Cart Path Rules at the Parkway

With records rains all over the province last week and one inch in the rain gauge this morning.  I believe now is as good a time as any to talk about the cart path rules here at St. Clair Parkway Golf Course.  One of the first decisions made by the turf department every morning is the cart rules for the day.  When making this decision, a lot of things have to be considered.  How wet is it?  What is the forecast for the rest of the day?  How busy is the tee sheet?  Are there proper staffing in place to enforce the cart rules of the day?  Is there staffing to clean the carts at the end of the day?  Will the Golfers even obey the rules?  All these questions come into mind when making the decision.  You have to understand that the goal here is to make the right decision for the golf course, not the golfer.   Here are the carts rules that we have.

 

Normal Golf Cart Rules: 

Drive the cart responsibly

Avoid sharp turns, even with the smoother tires the turf can be torn

Use cart paths whenever possible

Obey cart exit signs.  When you come to the cart exit signs follow the arrows and exit to the cart path.  Stay on the cart path to the next hole.

Fairways Only Cart Rule:

Carts are allowed to go from the cart path to the fairway at a 90 degree angle.  Once in the fairway they are allowed to stay until they get to the cart exit signs. 

No Carts in the rough

No Carts in the tree lines

Cart Paths Only Rule:

Carts are to stay on the path at all times.

              Stay on paths when approaching a puddle, slow down and drive through the puddle slowly.

 No Cart Rule:

This one seems simple right!  Well it has come to my attention that some of you feel carts should be allowed to go all of the time because we have cart paths.  Here are the reasons we do not allow carts to go out some days. 

Cart paths are washed out

Cart paths are still flooded

Water over the bridge on #6

The puddles on the paths are too deep for the carts to pass

The potential damage to the carts and the course, make the labour involved in repairing the cart or the damage to the course not worth it.  

Handicap Cart Rules

Allowed to by-pass the cart exit signs, and access the green from the back.  Parking on the Inter-rough cut of grass no closer.

Cart path only rule, they are not allowed to leave the path

Fairways only rule, they are not allowed to by-pass the cart exit signs

Handicap rule only applies when the conditions are for Normal Cart traffic

#7 Golfer decided to cross the wettest fairway we have.

#16 Golfers decided to drive in the tree line to look for there ball.  The cart path is right there.

Golfers decided to drive into a saturated area in the rough on #18.  You would think after the first golfer went in there the second golfer would know better.

 

Well, no more winter updates!  Now we are into spring, I know you have probably heard this one already “what a difference a year makes.”  Last spring at this time the golf season was in full swing.  We opened on the 11^th of March and never really looked back weather wise.  This year we managed to get open in March but for the second last day and just for walkers.  One thing I will say is that there were quite a few dedicated golfers out there yesterday getting in their first round of the year.  I will promise you this, the weather will get better – let’s just hope your golf games do too! 

The last month has been filled with varying tasks to get the course ready to be open.  The first thing that needed to be crossed off the list of tasks was bridge repair.  All four bridges that cross Baby Creek needed some attention in one way or another.  Number 10 bridge needed the most work.  The plywood floor had to be torn up, as well a couple of the support boards underneath.  The exit ramp of the bridge was totally replaced as well. 

Support board that has seen better days

Replaced support board

Ruth replacing the exit ramp with new boards

Bridge nearing completion

 The bridge on the 7^th hole has always been of concern.  It just seems to be in an awkward position on the hill.  The railings were too low so they were removed and raised.  As well as the matting and a couple floor supports were torn up and replaced.   

  The other two bridges just needed minor repairs.  All the bridges will receive new coats of paint and stain when some reinforcements arrive in the summer months. (Students)

Another task to get off the list was to clean up the aeration cores off of the fairways.  We rented a tractor mounted blower and spent two very cold days getting the fairways ready for their first cut which will probably happen late next week.

Also all the benches were brought into the shop for repair and paint.  So if you find your favorite resting place is missing rest assured they will be all back out shortly.

We have been watching the weather very closely trying to decide when the first cut on the greens will happen.  It was very tempting to cut them on Thursday, but after the frost lifted we got out there and realized that the greens were actually still frozen.  So we retreated to try another day.  Now we are hoping to cut them Saturday afternoon, because Sunday is starting to look like a beauty day.  

In my younger days I was known to catch a fish or two with my Grandfather up on the Bruce Peninsula.  I’m usually not one to tell tall tales of catching fish but, I am very proud to say that there is a fish catcher in my family.  Not a fisherman, but a fish catcher.  You heard right… Lexi caught a fish!  Unfortunately I missed it all and there are no pictures, but the story goes like this:  Ruth and Don were repairing the bridge on 7.  Lexi was trolling the creek close by.  Ruth heard some splashing about, looked over and saw Lexi with her head completely under the water.  Couple of seconds later she came up with a fish!  (agoonie goo goo!) She dragged it up out of the creek quite proud of herself and at the same time a bit confused about what to do with it.  Ruth and Don placed the fish back into the creek and now we all have a tale to tell about Lexi the fish catcher!  Of course I will carry on the tradition that every time I tell the story my hands will get a little further apart about how big it was. 

Lexi trolling

 

As always, if you have any questions feel free to contact me at kendalllindsay@hotmail.com

 

          Cheers Kendall