South Course Renovation Calendar
South Course Renovation Timeline
This new, updated schedule will allow for less course closures and open member play, and will provide for more optimal turf conditions post renovation.
COURSE TURF SPRAY APPLICATION
- Course closed to play, Monday, October 3 through Thursday, October 6th
- Why? To prepare for Winter perennial rye overseeding
- What should our members expect? The course throughout October and half of November play will change to faster, harder conditions and the course go from green to yellow to a light brown.
COURSE TURF SPRAY APPLICATION
- Course closed to play, Monday, November 7th & Wednesday, November 9th
- Why? Again, to prepare for Winter perennial rye overseeding
- What should our members expect? The course will be light brown to dark brown.
- Please note, the South course will be open Tuesday, November 8th
DRIVING RANGE & LOWER TEE SPRAY APPLICATION
- Driving Range will be closed November 7th only
LAST DAY OF PLAY BEFORE OVERSEEDING
- The Winter perennial rye overseed will start tomorrow
- The undesired grass will be dormant; however, course conditions (regarding playability) are optimal for those who
like the faster conditions
WINTER OVERSEED TAKES PLACE
- Course closed to play, November 14th through Sunday, December 4th, due to the winter overseed and grow-in period
- DRIVING RANGE CLOSED NOV 14 THRU NOV 27 (Lower Tee Only)
SPRAY APPLICATION AND OVERSEEDING DRIVING RANGE BACK TEE ONLY
- BACK TEE ONLY WILL BE CLOSED UNTIL JANUARY 2, 2023
- LOWER TEE AND DRIVING RANGE WILL REMAIN OPEN
COURSE REOPENS FOR MEMBER PLAY
- Course should be in great shape and optimal condition(s), both aesthetically and for playability.
DRIVING RANGE TEE CLOSED
- April 17th until Sept 2023 Driving range tee closed for construction
SOUTH COURSE SCHEDULED TO REOPEN FOR PLAY
December, 2023Golf Course Items - Expected Life Cycle
| Item | Years |
|---|---|
|
Greens |
15 - 30 years |
|
Bunker Sand |
5 - 7 years |
|
Irrigation System |
10 - 30 years |
|
Irrigation Control System |
10 - 15 years |
|
Pump Station |
15 - 20 years |
|
Cart Paths - Asphalt |
5 - 10 years (or longer) |
|
Cart Paths - Concrete |
15 - 30 years (or longer) |
|
Practice Range Tees |
5 - 10 years |
|
Tees |
15 - 20 years |
|
Corrugated Metal Pipes |
15 - 30 years |
|
Bunker Drainage Pipes |
5 - 10 years |
|
Mulch |
1 - 3 years |
|
Grass |
Varies |
FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the grass brown?
The Vineyards had a USGA agronomist come out and inspect our golf course, by their recommendation with the amount of paspalum grass we have it will take more to kill. The roots are so deep that in order for us to get a good kill they need to spray it more than other grasses. We don’t want the paspalum to come back after the renovation.
How will this affect my tee times?
We encourage all members to use the Chelsea System for requesting tee times. During the months of January- March we will have both golf courses open. We will be busier and busier every year. That is why we want members to use the system to request their tee time up to 7 days in advance. When requesting tee time be sure that you are not putting any parameters on the request, otherwise if the parameters are to narrow you will be moved to overflow and possibly not get close to your desired tee time.
Why are they killing the grass and then over-seeding?
They want to make sure that we have a good kill of the golf course so the very invasive grass will not come back after the renovation is complete. When the over-seeding process is done, the course will be closed for 6 weeks and when it reopens the grass will be lush and green again.
How long will the renovation take?
The official renovation will be begun March 20th, 2023. The course and the driving range will be closed and will not reopen until late November, early December.
Will there be any significant changes to the course?
With every big renovation there are going to be significant changes. Our drainage system on the South Course is very outdated. To update the system this will require different contour of the fairways, and this will help the course drain better.
Is the membership going to be assessed?
The Vineyards is a family-owned club, no members will be assessed for this renovation.
What can I expect playing on a dead and dying golf course?
While the golf course is being sprayed and will be dying your will experience brown course conditions. Your ball will roll more since the ground will be much harder.
What about tournaments? Will they be played on the South when it’s brown?
All tournaments have been switched over to the North Course so that all tournament play will be on the golf course that is green and with favorable conditions.
Golf Course Transformation is Underway!
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The winter over seeding of the South Course was completed on time and the new grass is growing in exactly as planned. See photos, when the South Course reopens on December 4th, expect to find green, healthy turf everywhere. We’ve also added a bit of par angle sand to the south course bunkers to freshen their appearance.
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Golf Course Renovation Updates
October 20, 2022
Vineyards Country Club officials have selected Plant City-based QGS Development as general contractor for the complete redesign and renovation of the community’s 18-hole championship south and north golf courses. The projects represent the first major renovations to the courses since their creation more than 30 years ago.
Beginning with the south course, both courses will undergo full-service reconstruction, renovation and irrigation services. In tandem with QGS Development, Kipp Schulties Golf Design will lead the design work for both golf courses.
QGS Development was the recipient of the 2002 and 2003 Best Large Builder, and 1997 Best Small Builder awards from Golf Course News Magazine. QGS is a member of the Golf Course Builders Association of America, Florida Turf Grass Association, Golf Course Superintendents Association of America, Suncoast Underground Contractor’s Association, National Underground Contractor’s Association and the Tampa Bay Business Association.
“Our goal is to enhance course aesthetics, function and player enjoyment on both the South and North courses within the next few years,” said Vineyards Country Club co-owner Michael Procacci Jr. “Both QGS Development and Kipp Schulties bring a wealth of expertise, in keeping with our tradition of member satisfaction, to re-imagine our two golf courses and increase their recreational playability.”
Renovations are currently underway for the 18-hole, Bill Amick-designed South Course. The traditional-style course served as a senior tour stop for five years, hosting The Aetna Challenge, Better Homes & Gardens Real Estate Challenge and The IntelliNet Challenge.
The course’s yardage will be expanded from the professional tees to enhance the layout to a championship level. The greens will be rebuilt and enlarged to help accommodate a range of pin locations. Fairways will also be recontoured to enhance playability, pace of play and challenging, yet enjoyable for golfers of all skill levels. The finished courses will have several modern touches adding character, contour and elevation and giving members a unique golfing experience. Officials estimate the South Course renovations will take approximately nine months to complete.
Earlier this month, the course was closed to play to prepare for course turf spray application and seasonal perennial rye overseeding. Throughout October and half of November, play on the course will change to faster, harder conditions as the course’s grasses transition from green to yellow, to light brown.
The course will again be closed to play October 31 through November 3 for turf spray application to prepare for Winter perennial rye overseeding. November 13 will be the last day of play before overseeding, at which time the undesired grass will be dormant. At this time, course conditions will be optimal for members seeking faster conditions. The course will be closed to play November 14 through December 16 due to the winter overseed and month-long grow-in period and will reopen for member play on December 17. A complete renovation timeline, including course closing and reopening dates, is available online at https://vineyardscountryclubnaples.com/golf-course-renovation/.
“Since 1988, Vineyards Country Club has offered an unparalleled golf and club experience to our members, and we have strived to be a valued neighbor to all,” added Procacci. “The golf course transformations and other investments we are making will elevate our membership experience to an entirely new level.”
October 6, 2022
One of the most important parts of any golf course maintenance operation is also one of the least visible – the irrigation system. Sure, we might see a few sprinklers running during our round, but there is a massive amount of technology and infrastructure we don’t see that allows those sprinklers to pop up and deliver water exactly where it’s needed. Golf course irrigation systems are designed and built to exacting specifications with miles of underground pipe, hundreds of valves and thousands of sprinklers. They are operated by sophisticated computer systems and are often connected to a network of sensors that provide data on air temperature, soil temperature, soil moisture, soil salinity and more. Irrigation systems also require careful observation and continual maintenance to ensure they are functioning properly. Let’s learn more about how it all works.
Sprinklers are the most visible part of any golf course irrigation system, and they play a key role in successful water management. Different sprinklers are used for different locations, and many allow the maintenance team to easily adjust the coverage area. Sprinkler nozzles can also be changed or adjusted to throw water different distances or in different amounts. Most sprinklers also have an internal valve that allows them to be turned on and off individually. Golf course sprinklers can cost hundreds of dollars each and they require constant observation and maintenance. If a sprinkler gets knocked out of alignment even slightly, playability issues can develop quickly. Needless to say, keeping hundreds or thousands of sprinklers in good working order is no easy task.
Data collection is also an increasingly important part of modern golf course irrigation systems. Golf courses have used on-site weather stations for many years to monitor critical information like air temperature, humidity, wind speed and rainfall on the property. Recently, more and more courses have added sensor technology to their irrigation arsenal. Portable moisture meters allow the maintenance staff to check soil moisture anywhere on the course. Some versions also allow that data to be mapped with GPS so that watering can be easily targeted to where it is needed most. Some courses also have sensors buried around the course that provide continuous data back to the central irrigation computer where the information can be analyzed and factored into watering decisions. Soil temperature, moisture and salinity are some of the key measurements provided by underground sensors.
The central computer might be the most impressive part of a modern irrigation system. It contains all the key information about the system’s components and performs complex calculations to deliver a certain amount of water, in a certain amount of time, as efficiently as possible. The central computer also receives data from sensors and the weather station for the user to review when making watering decisions. Irrigation programs can be specified down to the run time of each individual sprinkler. The user can also create programs for specific scenarios, like watering in a fertilizer application or watering dry spots around trees. Basically, almost anything is possible with a modern irrigation control system.
Even with all this technology at their fingertips, today’s superintendents must still rely heavily on experience and “feel” when it comes to making watering decisions. All the technology and capabilities of a modern irrigation system certainly make watering easier and more efficient than ever before, but it’s the experience and keen eyes of the maintenance team that really make sure water gets where it needs to go.