main objective of putting green maintenance, consistency,is no longer possible.
Tees
Tees are currently the weakest of the course's primary features. On the Aspen and
Birch nines, physical tees for the recommended Silver and Gold yardages do not exist
and should be added to provide an appropriate position for those players to enjoy their
round. Tees on the Cedar nine were originally designed by a professional Golf Course
Architect only 25 years ago and as configured have served the course well. Few
modifications or additions have been identified to improve playability and or yardage
distribution on specific holes..
At several holes I have recommended tee adjustments-or relocation to provide better
alignment with the fairway or to improve separation and safety (Hole #9 Aspen). Some
are improved to increase overall tee surface and to provide greater variety of daily
yardage options (hole#8 Aspen and Birch, #8 Cedar). Other adjustments are
identified to improve the angle of the drive to the landing area or to shift the drive
away from growing trees and or adjacent holes (Hole #6 Aspen).
As tees are renovated in the future some can be improved by adjusting their elevation.
In naturally flat areas of the property tees should be set lower to the natural grade while
maintaining proper view down the hole and of any fairway hazards. Gentle slopes and
banks surrounding the tees should also be subtle to ensure easy access for players and
maintenance as well as to make them appear less man made. When renovated or added,
all tee surfaces are laser leveled to ensure an even surface for play and that they are
pitched properly for drainage. In addition, the opportunity arises to instill a more
consistent style and character between all 27 holes.
Most of the existing tees are very old and have received little attention over the years.
Most are unlevel and should be addressed soon. Additional information about the
timely renovation of tees was provided in the previous section.
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At several tee areas existing timbers and or railroad ties are creating areas that are
difficult to maintain efficiently and should be removed in favor of improved grading
during future tee renovation. Where applicable,new path curbing should be
introduced where required for traffic control. Many of these timbers are at the end of
their life expectancy and are deteriorating. Some may be trip hazards for some golfers.
Bunkers
While greens are the heart of the course,bunkers are what give it character. Three
aspects of bunkering are addressed in a master plan, positioning, structure, and styling.
As identified in the previous section, the few bunkers located on the Cedar course have
received little work to address aging structure since their original construction and are
now reaching the end of their life cycle. Providing an acceptable level of consistent
playable conditions is becoming a challenge and effective maintenance is not possible.
A timely bunker refurbislunent effort is recommended at this point that includes
rebuilding each bunker with entirely new drainage, subgrade liner and sand.
Surrounding turf is removed and replaced to allow the built-up sand blast material to
be removed and edges re-established where applicable. Shapes will also need to be re-
established. Adjustments in their position or size have also been identified.
This master plan process has provided an opportunity to identify potential locations for
bunkers to be introduced on the Aspen and Birch nines. The intent would be to create
some added interest in the round,both visually and strategically. Understanding the
challenge that bunkers present to the higher handicap golfer, the addition of new
bunkers has been well considered. Fairway bunkers are recommended on several holes
at distances from the tees that will come into play on the drive for only the longest
players. Greenside bunkers are recommended on shorter holes where they are more
easily avoided on shorter approach shots
Fairways
The fairways are generally accommodating on each hole. Adjustments to mowing lines
are identified on the master plan where changes will improve their form or improve
playability. Some are adjusted to compliment tee realignment or the introduction of
bunkers.
With the minimal topography within the woodland prairie portions of the facility
several fairways exhibit drainage issues. Run-off from adjacent properties also impact
several areas including Aspen hole #9. These areas have been identified for future
addition of subdrainage.
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The following spreadsheet illustrate recommended adjusted size in relation to existing
sizes of the primary features of the golf course per the illustrated Master Plan:
_ _McCall _Golf Club _
-.-----Aspen Golf Course Areas Tally
Tees (SF Fwy (AC) Bunkers (SF) Green (SF) Path (LF)
Hole Exist Prop Exist Exist Prop Exist Prop Exist
1 2,341 3,950 1.51 0 4,554 4,250 1,440
2 4,593 5,525 0.33 0 935 4,109 4,385 600
3 3,205 4,785 1.44 0 3,594 3,594 1,300
4 2,431 3,800 1.77 0 3,152 3,152 1,235
5 2,911 5,100 1.58 0 3,094 4,150 1,865
6 4,168 4,825 1.10 0 900 2,420 3,695 1,350
7 3,046 4,870 1.39 01 2,486 4,155 1,210
8 3,030 6,600 0.33 0 4,211 5,345 700
9 2,512 4,600 1.96 0 1,100 4,245 4,870 1,600
Total 28,237 44,055 11.41 0 2,935 31,865 37,596 11,300
Ave 3,137 4,895 1.27 - 3,541 4,177
JPracticel 18,212 1 4.79 6,532 1 400
--------
McCall Golf Club
------- -------- ----------------------
Birch Golf Course Areas Tally
Tee (SF) FWY (AC) Bunkers (SF) Green (SF) Path (LF)
Hole Exist Prop Exist Exist Prop Exist Prop Exist
1 1,753 4,370 1.58 0 4,945 5,575 1,680
2 3,303 3,770 1.25 0 4,260 4,400 1,200
3 3,818 4,450 0.03 0 3,422 3,5001 1,115
4 5,154 4,750 1.06 0 750 4,089 4,4251 990
5 1,734 4,010 2.28 0 6,065 6,065 1,770
6 3,032 4,400 2.07 0 675 2,442 3,950 1,350
7 3,082 4,545 0.00 .0 3,374 4,510 768
8 2,614 4,440 - 1.87 0 3,969 4,000 1,050
9 3,397 4,550 1.76 0 1,750 3,721 3,800 1,240
Total 27,887 39,285 11.90 0 3,175 36,287 40,225 11,163
Ave 3,099 4,365 1.321 4,032 4,469
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McCall Golf Club
Cedar Golf Course Areas Tally
Tee (SF) FWY (AC) Bunkers (SF) Green (SF) Path (LF)
Hole Exist Prop Exist Exist Prop Exist Prop Exist
1 4,417 5,350 0.77 0 850 5,109 NC 1150
2 6,399 7,750 1.93 9,955 2,19.5 6,204 NC 1710
3 6,231 7,366 1.69 1,056 5,351 NC 1700
4K44,681
8,345 0.20 2,118 1,150 4,516 NC 800
5 5,500 1.06 1,198 865 4,640 NC 1665
6 5,145 0.14 0 4,130 NC 770
7 5,725 2.12 2,562 2,900 5,531 NC 2285
8 , 9,586 0.13 1,094 1,250 4,429 NC 705
9 5,785 1.15 0 4,684 NC 1390
Total 60,552 9.19 17,983 9,210 44,594 NC 12,175
Ave 6,728 1.02 4,955 1 NC
Grasses
Turfgrass quality has a significant impact on course presentation and play. The current
fairway, rough and tee grasses at McCall Golf Club are composed mostly of a
Bluegrass/Ryegrass blend and pao annua. The ability to provide outstanding fairways
is directly related to mowing height and turf type. Newer and improved varieties of
these grass types may prove to be more suitable in key areas of play and would allow
McCall Golf Club to establish superior turf conditions throughout the season.
The current Bentgrass/Poa Annua green surface turf provides adequate playing
surfaces. New Bentgrass.varieties should be considered in future green renovation
efforts to provide superior putting conditions throughout the season.
Though the Superintendent and his staff do a wonderful job of providing good playing
conditions, results may only be as good as the turf they have to work with. New
varieties of turfgrasses when used on greens and other primary areas of play can
provide far superior conditions over a longer range of months while out competing
invasive Poa.
Turfgrass conversion and change can be a very invasive and time-consuming process
and result in considerable hole closure time. When combined with the costs associated
with the replacement of large overall turf area, many facilities often choose not to
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upgrade their turf. Fortunately, with each passing year new processes and materials
are being brought to the market that allow for different approaches to be used that
reduce the impact to play and that are often cost effective.
Lakes and Water features
Water is a prominent feature of many of the holes. Shiner creek winds its way nicely
through Aspen holes 5 and 7. Recommendations have been made to improve the
relationship of the creek to the golf on those holes with design changes during green
renovations.
Other shallow ponds,lakes and creeks are spread throughout the woodland prairie
portion of the property adding visual interest on several holes, but rarely challenging
golf shots. The creek the runs across the approach to Birch#7 is far too penal for a vast
majority of players and has been identified for piping.
Other enhancements to water features include expansion of the lake on Aspen hole 5 to
extend more prominently along the approach and 2nd landing area. Shiner creek is
widened to create small pond areas adjacent to Aspen#5 green and at Aspen#7.
Other lake improvements are solely based on the status and condition of the lake
physical make-up and infrastructure. See information in the previous section.
Although several water aerification emitters have been replaced or repairs recently,
others still require attention.
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Yardage and Par
A key exercise in the master plan analysis is the careful examination of distribution of
yardage and par. The end goal of the Master Plan is to create as much variety as possible
within the round while providing suitable yardages for all levels of golfers. Many of the
finest golf courses contain a wonderful assortment of hole types and lengths. Overall
yardage at McCall Golf Club is limited and few opportunities for the lengthening of holes
exist. Sitting at an elevation of slightly over 5,000 distances play an additional 7% shorter.
Most recommendations center on providing the correct and most suitable yardages for the
Silver and Gold tee golfer.
The par 3's exhibit a good distribution of yardages. The only yardages missing would be
on each end of the spectrum with no truly short or long hole. Direction is also favorable
hitting all points on the compass. They are also positioned well within the round. Green
and bunker adjustments at several of par 3 greens will help enhance or maintain
playability and overall memorability as challenging yet fun golf holes. The greatest
opportunity for enhancements is at Aspen hole #7 with an improved green perched along
a small pond. Nice tee improvements are suggested at Cedar hole#8 to improve
playability on the currently awkward hole.
Par 4's are also well distributed and varied but overall average short. Missing from the
round is a short potentially drivable dynamic par 4 (or two). Tee adjustments at Cedar
hole #1 will help promote this option for the longer players there.
Golfers will now have a clearer look of the inside corner and a drive angle that cuts the
corner over the hazard on the inside of the dogleg that is now identified with a new
bunker to use as a guide..
The par 5's are generally short, the exception being Cedar hole 7.
Where appropriate, strategic elements are introduced or strengthened to add interest off
the tee and again on the often-undervalued 2nd shot. On Cedar Hole #2 the fairway
bunkering is repositioned into better strategic positioning while the fairway is re-aligned
closer to the lake. The lake on the left of Birch#5 is expanded along the last leg of the
fairway as it approaches the green. Improvements are made to Aspen hole #5 where
Shiner creek currently crosses before the green that should provide golfers with more
options on their approach.
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Following are the existing and proposed yardages for each nine-hole course based on the
Master Plan recommendations:
Aspen Course - Card of the Course
Hole Par White Silver altl
Exist Prop Exist Prop List
1 4 370 370 352 346 341 312 276 270
2 3 192 192 169 165 139 137 60 108
3 4 378 378 353 348 342 310 275 274
4 4 388 388 373 365 320 322 303 300
5 5 458 458 416 415 377 368 304 310
6 4 354 342 326 330 276 272 21.1 236
7 4 330 317 318 287 296 257 234 217
8 3 201 201 180 180 138 136 68 117
9 4 1 431 431 420 408 409 375 344 325
Total 35 3102 3077 2907 2844 2638 2489 2075 2157
BirA Course - Card of t�e Coarse
White Silver
Hole Par Exist Prop Exist Prop i t
1 4 132-9
418 399 379 392 333 331 295
2 4 329 317 306 305 260 235 228
3 3 149 149 130 132 120 120 90 91
4 4 316 316 296 296 287 276 219 232
5 5 507 507 476 470 453 438 388 367
6 5 471 471 451 447 447 408 383 372
7 3 148 148 134 134 ll7 117 95 95
8 4 404 404 396 392 324 350 283 287
9 4 1 400 400 370 370 322 332 296 289
Total 36 3131 3142 2969 2926 2767 2634 2320 2256
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Cedar Course- Cara of the Course
white Silver tit,.lel
Hole Par East Prop Exist Prop 1Pr•p
1 4 307 304 271 288 241 252 161 1 186
2 5 521 545 481 481 433 401 360 356
3 4 431 480 399 435 339 369 272 342
4 3 187 187 158 158 131 131 62 130
5 4 369 389 348 352 331 333 288 293
6 3 155 155 132 132 104 104 46 75
7 5 580 615 - 535 539 492 489 415 432
8 3 193 193 139 174 106 140 46 82
9 4 342 378 318 321 288 290 230 241
Total 35 3085 3246 2781 2880 2465 2509 1880 2137
Trees
With a strong impact on style and character, trees are key contributors to the golfing
experience. Their existence or lack thereof determines play as well as aesthetics of the golf
holes. Golf courses in general either have no trees,were routed through or among existing
trees, or have had trees planted throughout. When golf holes are routed through adjacent
housing, trees are an integral part of the course design that the homeowners also enjoy.
Trees are most often'added to screen adjacent property from view and help contain or
frame the golf. They can also help identify the direction a hole turns and suggest the limits
of fairways.
As identified, the holes of McCall Golf Club traverse two different landscapes. Where
routed through openings from cleared trees the holes are attractive and are suitable from a
golf playability standpoint. Some of those corridors are too narrow but little can be done
to widen these areas without exposing homes just outside the property.
Trees to be removed have been identified on the plan including along Birch holes 5 and 6.
These are either causing too much shade at tees or greens or have a detrimental impact on
play. Some are earmarked for removal to break up unattractive formal planting patterns
as on Birch#5. New trees are recommended in several location to increase screening
between holes, to help direct play visually or to create a more natural stand. Groupings of
trees are identified to be added along the right of Birch hole #8 along the lake edge to help
identify the hole turn and to screen the pumphouse from view.
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A large grouping of trees immediately right of the par 3 Birch#3 hole should be
considered for removal to open up views from the clubhouse out and over the golf to the
mountains to the north.
In all instances, tree varieties native to the area, or that have been proven to be appropriate
to the area over time should be used when adding new trees. No Spruce trees.
Drainage
Poorly draining areas have been identified that challenge both maintenance and golf play.
Flat grades, limited watering control and poor soils appear to be at the root of most the
issues in these areas. Some are compounded by awkward drainage patterns or heavy
traffic use patterns. Many of these areas can be improved with the addition of sub surface
drainage. Previous sub-drainage installation efforts have alleviated some of the issues
over the years,but additional pipe is needed in a few remaining areas.
While additional sub-drainage will improve some of the areas, other areas will mostly
benefit from grade adjustments. To achieve proper drainage run-off on turfed surfaces a
slope percentage of 3% is required. While there is minimal regrading and reshaping
planned, as areas are renovated, suitable slope and drainage patterns can be instilled,
particularly around greens where these issues often arise and where play tends to
concentrate. These areas will be planned out on an area by area basis as the budget allows
in coming years.
Cart Paths
Cart paths are an unfortunate reality in today's game. While meant to help the player and
potentially generate additional revenue, playability and visual character are often
sacrificed if poorly routed and left to deteriorate over time. Defined traffic routes can also
result in greater turf wear issues when paths are not properly routed and narrow or
defined exit and entry locations after tees or before greens are created.
At McCall Golf Club the old asphalt paths provide good access for golfers as well as the
maintenance crew along each hole. The latter is an aspect that is often undervalued and
not often realized. Several sections of path have been identified for rerouting out of
primary areas of play or to a safer alignment. .Tee reconfiguration also results in adjacent
path rerouting as the tees take precedence. Overall, the asphalt paths are at the end of
their life cycle and many sections are on the verge of deterioration and will require
attention soon. Numerous top layers have been added over the years and it is now time
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for a full removal and replacement so additional build-up and height is avoided. A
program of replacing portions of the path system each year until all are replaced is
recommended. The effort should include grinding of the old paths, removal of the excess
material and installation of new asphalt to meet the existing grade of the adjacent turf to
avoid cutting off natural drainage patterns. Re-routing adjustments are illustrated on the
Master Plan that should be included at the time of path replacement.
Railroad ties and timbers are currently used as traffic control barriers along paths at
various tees and greens that are mostly deteriorating. In many of those locations they are
also creating inefficient mowing patterns and requirements adding considerable man
hours to those practices. Some are also a trip hazard for golfers. These should be removed
in favor of a new treatment where traffic control is warranted during future path
replacement efforts.
Clubhouse Interface
The interface where the clubhouse and golf meet are very important and is often
overlooked regarding customer experience. Numerous golf elements relate in this
interface with the building including starting and finishing holes,practice putting greens,
outside services and staging, and all related pathways and access. Additional areas might
include the practice range and other similar practice amenities. In addition, services and
deliveries at the clubhouse occur. Every golfer and customer interact with this area and
therefore it should always be considered a high priority. It is both first and last
impression.
Operating 27 holes from one location can add to the complexity of this interface, but
McCall Golf Club's configuration works generally well. The amenities within the area are
smaller in scale and limited thus reducing the required footprint. Property was .
fortunately available to the east of the clubhouse and was taken advantage of in the 1995
Cedar Nine addition with only a short ride past the range tee area required.
The relocation of the Clubhouse from the original location on Davis Ave. in 1988 did result
in some awkwardness with Birch#3 cutting across the rear of the clubhouse area and
cutting off# 9 Aspen as a finishing hole. Efforts to find a way to relocate the hole were
unsuccessful. Limited area is available for expansion of any of the elements in the area,
but improvements can be made to enhance the cart staging and parking in future paving
renovation efforts. In general, large open paved areas tend to be the best and that is what
currently exists.
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To open attractive views to the north of both the golf holes and mountains in the distance,
trees immediately north of Birch#3 tees are recommended for removal. Views from the
clubhouse veranda as well as for the prop shop will be greatly improved as the area will
be open to the beauty of the property and setting.
Practice Amenities
With less and less time available for the game more golfers are turning to practice facilities
for their golf experience. This puts greater value on the range area as an amenity of a golf
facility as an added value. Many that love the game often only have brief windows of time
to play and hitting balls on the range or chipping around a dynamic practice green area is
their desired solution. At public access facilities,revenues generated from practice balls
cab be significant.
As previously described, the existing practice range is undersized in both overall length
and width, translating to a limitation on the number of hitting stations available at any
given time. Practice range tees typically need to be an acre in overall size to absorb the
wear and tear resulting from the high frequency use and divot damage. As configured,no
additional area is available to expand the range either at the tee or to lengthen it overall.
An optional re-routing design for Aspen#1 and Birch#9 has been developed that would
provide additional area to widen the range tee while adding a new chipping and pitching
green complex in the location of existing Birch#9 green.
The practice putting green is very well situated but is slightly undersized ay 6,500 SR
Expansion is only possible by pushing south into the parking lot which would require the
removal of several existing parking spaces.
Area is not available within the McCall Golf Club property for a dedicated pitching area as
currently configured. The above mentioned optional plan would allow a facility to be
added. In addition, several improved targets within the range area could be added to
provide golfers additional instructional feedback on their practice routines.
Miscellaneous
Wetland Reduction Cedar Hole #7- To improve playability of the hole for all golfers, the
wetland area right of the 1st landing area is to be pushed out and reduced. Areas currently
surrounding the wetand limits are to be reshaped to provide suitable fairway and rough
American Society of Golf Course Architects
2201 W. Forest Grove Ct. -Eagle,ID 83616 - (602) 616-2505 - www.drugolf.com
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conditions with positive surface drainage run-off grades. As a designated wetland habitat,
all associated approvals and permits will be required from the appropriate governing
agencies.
Street Crossings - Golfers cross neighborhood streets several times,but conflicts seem
minimal. In each instance the city must ensure adequate traffic control signage is in place
warning both golfers and vehicle of the potential conflict.
Maintenance Area- The maintenance Area has continued to evolve with nice
improvements made over the years during the off season by the multi-tasking
maintenance.staff and they are to be commended. The value of the maintenance area is
often ignored as it is something that should be out of site and out of mind by all other than
the crew itself. Between the two maintenance yard areas there appears to be suitable space
and storage facilities,but refinements and upgrades should continue to be made.
American Society of Golf Course Architects -
2201 W.Forest Grove Ct.-Eagle,ID 83616 - (602) 616-2505 - www.drugolf.com
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V�V ID=.Dk UY/KKY,
Priorities, Implementation and Budget
Bringing it All Together-
Considering the results of the master plan assessment and scope of work identified to be
addressed, the following are the priorities recommended at this time:
1. Address failing structures such as culvert crossings and player walk bridges over Shiner
Creek.
2. Renovate/refurbish the bunkers on the Cedar Course. Include Master Plan adjustments.
3. Add fairway bunkers Aspen and Birch.
4. Construct Silver and Gold tees to ensure all golfing members are provided a suitable
course yardage. Level and adjust remaining tees.
5. Replace irrigation heads and controllers on Aspen and Birch.
6. Renovate and redesign greens on Aspen and Birch using proper specification for putting
green construction. Increase size and remove excessive slopes within surfaces.
T. Include design enhancements at greens and tees during renovation of each as identified
above.
8. Commence asphalt cart path replacement process, addressing portions each year.
9. Replace irrigation system on Cedar Nine and Practice Range.
10. Add sub-drainage in problematic in-play areas.
11. Add artificial hitting tee line at the practice range.
12. Consider optional routing of Aspen#1 and Birch#9 to facilitate Range widening and
new chipping practice complex.
Currently in a healthy position, there is opportunity for reinvestment in upgrades and
improvements at McCall Golf Club. By proactively addressing aging course
infrastructure, The City of McCall can be confident of maintaining the facilities standing in
the market while providing the golfing public with the highest current standards with its
courses.
Project Considerations -
Golf improvement projects vary in size, cost, and schedule. All facilities approach these
projects in their own way and must determine the best process based on their own set of
variables which are often centered on the following:
1. Disturbance to play- How long might the course be taken out of play or in a state
of work that impacts enjoyment.
- American Society of Golf Course Architects -
2201 W.Forest Grove Ct.-Eagle,ID 83616 - (602)616-2505 - www.drugolf.com
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2. Cost- how much can we afford in the short and long term and how are the
required funds generated or sourced.
3. Necessity - Are there things that must be addressed - proactive vs reactive
4. Mother Nature- Grass growing windows must dictate when projects must occur to
allow reestablishment of playable healthy turf.
5. Seasonal impacts- Months of high play and resulting revenue are often best
avoided.
6. Contractor Availability - Quality Golf Course Contractors are key to the success of
any golf renovation effort.
7. Return on Investment
Project Implementation-
With 3 nine-hole courses, McCall Golf Club has a considerable advantage when
determining how to put together a renovation project. The ability to close one of the
courses for larger renovation projects takes considerable pressure off the facility as it can
still provide 18 playable holes. While many would point to cost being the primary hurdle
to overcome in seeking project approval it is my experience that disturbance to play is
quite often the larger concern.
Some facilities are best suited to undertake smaller scale and or targeted scope projects
that can be conducted without full closure of the golf course or golf holes. With most of
these approaches, golfers simply play through various stages of disturbance on each hole
on any given day. This can translate into many years of various levels of impact and
disturbance to the course and play. It is also a more expensive option over time and
impacts the customers again and again.
Combining scope into larger projects that dictate a closure of the course and completing all
the work within a suitable period is often the most cost effective when there is a large
scope of work to be completed. Some may close all 18 in one project while others may
choose or provide at least nine holes in a two-phase effort.
In all cases green replacement often results in closure of holes for an extended period.
Some may choose to establish temporary greens and allow play to continue in that
configuration for all or part of a season depending on the climate and grass type.
- American Society of Golf Course Architects
2201 W.Forest Grove Ct. -Eagle,ID 83616 - (602) 616-2505 - www.drugolf.com -
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While holes are closed for green renovation it is recommended that as much other work be
completed on those holes as financially feasible. With closed holes the work is much more
efficient and can be completed in the shortest time frames,which also translate to the
lowest cost. Golfers also appreciate the fact that the work is done and over with.
Other projects such as irrigation system replacement can be completed with only minimal
short duration disturbance to play with individual holes being taken out of plan for a few
days as the work proceeds.
In all cases,loss of golf revenue should be carefully considered and included in all
financial projections.
On the following pages is a categorical breakdown of costs associated with the
recommended scope of enhancements and asset management projects. Identified amounts
are based solely on conceptual level detail and should not be used for actual construction
projection and financial allocations or planning. They are simply meant to identify a
Rough Order of Magnitude of costs for anticipated work. Industry standard and recent
bid data pricing was used to generalize this estimate.
American Society of Golf Course Architects
2201 W.Forest Grove Ct. -Eagle,ID 83616 - (602)616-2505 - www.drugolf.com
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McCall Golf Club Master Plan
Rough Order of Magnitude Cost Estimate 4
August,2020
Recommendation Unit; Unit Price Aspen Birch Cedar Practice Facilities
Priority A Projects Units Estimate Units Estimate Units Estimate Units Estimate Totals
Creek Cart Crossings EA $3,250.00 5 $16,250 1 $3,250 1 $1,625 $0 $21,125
Creek Player Walkbridges EA $750.00 6 $4,500 0 $0 1 $750 $0 $5,250
Bunker Renovation SF $6.85 0 $0 0 $0 18,000 $M,300 $0 $123,300
New Fairway Bunkers SF $10.00 3,000 $30,000 2,000 $20,0001 850 $8,50ol. $0 $58,500
New Silver and Gold Tees SF $4.50 16,0001 $72,000 11,500 $51,750 14,000 $63,000 $0 $186,750
Level Tees ISF 1 $2.50 25,000 $62,5001 24,000 $60,0001 16,5001 $41,250 7,5001 $18,750 $182,500
Priority B Projects
New Irrigation Controllers EA $6,500.00 13 $84,500 14 $91,000 $0 $0 $175,500
New Irrigation Heads EA $350.00 462 $161,700 443 $155,050 $0 $0 $316,750
Replace Greens SF $12.50 38,000 $475,000 40,000 $500,000 0 $0 6,500 $81,250 $1,056,250
Asphat Cart Path Replacement LF $2.40 92,000 $220,800 92,000 $220,800 100,000 $240,000 1,600 $3,840 $685,440
Priority C Projects
Irrigation System Replacement AC $19,000.00 0 $0 0 $0 35 $665,000 . 6 $118,750 $783,750
Sub-Drainage LS $4,500 $4,500 $3,500 $2,000 $14,500
Wetland Hole#7 Cedar LS $0 $42,000 $42,000
Range Tee Artificial Turf Line LS $0 $20,000 $20,000
Weather Station Replacement LS $0 $1,500
Clubhouse Cart Staging and Paths ISF 1 $3.501 1 $55,000
Totals $1,131,750 $1,106,350 $1,188,925 $244,590 $3,728,115
American Society of Golf Course Architects
2201 W.Forest Grove Ct.-Eagle,ID 83616 - (602) 616-2505 - www.drugolf.com
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Line Item Descriptions
1. Creek Cart Crossings - Replacement of existing colvert pat crossings with full span
timber bridge cart crossings. Replacement of weathered wood at Cedar Hole#4
bridge.
2. Creek Player Walkbridges - Replacement of old walkbrdiges.
3. Bunker Renovation- Full renovation of existing bunkers on Cedar nine including
adjustments in design per master plan. Removal of old sand and surrounding sod,
reshaping, liner, drainage,new sand and sod.
4. New Fairway Bunkers - Addition of new bunkers in fairways per master plan on
Aspen and Birch courses.
5. New Silver and Gold Tees - Construction of new tees per master plan. Turf
removal, dirtwork, shaping, irrigation adjustments, laser leveling, sand cap and
new sod.
6. Level Tees - Resurfacing and re-leveling of existing tees. Turf removal,minor
adjustments, laser leveling and new sod.
7. New Irrigation Controllers - Replacement of old controllers with new versions
including installation.
8. New Irrigation Heads -Replacement of old irrigation heads throughout including
installation.
9. Replace Greens - Complete rebuild of each green complex to consistent USGA
Specification and new turf variety. Includes new bunkers, expansion and relocation
and re-sodding per Master Plan.
10. Asphalt Cart Path- Cart path replacement to include portions re-routed per the
Master Plan. Grinding and removal of excess existing material. New 8' wide
asphalt installed over improved sub-base material of previously ground material
and level to adjacent grades.
11. Irrigation System Replacement- Complete new irrigation system to replace
existing on Cedar Nine and Practice Range.
12. Sub-Drainage - Allowance for the installation of 4" French drainage and solid pipe
to convey excess run-off in key areas to existing systems or out-of-play low points
of exit.
13.Wetland Cedar Hole #7- Filling of low wetland area and expansion of fairway and
rough. Includes allowance for mitigation requirements.
14. Range Artificial Turf Tee Line - New high-quality artificial turf along back edge of
range over existing concrete. 14- 15 stations.
- American Society of Golf Course Architects -
- 2201 W.Forest Grove Ct. -Eagle,ID 83616 - (602) 616-2505 - www.drugolf.com -
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15.Weather Station replacement- New Irrigation system weather station relocated to
more suitable location.
16. Clubhouse Cart Staging and Paths - Replacement and slight reconfiguration of
paving around Clubhouse and putting green. Grinding and removal of existing old
asphalt, minor grade adjustments, new 2.5" asphalt over base material. Curbs in
select areas.
Qualifications
1. Quantities are based on conceptual level planning only and should not be used in
actual project budgeting. Additional design development required for detailed and
accurate project costing.
2. Unit prices shown reflect recent industry standard pricing with consideration to
project location and known materials pricing. All subject to change.
3. Pricing reflects a combination of using of local contractors and suppliers as well as
specialized Golf Course Contractors for items requiring golf construction and
project development experience or to be completed in challenging time frames.
Small items can be completed or managed in-house- to be determined.
4. All prices reflect completion of each line item in nine-hole project increments.
American Society of Golf Course Architects
2201 W.Forest Grove Ct.-Eagle,ID 83616 - (602)616-2505 - www.drugolf.com
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Conclusion
At the core of each of the recommendations contained herein is the belief that McCall Golf
Club plays a key role in the portfolio of public recreational amenities provided by the City
of McCall. Not only does it serve the residents of the city,but those that visit the busy
vacation town in the summer months looking to round out their activities. By enlisting the
services of a professional golf course architect, course managers have taken the first step
towards securing the future of the facility. Assessing the courses infrastructure and design
integrity so future improvements can be planned to meet the expectations of the golfing
public suggests a healthy dedication to the asset. As with any asset, results are directly
related to the condition and quality of the pieces that compose the product.
Up to this point the golf course has served the city and its golfers well, but time marches
on and things wear out or new standards are introduced that courses should keep up with.
Industry accepted life cycles suggest that the features and materials that make up the golf
course are nearing their useful life and may already be impacting the golf experience.
This planning effort maps out the timely replacement,renovation and upgrade of aged
features and infrastructure. Combined with carefully planned and considered design
enhancements, excellent value will be added to a round at McCall Golf Club well into the
future. While some may look at any recommendations to alter the existing golf course to
be subjective, the key is that each of the suggested enhancements have been thoroughly
planned and considered by a professional Golf Course Architect in a manner conducive to
a quality effort. One meant to stand the test of time.
I am fortunate to have had the opportunity to assist the city with this exciting next step in
their commitment to the betterment of their golf course. With the carefully considered
enhancements and improvements that have been recommended herein, McCall Golf Club
will not only cement its place in the marketplace, it will continue to be a special place for
residents of McCall and golfing public of Idaho for the foreseeable future.
American Society of Golf Course Architects
2201 W.Forest Grove Ct. -Eagle,ID 83616 - (602)616-2505 - www.dru og lf.com
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American Society of Golf Course Architects
2201 W.Forest Grove Ct. -Eagle,ID 83616 - (602)616-2505 - www.drugolf.com
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American Society of Golf Course Architects
2201 W.Forest Grove Ct.-Eagle,ID 83616 - (602)616-2505 - www.drugolf.com
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2201 W. Forest Grove Ct.-Eagle,ID 83616 - (602)616-2505 - www.dru og lf.com
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August 31,2020 o Page 1 of 8
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City of McCall
Basic Irrigation System Analysis
August2020
Prepared by:
o Greg Baer, CGIA, PLA
Baer Design Group, LLC
fylN p. (208) 859-1980
B A E R o e. greg@baerdg.com
Baer Design Group,LLC
Irrigation Design and Consulting
p.208.938.7721/e.greg@baerdg.com
U
Page 2 of 8
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August 31, 2020
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SUMMARY OF FINDINGS
McCall Golf Club located in the mountain resort town of McCall, Idaho is a 27 hole public golf facility and driving range that is
generally open for play May.through October. McCall Golf Club consists of three nine hole courses known and referenced as the
Aspen, Birch and Cedar nines.Aspen and Birch nines are generally a park style layout with homes surrounding the perimeter of the
course.The Cedar nine is primarily a links style layout with homes surrounding each individual golf hole. Irrigation demands
generally peak at an ET Rate of 0.16" per night between mid July and early August.
The Aspen nine and Birch nine irrigation systems were renovated in 1998.With exception of adding surrounds heads around some
of the greens,the irrigation system is largely unchanged.At the time of writing this report,the Aspen and Birch irrigation systems
seem to be functioning fairly well with little maintenance and repair required annually.
The Cedar nine hole course and irrigation system was constructed in 1995 and was primarily built around selling real estate.The
Cedar irrigation system was constructed on a low budget as a single row irrigation system with sprinklers extending down the center
of fairways with sprinklers surrounding the greens and tees.The irrigation system did not allow for adequate turf conditions in the
fairways or roughs so the City has added irrigation along the edges of the fairway to expand turf areas out to the tree line.The
control system did not have capacity to add any more valves or stations so all new irrigation has been added in a block zone
configuration with up to four sprinklers paired to a single station or valve.Homes have since been constructed along each golf hole
and have required additional adjustments to the irrigation system to prevent overspray onto adjacent properties.The irrigation
system was not installed by a professional golf course irrigation contractor.Signs of poor installation practices are showing in pipe,
fitting and sprinkler failure as well as pipe contamination issues.
Water Source and Storage
The golf course has three ground water rights(65-13476, 65-13796 and 65-13119)licensed through the Idaho Department of Water
Resources(IDWR).The maximum diversion rate of all water rights combined is 1.81 CFS(812 GPM)with an annual diversion volume
of 480 AF.The water rights have beneficial uses including irrigation,irrigation storage,irrigation from storage, recreation storage
and diversion to storage.A backup or secondary reuse water supply from the local water plant has also been extended to the golf
course.
The ground water rights are,delivered via three irrigation wells on site.The primary irrigation well is located near the irrigation pump
station between the Aspen and Birch nines and discharges directly into the main irrigation lake.A second irrigation well is located
near the driving range tees that is partially piped north between the driving range and Birch hole 9 then daylights into a small
wetland before flowing into a lake on the right of Aspen hole 2.The third irrigation well is piped to and fills a pond east of the golf
course along Spring Mountain Ranch Blvd.,which overflows through a series of wetlands north of Cedar hole 2 before flowing into
the lake right of Aspen hole 2.We were not able to measure the amount of water entering the irrigation lakes however it is highly
likely that a percentage of the irrigation water delivered by the wells is lost through percolation,evaporation and transpiration
through the wetlands.
There are three irrigation lakes plumbed together near the pump station.The total combined surface area of all three lakes is
approximately 1.95 acres. Pond depths are not verified and total storage could not be calculated however we estimate that the
ponds store approximately 1.1 million gallons in the top two feet of water. During peak irrigation season the irrigation system uses
an average of 550,000 to 600,000 gallons of water per night. Based on this information we can assume that the ponds are capable of
storing a minimum of three nights worth of irrigation water without being refilled by the wells.
The irrigated area of the golf course is estimated at approximately 120 acres.We estimate that the golf course irrigation system uses
approximately 90 million gallons of water per year.Therefore the ground water right annual diversion volume of 480 AF or 156.4
million gallons is adequate for irrigation and recreational water use. During peak irrigation months the ground water delivery is not
able to keep up with the irrigation demands and reuse water from the treatment plant is used to supplement recharging the
irrigation lake.
Baer Design Group,LLC
Irrigation Design and Consulting
p.208.938.7721/e.greg@baerdg.com
v
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Irrigation Life Cycle
Just like all mechanical and electrical systems, irrigation systems have a life cycle.The American Society of Golf Course Architects
have provided an independent study on the life cycle of golf course amenities.Within the study, irrigation components including the
irrigation control systems(electrical), piping and pump station were evaluated. Depending on the region in which the irrigation
system is in operation the overall life cycle varies from 10 to 30 years. In the mountainous northwest where irrigation systems are
only utilized approximately 6 months of the year,we typically expect the life cycle of irrigation components to be on the higher side
of the ASGCA study.See the ASGCA"Golf Course Items, Expected Life Cycle"exhibit on page 55 of the Golf Course Master Plan
report, prepared by David Druzisky.
The life cycle bar for each component group listed below is represented with green,yellow and red.Green represents components
that are respectively new with no maintenance required.Yellow represents the period in which products should still function
however minimal maintenance may begin to occur.Yellow is also a time period in which budget planning for future replacement of
the components or system should be considered. Red represents components that are near or at the end of their expected life cycle
and components or system failures begin to increase. Each grey bar represents the respective component age of each category.This
is a very high level observation tool to gauge where a system is overall within the average life cycle however, many variables
including design, installation,water quality, maintenance and climate may shorten or extend the life of an irrigation system. Using
this general observation, many of irrigation components on the golf course have exceeded their expected life cycle.
McCall Golf Club - Irrigation Life Cycle
Aspen Irrigation System (30 yrs) i
Aspen PVC Pipe(under pressure)(30 yrs)
Aspen Valves(10-20 yrs) 0
Aspen Irrigation Control System (10-15 yrs)
Aspen Sprinklers(7-15 yrs) 0
Birch PVC Pipe(under pressure)(30 yrs)
Birch Irrigation System (30 yrs) mmmmmmmmmmmmw
Birch Valve(10-20 yrs) 0
Birch Irrigation Control System(10-15 yrs) 0
Birch Sprinklers(7-15 yrs) 0
Cedar Irrigation System(30 yrs)
Cedar PVC Pipe(under pressure)(30 yrs)
Cedar Valve(10-20 yrs) - 0
Cedar Irrigation Control System(10-15 yrs) 0
Cedar Sprinklers(7-15 yrs) 0
Pump Station(20 yrs)
0 5 10 15 20 25 30
Years
Pump Station
The irrigation pump station is located central of the golf course on the right side of Birch hole 8. It is powered by 480v,3 phase
power and is located inside of an insulated pump house. It produces a total of 2000 GPM,with approximately 1600 GPM dedicated
to the irrigation system and 400 GPM to filling ponds and servicing water fountains in the ponds.The irrigation pump station
consists of a Flowtronex pump skid and manifold installed in 1998. A Precision Pumping Systems control panel upgrade was
installed in 2009.The pumps consist of a 75 hp,50 hp and 30 hp vertical turbine pumps with a 10 hp submersible pressure
maintenance pump.The 75 hp pump has a Variable Frequency Drive(VFD)that acts like a gas pedal to speed up or slow down the
Baer Design Group,LLC
Irrigation Design and Consulting
p.208.938.77211 e.greg@boerdg.com
( a
August 31,2020 o Page 4 of 8
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station as irrigation demands change in the field.The pumps have been serviced since install and there are no sign of any issues with
the pumps at the time of inspection.
An older pump station used to be in operation on Cedar but is no longer in use.
Irrigation Control System
The irrigation control system consists of a newly installed Rain Bird Nimubs II central computer with up to date software and original
or used Par 16,Par 24 and Par+controllers in the field.
The controllers on Aspen and Birch are original from the 1998 install and are limited to 16 stations or 24 stations per controller.
There is no opportunity to increase station capacity in these controllers.As sprinklers or stations are added in the field,if a controller
does not have any open stations available then multiple sprinklers in the field are paired together on a single station to make room
for new sprinklers.The Par 16 and Par 24 controllers are obsolete and no longer manufactured however there are still service
companies that sell refurbished components.The golf course maintenance department has relied on these refurbished components
to keep the existing system operational as components have failed in the past.
Controllers on the Cedar course are a mixture of Par 24 and Par+controllers.The Par+controllers were purchased used from local
courses that were replacing their control system with new product.
Rotors/Sprinklers
Sprinklers on the golf course are primarily original with exception of those that have been added to increase irrigated turf areas or
installed to replace failing sprinklers.The sprinklers on Aspen and Birch are all Valve-In-Head(VIH)and a mixture of Rain Bird
700/750 and 900/950 series heads.Aspen and Birch greens,tees and fairways are.all wired for single head control whereas,the
roughs are double head control with two heads paired to a single station at the controller.Green surround sprinklers have been
added to some of the greens on Aspen and Birch.Cedar greens and tees are single head control while there are up to four sprinklers
paired together in the fairways and roughs. In some cases,these are paired by control wires spliced together in the field and others
sprinklers are grouped together and plumbed in block zones and controlled by a single valve.
The current sprinkler layout on Aspen and Birch
has remained unchanged from the original -
installation in 1998.Sprinkler spacing on Aspen `
and Birch is fairly consistent between 72'to 78' '
equilateral triangulated spacing through the
fairways and roughs.Aspen and Birch primarily
have single head control and it appears that
staff is able to uniformly irrigate the playable
areas of the golf course.In evaluating turf
quality on Aspen and Birch while on site and via
google earth we noticed that turf conditions are •
fairly uniform and'appear to be in good health,
as witnessed in the image to the right.
•
Sprinkler Spacing on Birch hole 8
The original irrigation system on Cedar was installed on a budget,value engineered and generally consisted of a single row of
sprinklers down the fairways spaced between 71'to 78'with multiple sprinklers surrounding the greens and tees.The course staff
quickly realized that single row coverage was inadequate.To remediate the issue,staff renozzled the original sprinklers to throw
further out to the edge of fairway and started adding sprinklers to the edges of the fairways in order to increase playable turf areas.
The newly added sprinkler spacing ranges significantly between 67'-89'.Today,there are sections of fairways with three sprinklers
crossing the fairway and in other locations the single row still exists.Additionally, homes are being constructed adjacent to each golf
Baer Design Group,LLC
Irrigation Design and Consulting
p.208.938.77211 e.greg@baerdg.com
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hole requiring further modification to the irrigation system to prevent irrigation overspray onto adjacent properties. In the image
below titled "sprinkler Spacing on Cedar hole 5"you can see the wet and dry areas through the fairway.
0
Sprinkler Spacing on Cedar hole 5
Groups of up to four sprinklers are paired together on a block zone making it impossible to properly manage irrigation application
between single coverage areas,double coverage areas and the various microclimates,topsoils and slopes on the golf course. It is
obvious that poor and inconsistent coverage and lack of control makes it impossible to manage the irrigation system and provide
uniform playing conditions on Cedar.
Contaminated pipe from construction seems to be a reoccurring headache on Cedar. Debris trapped inside the piping system is
migrating to the sprinkler heads and creating"weepers"where the heads can't shut off all the way and continue to leak water until
cleaned.Approximately a dozen heads are replaced every year due to contamination.
Piping
The irrigation piping on the golf course is original.The mainline and laterals are Class 200 PVC.The mainline on Aspen and Birch is all
gasketed PVC with ductile iron fittings.We were not able to verify if the mainline on Cedar is gasketed or glued or if the fittings are
PVC or ductile iron.Very little pipe failure has been observed on the piping system through the years. Lateral fittings are starting to
fail at an increased rate. Previous repairs made with slip fixes are a common failure and are being replaced with compression
couplers.
There are a wide variety of swing joint makes, models and sizes installed on the golf course.Some failure has been witnessed on the
threads of the upper elbow.This could be caused from water hammer,over tightening the fitting,freezing water in the pipe or from
movement in the earth such as frost heaving. Fitting failure could be a sign of fatigue in the system.
Valves
The mainline isolation valves are mechanical joint ductile iron and seem to be working without any issue.The original lateral
isolation valves are Buckner brass angle valves.They have been slowly failing over the years and are being replaced with a Leemco
Stainless steel lateral angle valve. It appears in evaluating the irrigation as-built and in interviewing the superintendent that
adequate isolation is in place on the golf course.
Weather Station
A weather station is located left of Birch hole 9 white tees.The weather station is hard wired into the irrigation system and is
communicating with the central control system.A home has been constructed adjacent to the weather station and solar radiation
off the windows is affecting the readings.The weather station has been regularly serviced and is currently in good working operation
however it is an older obsolete model.
Baer Design Group,LLC
Irrigation Design and Consulting
p.208.938.7721/e.greg@baerdg.com
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Driving Range
The driving range is unique to the rest of the golf course. •
Approximately 2/3`d of the range is irrigated while the remaining •
l�
1/3`d had an irrigation system but was abandoned 15 years ago.
The portion that is irrigated was constructed with typical
landscape rotors you might find on residential or light �. �•
commercial projects.They are not engineered to withstand the
climate or pressure demands on a golf course.The sprinkler •
spacing varies between 60'-70'.Coverage is poor and is apparent
in aerial photographs.
l
RECOMMENDATIONS
Aspen&Birch
The piping system is not showing significant signs of failure. Mainline fittings are holding up well and valves are being replaced as
needed to maintain isolation to on the golf course. Lateral piping is holding up although previous repair to slip fixes are common,the
repairs are fairly simple and do not require complete irrigation shut down to maintain operation elsewhere on the course. I feel as
though the piping system,although near it's typical life cycle has more life to give. No major improvements are recommended at this
time.
The existing field satellites are obsolete and in many cases are at or beyond their station capacity. More satellites will become over
capacity as additional sprinklers are added to the green surrounds.Without additional station capacity at the satellite,staff will have
to start paring sprinklers together to make room for new sprinklers.As sprinklers are paired together,the ability to manage
irrigation on individual areas of the golf course diminishes and course conditions will suffer. Finding replacement parts to repair
broken controllers will become increasingly more difficult as well. I recommend that existing field satellites be replaced with new
higher capacity Rain Bird Par+ES controllers to maintain individual station control and prevent a situation where a satellite failure
limits the ability to irrigate until repaired or replaced. New controllers would be compatible with the existing control system and
could be phased in as needed or all replaced at once. Grounding should also be replaced with each new satellite.
The sprinklers installed around the greens and tees where topdressing is a common practice are generally set below grade and need
to be raised flush with the ground surface.Some sprinklers in the fairways and roughs are slowing tilting or becoming uneven with
the finish grade and are leveled as required on an on-going bases by maintenance staff. Ideally,green surround sprinklers are added
to all greens on the golf course to improve control on and around the greens.Sprinklers are generally well beyond their expected life
cycle.Sprinkler failures are a somewhat common issue and are being repaired as necessary.Although not observed and no actual
field testing was performed to verify performance, it is likely that the sprinklers are not operating efficiently due to age and use.
Swing joint breaks below the sprinkler are also increasing. I recommend replacing the sprinklers and swing joints on the golf course
with new sprinklers and swing joints.This improvement could be implemented all at once or phased in multiple holes at a time over
a handful of years. I anticipate that this partial renovation would extend the life of the irrigation system 10-15 years,at which time a
full irrigation renovation would be required.
The existing weather station is operational but needs to be relocated to an area unaffected by buildings or irrigation.A location has
been identified left of Birch hole 9 tees that will provide accurate weather readings unaffected by buildings,trees or irrigation.
Power and communication wire are nearby making the relocation fairly simple.
Baer Design Group,LLC
Irrigation Design and Consulting
p.208.938.7721/e.greg@baerdg.com
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Cedar
The irrigation on Cedar was never implemented correctly to begin with.A pump station initially planned for Cedar has since been
removed,limiting irrigation flow directly to the Cedar 9 and changing how flow is dispersed through the piping system.Additional
sprinklers have been added putting more demand on the piping system.The combination of a modified irrigation delivery point and
added sprinklers is likely creating low pressure issue and affecting sprinkler performance. Field satellites are obsolete and at
capacity.Sprinklers are beyond their life cycle,not spaced uniformly and are paired with up to four sprinklers on an individual
station making irrigation management nearly impossible. Contamination in the piping system is continually creating issues at the
sprinkler heads.
Unfortunately,the issues that exist on Cedar cannot be easily remediated with a simple sprinkler and control system upgrade. Larger
issues exist within the piping system configuration,sprinkler spacing and issues related to the quality of design and install.The only
real fix to gain maximum value on the investment is to replace the entire irrigation system on the Cedar including mainline,valves,
laterals,sprinklers,swing joints and controls.
Driving Range
The irrigation system at the driving range is more of a commercial or park style system.The sprinklers are a landscape rotor that is
not engineered to withstand the higher water pressures in a golf irrigation system or the continuous traffic from maintenance
equipment driving over the top of them.The landscape sprinklers are not as efficient with water distribution as a golf rotor.Spacing
is not uniform and groups of up to seven sprinklers are paired together on a single block zone exceeding the recommended flow
limitations of the piping system.The system demands a lot of labor from staff,taking them away from other responsibilities on the
golf course which benefit the patrons.
A new irrigation system should be considered for the driving range including new lateral valves,laterals,sprinklers,swing joints and
controllers.
Water Sources
Although there are irrigation wells and a service from the water plant providing irrigation water to the golf course,an existing third
water supply could be captured and utilized to reduce water pulled from the ground water wells.An existing water source is
discharged from the treatment plant to a pond/wetland near hole 6 on Cedar, runs along holes Cedar 7 and 8 and ends up in a pond
south of the tees on Birch 2.This water could be captured and routed to the irrigation pond for use on the golf course. Infrastructure
to capture this water supply is mostly in place and little investment may be required to utilize this water and reduce ground water
use.
Aspen Estimated Improvement Costs
1) Replace Field Satellites(13) @$6500 ea =$84,500
2) Replace Sprinklers and Add Green Surround Sprinklers(462) @$350 ea=$161,700
Birch Estimated Improvement Costs
3) Replace Field Satellites(14) @ $6500 ea=$91,000
4) Replace Sprinklers and Add Green Surround Sprinklers(443) @$350 ea=$155,050
5) Relocate Weather Station=$1500
Cedar Estimated Improvement Costs
1) Replace Irrigation System @$19,000/acre @ 35 acres=$665,500
Driving Range Estimated Improvement Costs
1) Replace Irrigation System @$19,000/acre @ 6.25 acres=$118,750
Baer Design Group,LLC
Irrigation Design and Consulting
p.208.938.7721/e.greg@baerdg.com
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All of the recommendations herein are based on the limited amount of information collected throughout this process. Field data
could be collected to further refine our findings and recommendations.The estimated improvement costs are based on general
improvement costs.Should the City decide to explore these recommended improvements an Irrigation Master Plan should be
completed to better detail the required improvements and to develop a more accurate Construction Cost Estimate.
Greg Baer, PLA, PIC,CGIA
Principal Irrigation Consultant
Baer Design Group,LLC
Irrigation Design and Consulting
p.208.938.7721/e.greg@baerdg.com