High wind gusts experienced by the Bartlesville area in recent weeks have displaced some of the topsoil on the newly reconstructed greens at Adams Golf Course and could cause delays in sodding, Assistant City Manager Laura Sanders said Monday.
“We have lost some of the topsoil on several of the greens due to high winds, so much of this work will need to be redone, unfortunately,” Sanders said. “Jonesplan, the contractor on the greens replacement project, has been working with Golf Course Superintendent Jody Shahan to mitigate these issues, and while we know sodding will need to be delayed at least a week as the topsoil is replaced, we are still hopeful the project will be on-track to conclude as planned.”
The project, which got underway last fall, includes the replacement of all 18 course greens, along with the nursery, chipping and putting greens, and upgrading the course’s drainage system.
Jonesplan was expected to finish the project by May 2; however, the delay could push that date back another week, Sanders said. The greens will not be ready for play until late August or early September.
The construction of temporary greens to allow for an earlier opening may be possible, Sanders said, assuming the contractor can complete the project as well as clean up the course and remove equipment in time.
“It will come down to how soon we can make the course safe for the public and make all the other changes that are necessary to reopen early,” she said.
Contract and golf course personnel are watering the greens for 10 minutes every hour, including hand-watering, in hopes that the mix stays moist enough to stay in place during recurrent high winds, Sanders said.
“The sprinklers will likely cause the surroundings to get wet to some degree, which could prevent Jonesplan from finishing grading and sodding to full production levels on all unfinished holes,” Sanders said. “They have been working to clean up the greensmix in the bunkers and the Tahoma areas, with extra work on hole No. 5, adding soil and grading and drainage. They hand-watered the mix on holes 4,5,6 and 7 so that they could keep the surroundings dry enough to continue some production. They were able to sod holes 4,5,6, and 7 last week. When the winds die down to normal again, and the surroundings dry out enough, they will be full-speed ahead again and will try to get back to full production.”
Sanders said most of the greensmix loss occurred on “the hill,” or holes 15, 17, and 10.
“Those holes lost up to two inches, and even more in some spots,” she said. “Other greens lost approximately half an inch on average.”
With the exception of the driving range, the course has been closed for play since last fall to accommodate the project. A new golf pro, Dee Roadman (see this edition of City Beat), will begin working with City leadership as soon as possible to determine fees, memberships, and other items related to the reopening of the course, Sanders said.
“We will have an announcement regarding these details very soon,” Sanders said.