Drew Annan, Forest Highlands’ golf course supervisor for many years, just sent out his annual report to the members on what to expect for Opening Day on April 29th, 2011. We typically have very rough playing areas for a time as the courses take a real beating during the winter months, especially the Canyon Course.
Forest Highlands’ Canyon Course is aptly named due to the huge canyon that runs through the middle of the course with holes 9, 18 and 17 nestled within. I’ve been to Forest Highlands during the winter when the creek and water hazards are frozen solid and piles of snow abound. When the warmer weather comes and the snow starts melting, there is always a transition time to get the fairways back into great shape.
A large project this year was improving the quality of the grass on the Canyon Driving Range. The sod was removed, the ground was leveled, and all new sod was put in place. It should be ready for activity by the second or third week in May.
Golfers will be excited to use the new practice area at Forest Highlands’ Meadow Course that was started last summer. Additional soil was brought in to increase the practice tee surface by 7,000 square feet – bringing it to a total of 27,500 square feet of practice tee area.
In addition, two 5,000 square foot greens were built out. The lower green is for putting only and the upper green is for chipping and bunker practice. These greens will be open to members in mid-May and golfers will most likely experience slower ball speeds as they navigate the typical new green.
Drew also reports that our local osprey has nested in the tree overlooking the sixth and seventh fairways of the Meadow course. The osprey are always a treat to watch as they sit in the aerie looking down on us residents. He’s also found a nest of twelve mallard eggs on Hole 14 – a sure sign that Spring is here.
During the winter months, large fences are placed around the greens on the courses to discourage the elk and deer from walking over them and causing massive damage to the surface. The course maintenance crews removed the fences and have finished aerating the greens. It should only take a couple of weeks for them to smooth out. Members playing this opening weekend of the 29th of April will experience slower and somewhat bumpy conditions.
On another important front, Drew was able to secure Brook Trout and Brown Trout for the lakes on the Meadow course. Expect to see the fly fisherman out at dusk – a beautiful sight. Also, catfish are again the rule at the Sports Park pond for the young, aspiring fishermen.
It looks like Summer 2011 at Forest Highlands in Flagstaff is going to be a great season and we all owe a huge debt of gratitude to Drew Annan and his experienced crew that work so hard throughout the year to insure we get to enjoy the beautiful courses during the summer months.
