Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutUSGA Inspection Cherry Lane Golf Course - Spink ButlerJOANN C. BUTLER SANDRA L. CLAPP KELLY M. GARRITY MICHAEL T. SPINK November 22, 2002 VIA HAND DELIVERY Nav z ~ zooz Mayor Robert Come and City Council Members 33 East Idaho Meridian, Idaho 83642 RE: Cherry Lane Golf Course SBC File No. 21852.1 Dear Mayor Corrie and Council Members: (208) 388-1083 (DIRECT LINE) JBUTLER~G SBC-ATTORNEYS.COM gECEIVED City of Meridian City Clerk Office On behalf of our client, Cherry Lane Recreation, Inc., I would like thank you for the opportunity to address the Council at its pre-Council hearing on November 12, 2002, during which you accepted the United States Golf Association Turf Advisory Service Report prepared for Cherry Lane Golf Course. As promised, enclosed is a compact disk containing pictures taken during the inspection on which the Report is based. Also enclosed is a memorandum of notes and comments taken during the inspection that correlate with the compact disk (see attached instructions). At this recent hearing, the Mayor and Council members discussed setting aside time to discuss the Report. As I mentioned at the hearing, we believe it would be very helpful to organize a golf course committee to plan work in connection with Cherry Lane Golf Course. We also believe it would be beneficial to dedicate a staff person (and some of that person's time each week or month) to participate and assist the committee. Your Parks Department employee, Elroy Huff, and your Parks Commission Board Member, Creg Steele, have both indicated a desire to work further with Cherry Lane Recreation and the City and their input would be invaluable. 251 E. FRONT STREET SUITE 200 P.O. BOX 639 BOISE, IDAHO 83701 208-388-1000 208-388-1001 (~ W W W.SBC-ATTORNEYS.COM Mayor Robert Corrie and City Council Members November 22, 2002 Page 2 On behalf of Cherry Lane Recreation, we look forward to working with you and your staff on this matter. Please call with any questions. Sincerely, ~A~„a,.t,..~ JoAnn C. Butler JCB:Iaa Enclosures cc: Jennifer Lovan Holloway & Tad Holloway (w/memo only) (via fax & U.S. Mail) Elroy Huff (w/all encl) (via Hand Delivery) Creg Steele (w/memo only) (via Hand Delivery) Will Berg (w/memo only) (via Hand Delivery) Bill Nichols (w/memo only) (via Hand Delivery) JOANN C: BUTLER SANDRA L. CLAPP KELLY M: GARRITY MICHAEL T. S.PINK .MEMORANDUM N0~1 2 L 20Q2 To: File From: Sharon Gallivan Date: November 22, 2002 Subject: USGA Inspection of Cherry Lane Golf Course Attendees: Matt Nelson, USGA Creg Steele, Parks and Recreation Commission Will Berg, Meridian City Clerk Jennifer Lovan-Holloway, Cherry Lane Recreation, 'Inc. Nancy Link, Cherry Lane Recreation, Inc. Tom Funkhouser, Cherry Lane Recreation, Inc. Sharon Gallivan, Spink Butler Clapp, LLP Matt Nelson with the USGA conducted the inspection. SGALLIVAN ~Q SBC-ATTORNEYS,COM RECEIVED City of Meridian City Clerk Office The inspection began with a Q & A regarding the background and history of the course. Jennifer was the primary source for the responses. The issue of the maintenance shed and property to be donated for it was addressed as well. Jennifer estimates that 30,000 - 40,000 rounds of golf are played each year at the course. There are five full time employees. The development of the course in two phases was explained. The goal of the inspection was defined: Everyone wants to work together to see that the city has the golf course it was promised by the developers,, and to identify deficiencies in the infrastructure and propose avenues to improve the course. The field inspection started on the practice green. [Picture #1, 2] Nelson stated that the Tee is subgrade and not done very well. He also said. that the practice green generally takes a lot of abuse, more than other areas on the course. He addressed the cart paths and stated that the paths maybe better placed to distribute traffic and reduce compaction. 251 E. FRONT STREET SuITE,200 P.O. BOX 639 BOISE, IDAHO 83701 208-388-1000 208-388-1001 (F) W W W.SBC-ATTORNEYS.COM November 22, 2002 Page 2 The' first three holes are the area that the top soil was' scraped off by the developer to move to the building lots. [#3 -9] Matt said that the topsoil issue is something that should have been addressed in the construction contract. He stated that a golf course architect/designer would have been valuable in the initial stages of development. At the 200 yard marker Nelson took a bore sample. [#10-12] He described the water problems and discussed the placement of the sprinklers, and noted that there seemed to be no real pattern of placement and coverage. Jennifer said that this area originally had very poor coverage and CLR had added approximately 80 sprinklers to this area. They pointed to two issues, 1) the line is undersized (Tom Funkhouser said the line was 3" from the pumphouse), and 2) the pressure at the pumphouse is 70 lbs. and only approximately 50 lbs. in the field. There was some discussion about whether this might actually be a 6" line at the pumphouse or 4". Nelson ,asked if they had tried doing some overseeding; Nancy and Jennifer stated that they had. First Green: [#13-14] Nelson remarked about the slope of the green, stating it was 7-8% and should be no more than 1-2% to keep, the greens slower. He said this was a "do-over." He also remarked that the cart'path5 should be relocated to the, other side., Hole No. 2 and fairway: [#15-16] No sprinkler heads? Nelson described the triangulated spacing of sprinklers that should be found in this area. This prompted a discussion of how the course was originally financed, and allocation of expenses for the necessary improvements. Will explained the $650 assessment and mentioned the $100 lot fee. Jennifer remarked about the slow market in the 80's' and how the second nine was put on hold. The three developers responsible for the course were identified: Kent Barney, Brighton, and Steiner. Jennifer mentioned that Brighton ,had recently brought in more trees, and Steiner had, added irrigation lines. No. 2 Green: [#17] Nelson inspected the soil in this area and said that the clay is "wicking" the water away from the green. Because CLR has had so much trouble getting grass to grow here Tom put in a plug (see picture) to see if it would grow. No. 3 Fairway: [#18-20] Nelson remarked that the aeration they have been doing (see picture of tractor aerating later) is good, but what they need to do is look at TORO or John Deere. He .said to go down about 3-4" and pull a plug. CLR is using a tractor that has a "slicing" action rather than tines that penetrate to a greater depth. Nelson suggested that CLR should look for someone who is starting a contract aeration company and have them go as far down as possible. He said the soils are very tight and it probably wouldn't go very far for the first few times they did it. They need to aerate at least annually, but "irrigation is the huge problem here." Nelson said that November 22, 2002 Page 3 it would take at least $1 M to do the irrigation right, and he figured that. only a third of what was needed was actually done (spent?). Tiled ditch: [#21-24] Nelson said they need to grow grass'over the ditch. According to Jennifer, Tom and Nancy, Nampa-Meridian Irrigation will not allow that. Since the new elementary school opened, children are riding their bikes down this "path" and are coming into the path of play. Nelson said CLR should present Nampa-Meridian with the safety issues and the environmental fact that turf is the best filter for possible pollutants. Jennifer noted that the irrigation company and one of the developers (landscaper?) is driving a truck down this "path." No. 3. [#25-33] Green & No. 4 Tee box: Root growth is good, but the concern is thatch.' ,Nelson demonstrated how the different layers in the sod accumulate water and how similar they are to "growth rings" of a tree. Nelson stressed that water management is crucial, and although the problems here are not unusual it isn't what you want. Aeration and top dressing will help - should be done spring and fall, perhaps mid-May and Labor Day. This schedule will preserve the play time as much as possible. Nelson said that this condition can become a real problem if the soil gets compacted. The sample he took had good density and strong root development. This condition in this area requires more difficult water management as problems with weeds and moss can result. No. 4 Green: [#34-36] Jennifer noted that the course "gained" property here from a developer. No irrigation lines are available to water this area. This is one location suggested for the new Maintenance Shed. Jennifer has been watering some of this area with a hose. No. 5. [#37-38] "Core aeration" will have longer lasting benefit here. That would be a good tool to use in conjunction with the blade tool currently being used. Will mentioned that Dave McKinnon is the staff person working with the golf course now, since the reorganization after Stiles and Koontz left. Nelson questioned whether there was any professional involved with the design of the golf course. All said "no." I asked Nancy about Brighton's plan designed by David Peugh. She said it was never used. ,Nelson mentioned again that the irrigation for the course should have been (should be?) $1-1.5M and that the Developers really got a good deal out of the city on this. Again in this area, Nelson pointed out the poor spacing of irrigation heads. [#39-42] He said it should be no more than 60-70 feet, and. that they should employ a "wedge" pattern. He also, noted that the heads on the sprinklers are "residential" heads, and that they aren't appropriate fora 'golf course, Jennifer said that they have played with a 6" bump this summer because of poor condition of the course in this area. [#43-45] This area is also where the issue of drainage swales on the golf course was raised. Will mentioned that there was a triangle property here that Steiner was supposed to swap. Jennifer said the swap had taken place. November 22, 2002 Page 4 #7 Pond and Hole: [#46-50] This is another area mentioned for the Maintenance Shed. Also, this is an example of the "fluid" property boundaries. A Tee box had to be moved because it ended up in the back yard of one of the residential lots. I asked if the golf course had been surveyed in the last two years .(since I had asked the same question of Wally and Dick Johnson) and she said just "spot surveyed." When I questioned what that meant, she said when they survey for the development CLR knows what is the golf course by where the developers place the boundary. Well: [#51-58] There is a well near Black Cat that is on the. golf course; but no one knows who owns it. Jennifer has done "Internet research" (IDWR?). There is a wide expanse of almost flat, featureless' ground. Nelson remarked that they should have been able to use. the fill dirt for molding the course. According to Jennifer the, contractors used quite a iot of dirt to build up and level the lots. This area next to the road is the only area that isn't fenced from the road. Jennifer said that Stiles didn't want a fence there. Will suggested that a split rail fence would be good to separate the area from the road. There was discussion about a paved access that had been removed and replaced with "pavers" through which the grass would grow. This allows a truck to come in and service the "port-a-potty" at that end of the course. No. 10 : [67-68] Nelson said this area has good root development. "Not terrible -some sand down there, and it is distributed." He said the speed and slope of the greens are problematic. Jennifer commented that the lower handicaps don't like playing their course because it's too fast. Pumphouse: Problems with erosion caused CLR to make repairs last year. Brought in rocks to stabilize. [#65-66] No. 11 Fairway: [#69-70] Jennifer and Nancy commented that this is an area where the survey is off by about 40 feet or so; the irrigation doesn't go to the edges and that leaves a "no man's land",that is just weeds and not getting watered. Will mentioned. the "piecemeal" nature of the acquisition of the course. Nelson said that his recommendation would be to do the course in phases, do the pump station first, and in the subsequent years do one nine at a time. He said they need a good contractor to do it though, not someone who is going to come in and do it and leave after a couple of weeks. He also said they need a "master plan." The irrigation system should last about 25 years (Jennifer noted that it's time to redo the original nine), and that it would cost around $1-1.SM. [#71] Also, in this section there was a ditch that was tiled and grass was grown over the top (question: why did Nampa-Meridian Irrigation allow them to grow grass here but won't allow it in the newer area?). All that remains visually (other than a very noticeable depression) is a November 22; 2002 Page 5 gravel "path." This gravel area tends to funnel the golf cart traffic to the center. Nelson said they should remove that area and plant grass to distribute traffic. [#72] The strip of land in this picture is the one that Cherry Lane was told they should maintain. The similar strips along the sidewalk are maintained by the Homeowner's Association. No. 12: Compacted soil -difficult to penetrate sand layer. Again, Nelson points to irrigation problems. [#73-75] No. 13. [#76] This is where the restrooms are located. General discussion about having the Boy Scout troops come in and paint. This area is usually the worst in the entire course, but not too bad this fall. Problems with a particular kind of problem grass, and some mold as well. [#80] Current Maintenance sheds: Across Cherry Lane, next to the Albertson's. We crossed Cherry Lane in the golf carts -not legal. The .golf carts ean be run in the streets within that square mile, but not outside. Every time there is maintenance on a cart, or to run materials back and forth, the employees have to cross Cherry Lane. Ladies Tee: [#81-83] "Size of a postage stamp," Nancy Link. South of the Clubhouse: This is the area that the city wants to see the maintenance shed located. CLR wants to put the picnic area there, and doesn't want to mix maintenance traffic with pedestrians. [#84] CLR would like to explore obtaining other property on which to locate the maintenance shed. [#85]