The Re-Development of Fernandina Beach Municipal Golf Course - Part 1

By Alan Prescott

January 28, 2021

Fernandina Beach Municipal Golf Course (File Photo)

When I first found out about your golf course, I heard a silent cry for help in a muted way. Too many golf courses are failing in the United States, and most times, instead of the owners/managers either don't care or don't know how to help because they don't know how to proceed because they don't have a background or, for example, they hire management companies that sell them a bill of goods. With these companies, the dollar is the determining factor as to how much they will do to really help a golf course thrive. But, you cannot JUST THROW MONEY AT A COURSE and hope that some magic golf course improvement fairy will make it happen.

Personally, I have no interest in local politics or placing blame on any individual or group of individuals. I have saved many golf courses within 140 miles of where I sit and I have done so without a penny of compensation. All of these golf courses, excepting one, had no extra money to turn things around, but, I wanted to give back for all of my silent accomplishments and rewards. Please take the following discussion and those that follow as an effort to right a sinking ship.

First, above all, the condition of your golf course MUST be improved. You should hire 2 additional full time employees and at least 1 additional part-time employee. This is to improve the overall condition of the golf course. Overall improvement should be directed towards all parts of the golf course, such as tee boxes, aprons, greens, fairways, roughs, and trees.

Trees---

Trimming of trees should begin TODAY or as soon as the sap begins to flow as the leaves come out. ANY trees that directly impinge on any greens should be either removed or trimmed back substantially.

Aprons and Collars--

If the grass is completely dead, these areas should be verticut and re-seeded. When using a fertilizer to help grass growth, use 1/4 rate with the sprayer or spreader. Make sure to wet the seeded area moderately at least 2-3 times during the day according to daily rainfall amounts. Cover the seeded areas with a light layer of straw and keep the area wet (but not soaked) throughout the sunlight hours. Remember that you must begin this over-seeding when the danger of any frost is gone.

Greens--

When the growth season begins and you notice substantial grass growth on the greens, verticut the greens, insuring that the blades on the verticutter don't go too deep. When you verticut, immediately top-dress them and drag the greens with a special top-dressing mat with a good top-dressing mixture. If you have any dandelions on the fringe of the greens, the treatment for that is to use a dicot weed control. Dicot weed control is used because dandelions are a dicot weed. But, DON'T APPLY DICOT WEED CONTROL TO THE BENTGRASS ON YOUR GREENS - EVER!!! It will kill the bent grass on your greens rapidly. What you'll notice with dandelions is that, after you apply dicot weed control, the dandelions will grow rapidly. Dicot weed control is a systemic growth hormone, which will make the weeds out grow themselves and die.

Tee Boxes--

Tee boxes should be leveled and re-seeded. If you want fast grass growth, mix your regular grass with wheat (LIKE YOU EAT) seed in a 50/50 mixture. The wheat seed is an annual plant. It grows up quickly and then is replaced by the regular grass seed, which is a perennial, which will last for years if properly maintained. Use of a high-nitrogen is recommended at a 1/4 rate every 3-4 weeks. Cover your seeded with straw and water for 10 minutes maximum 2-3 times each day. Temporary tees should be used for this time during re-planting.

Roughs and Fairways--

Believe it or not, roughs are very important. They should be maintained at 2-3 inches higher than fairway height. Fairways are important, too. If you have fairway irrigation, and depending on drainage, they should be significantly watered early each morning, and then, depending on temperature and rainfall, again for 15 minutes during mid-afternoon. Watering fairways or greens at night increases grass fungus. As with fairways, on super hot days, a quick watering of about 10 minutes on greens and collars is recommended. One further thing, there should NEVER be fairways that are too high so as to make golfers lose a ball in a fairway.

Part 2: A final mention of Top Tracer

As I mentioned beforehand, Top Tracer, when used in the proper manner and with the proper perspective, can be a profitable venture. In the northern areas of the country , where I live, ventures like this can be profitable, under the right circumstances, between November 1st and April 30th (on the average and in my opinion). For the non-golfing crowd, they can be a moneymaker for recreation as an indoor recreation destination, but ONLY with the right amenities, management, and promotion. In all honesty, you MUST remember that no adjoining bathroom facilities that are properly maintained, no snack bar that is open from daily facility opening until 1 hour before closing, and inadequate staffing, WILL make the facility FAIL. You never get a second chance to make a first impression.

Budgeting and Finances--

Since I have not received complete information about rates and costs, I am going to estimate what needs to happen. First, I would allow pull carts to be used by both members and all other groups including snowbirds. The trail fee for the use of your pull carts should be $3.00 per day, whether the golfer is a member or a greens fee player and, in addition, the fee be paid once daily whether or not the golfer is playing 9 or 18 holes.

Next, for the locals (NOT members), I would increase the greens fees by $3.00 per round and sell a "Golf Frequency Card" that is good for 1 calendar year for 1 free greens fee when you play 12 times (Bakers Dozen Deal. For snowbirds, I would increase their greens fees by $2.00 for 9-hole play and $4.00 for 18-hole play.

As far as the City Budgeting, there should be an allocation of $100,000.00 to the golf course immediately for 2021. It should be used in the following manner: $25,000.00 for golf course machinery improvements, $25,000.00 for golf course repair (tee boxes, fringes, greens, fairways, etc., and $50,000 for labor and some clubhouse improvements and maintenance. Not enough, you say? If all of the above is run efficiently and consistently, the extra money for the golf course will be available to further golf course needs and projects.

But, I am NOT finished by ANY MEANS. This Business Plan is far from complete!! This is merely Phase 1 of my Re-Development Recommendations. In Phase 2, you will understand what could easily out-perform any idea and suggestion that I have heard. In addition, I have heard from over 2 dozen individuals, who have one recommendation in common with mine, and, definitely need to be heard.

Next Article: The Ultimate Golf Center at Fernandina Beach Municipal Golf Course.

As always, I am Alan Prescott, here for you, and reachable at alanprescott528@yahoo.com