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Course Updates

NOVEMBER GOLF COURSE UPDATE

Dear Members,

Fall is in full swing, and we have several exciting updates regarding our golf course. We are taking full advantage of the great weather to make significant progress on various projects.

Course Updates & Maintenance

  – Irrigation Installation: The project is moving along well. In about a week, the team will begin installing laterals and heads on fairways, greens, and tees, averaging half to a full hole per day in good weather.


  – Tee Construction: Excavation has begun on holes #3 and #5. We are lowering the #3 tee to ground level and using that material to build up the #5 tee to help move it out of the flood zone. Precision Golf Construction is scheduled to begin shaping these tees next week.

  – General Maintenance: We are beginning winterization to prepare the course for the end of the season, which includes removing course accessories and topdressing to ensure healthy turf going into winter.

October Projects

  – Solid tining fairways
  – Aerification of tees
  – Leaf cleanup
  – Tee expansions (#4 alternate, #16, and #18 forward tee)

Ongoing November Projects

  – Irrigation installation
  – Construction on #3 and #5 tees
  – Deep tining greens and approaches
  – Topdressing short grass areas
  – Snow mold applications
  – Cutting back grass plants
  – Final winterization of the course

Thank you all for your patience as we complete these projects. I appreciate your continued support and look forward to the future of Columbia Hills.

Thanks,

Seth Namestnik

Superintendent

OCTOBER GOLF COURSE UPDATE

Dear Members,

 

As fall arrives, work on the golf course is fully underway. Commercial Irrigation is currently installing main lines, which involves trenching and laying pipe and wire. Once the main lines are complete, they will begin pulling in pipe for the playing surfaces, which requires no trenching and will cause minimal disturbance.

 

Regarding watering for the remainder of the season, most of it will be done during the day, as control wires are being hit during construction and are being reconnected to different times and addresses. We hope Mother Nature will assist us with some rainfall in the meantime.

 

Additionally, we are preparing to excavate the #3 and #5 tees during the third week of October. Prior to the contractor’s arrival to reshape the tees, our team will remove the retaining wall and tee surfaces. As a result, these tees will be out of service for the rest of the season, and temporary tees will be set up for late-fall play.

September Projects

• Needle tine greens

• Spraying operations

• Topdress greens

• Irrigation mainline work

October Projects

• Irrigation mainline installation

• Aerification of trees and approaches 

• Reconstruction and grow-in of #3 and #5 tees

• Extension of the #18 forward tee to create a larger tee surface

Thank you for your patience during this exciting project. We will do our best to keep you informed of any daily disturbances on the course.

 

There are many positive improvements taking place at Columbia Hills, and I am excited about the future of our club.

 

Thank you, 

SEPTEMBER GOLF COURSE UPDATE

As we move into September, the playing surfaces require some additional attention as we transition into the later part of the growing season. During this time, root zones can become shallower, making proper irrigation and more frequent, lighter watering increasingly more important to maintain healthy turf. While these adjustments are necessary, they should have no adverse effect on overall playing conditions. However, there will inevitably be some complications and growing pains as we being our irrigation installation project. This is a major undertaking, and we sincerely appreciate everyone’s patience and understanding as the work gets underway. We will continue to keep everyone informed throughout the project, including updates on the progress of the installation and any temporary inconveniences that may result. 

August Projects

• Weed control applications

• Irrigation repairs and adjustments

• Ongoing disease-control spraying operations 

September Projects

• Irrigation: Installation is underway. 

• Drainage: Work will being on the hill near #14 to address and eliminate the wet area. 

• Weed Control: Applications for weed and crabgrass control are underway. 

• Greens: Needle-tining and topdressing will be completed to improve surface smoothness and consistency. 

• Tee Renovations: Planning is underway for the #3 and #5 tee renovation projects, scheduled for mid-October. 

Thank you for your continued patience and support as we prepare for a very busy late-summer and early-fall season. We have several important projects underway, all with the goal of improving the course and providing the best possible playing conditions for our members and guests. We appreciate your understanding as we work through this exciting period of improvement. 

AUGUST GOLF COURSE UPDATE

As we move into the dog days of summer, we are doing our best to keep playing conditions consistent throughout the golf course. Later in the year, the playing surfaces require extra attention because root zones become more shallow. As a result, more light and frequent watering are necessary to maintain the health of the turf, which should have no adverse effects on overall playing conditions.

Here is an update on our recent and upcoming projects:

July Projects:

  – #4 Hillside: The hillside has been cleared, and we are discussing a ground cover to prevent weeds from taking over. Overall, the project was a success, and we can now utilize about 80-90% of the #4 tee.
  – #3 and #5 Tees: Plans for leveling these tees are currently under discussion.
  – Spraying Operations: Disease control applications are ongoing.

August Projects:

  – Irrigation: Pre-installation conversations are underway.
  – Drainage: Work will begin on the #14 hill to eliminate the wet spot.
  – Weed Control: Applications for weed and crabgrass control are underway.

Thank you for your patience as we prepare for a very busy late summer and early fall season.

JULY GOLF COURSE UPDATE

As we officially kick off summer on the golf course, our maintenance crew is working hard to provide the best possible playing conditions for everyone.  Throughout July, we have several projects planned to help improve the course and prepare for the rest of the season.

 

We have begun clearing the hill on Hole #4 to create a new look from the tee. This project also allows us to utilize the right side of the tee box, which was previously unavailable. In addition, we will continue general tree trimming and pruning throughout the course as part of our regular maintenance.

 

Our team is also finalizing the plan for pre-irrigation installation while continuing ongoing drainage improvement projects. Weed control efforts will continue as well, with spraying scheduled in the tall grass areas around the course.

 

Thank you for your continued support and patience as we complete these projects and work to improve the course.

JUNE GOLF COURSE UPDATE

As May comes to an end and we move into a drier stretch of weather, our team has been busy making improvements around the golf course to enhance your experience.


In May, we completed several projects including improvements to the driving range appearance, stump removal and new seating areas, painting of the 17 pumphouse, reopening the 15 tee for play, and spraying broadleaf weeds.

Looking ahead to June, we will be working on pond fountains, flowerpots at the driving range, painting the 7 pumphouse, riverbank cleanup, mulching around the clubhouse and golf course, and clearing the hillside on hole 4.

We are making great progress and look forward to having the course in great shape for the upcoming golf season. We hope to see you out on the course soon.

MAY GOLF COURSE UPDATE

Despite the frequent showers in April, our team has taken full advantage of every dry window to maintain the course and move forward with key projects. With May’s arrival, we look forward to more favorable weather and continued progress.
 
During April, we focused on several improvements, including:
 
– Seeding and filling tree stumps.
– Completing spraying operations and applying fertilizer to all playing surfaces.
– Starting the irrigation system and completing electrical maintenance on the pond fountains.
– Advancing the grow-in of the 15th tee.
 
In May, our priorities will shift toward playability and presentation. We aim to open the 15th tee during the second week of the month. Other upcoming projects include clearing brush on hole 4 to improve lines of sight, enhancing the driving range, and adding fresh sand to bunkers. Additionally, we will begin verticutting and topdressing greens to ensure a smoother, more consistent playing surface.
 
We look forward to seeing everyone back on the course soon.

APRIL GOLF COURSE UPDATE

As March comes to a close, we’re making progress in preparing the golf course for the upcoming season. Our crew has been focusing on debris cleanup and tree maintenance, including clearing previous work, filling stumps, and seeding.

Mowing operations are already underway—approximately two and a half weeks ahead of last year’s schedule—putting us in a strong position as the season approaches. We are also preparing the 15th tee for grow-in once temperatures stabilize.

Additionally, we have begun enhancing our water features with new fountains planned for the ponds on holes 7, 8, and 17. Spraying operations are also in progress to support turf health to promote smooth, consistent playing conditions. 

We are continuing to grow our team by hiring additional crew members to further elevate course conditions and enhance the overall experience for you and your guests. We look forward to welcoming you back to the course soon.

MARCH GOLF COURSE UPDATE

As we move into warmer temperatures, our maintenance team is shifting focus to prepare the golf course for the upcoming 2026 season. We are currently finishing winter equipment servicing and tree work that has been ongoing over the past few months.

To improve our efficiency and overall course conditions this year, we are adding several new pieces of equipment, including a new bunker rake, an additional buffalo blower, and a heavy-duty utility cart.

Our spring cleanup process will begin in the next couple of weeks as we bring back additional crew members. We will prioritize cleaning around the greens and tees before moving to the fairways and rough. This is a tedious process with a limited crew, so we appreciate your patience as we work to prepare the course as quickly as possible.

Additionally, we are addressing the extensive tree work completed this winter. This includes cleaning up debris and filling and seeding over a dozen stumps.

We will determine an official opening date for the greens as the weather becomes more consistent. Once that date is set, we will begin placing course accessories out for the season.

Spring is right around the corner, and we look forward to seeing everyone on the course soon.

Thanks,

The Maintenance Team