Olde Florida Golf Club

The renovation and grassing of holes 1 - 18 is complete and the grow-in of the new TifTuf bermudagrass is underway.
We are anticipating completion of the driving range by this time next week.

The renovation and grassing of holes 1 - 18 is complete and the grow-in of the new TifTuf bermudagrass is underway.
We are anticipating completion of the driving range by this time next week.

In addition to the renovation work and grow-in this summer, the agronomy team have also been managing the existing TifEagle greens. Today they are receiving the final core aeration for 2021.

2021 Renovation Update #6 - Lake Banks

Olde Florida Golf Club’s Darren Davis , CGCS provides an update on the renovation project focusing on the lake bank / shoreline work completed this summer.

2021 Renovation Update #6 - Lake Banks We are nearing the completion of the construction aspect of our renovation project, and although several tropical systems have threatened So...

Tropical Storm Fred pushed through Southwest Florida over the weekend. On Saturday the storm dumped 3.5” of rain (very hard and quick).

The newly installed Better Billy Bunker system performed extremely well.

The photos below were taken on hole 3.

The “three 6’s” ! While the first six holes (3-8) are almost completely established, the next 6 (11-16) have been grassed and grow-in has begun, and the final 6 are rapidly taking shape!
Holes 4, 11 and 18 (L-R)

Last night the golf course received 2 1/2” of rain in less than 30 minutes! It was the most significant test of the newly installed Better Billy Bunker system so far.
The agronomy team was pleased to report that washouts were essentially nonexistent, and if play had been allowed today nobody would have known the facility received such an intense rainfall event. Better Billy Bunker

The first six holes to be grassed this summer are maturing nicely.
These photos were taken June 22, July 22 and August 2.
Hole 4

The summer golf course renovation continues to progress as planned. These pictures are of the fairway bunker on hole 12 (2013 - today) Better Billy Bunker

The next 6 holes to be completed will be 11 - 16. The agronomy team has worked diligently to prepare the areas that will be sprigged next week.

2021 Renovation Update #5 - Irrigation

Darren J. Davis, CGCS provides the membership an update on the summer renovation in his latest blog entry
http://darrenjdavisgcs.blogspot.com/2021/07/2021-renovation-update-5-irrigation.html?m=1

2021 Renovation Update #5 - Irrigation As would be expected our rainy season has created some challenges, but the golf course renovation continues to progress at a good pace and t...

With the first 6 holes complete (3-8), renovation/construction has shifted to the next 6 holes (11-16).

Better Billy Bunker construction, soil preparation, tee renovation and grassing are progressing nicely.

One aspect of the 2021 renovation is the lake bank restoration surrounding greens 1 and 5.
On hole 1 (pictured) over 6’ of the lake bank that had slowly deteriorated over 29 years was reclaimed.
The first picture was taken today 7/8/21 and the last picture was on 1/27/21.

After 5” of rain in 6 days, Mother Nature finally provided some sunshine and drier air on this beautiful Saturday in SW Florida.
The agronomy team was able to get all of the sodded areas cut and all of the sprigs on holes 3 - 8 fertilized today. All of the putting surfaces were also mowed and a growth regulator applied.

2021 Renovation Update #4 - Sprigging

Darren J. Davis, CGCS Olde Florida Golf Club’s Superintedent has published an update on the renovation project.
This entry focused primarily on the “sprigging” of the course.

2021 Renovation Update #4 - Sprigging Until the last two weeks the weather has been phenomenal for golf course construction. However, we knew it was inevitable that the Southwest...

One of the ancillary projects that was performed during the renovation this summer is the recapturing of lost lake bank area surrounding the greens on holes 1 and 5.
More on the product can be found at: https://www.soxerosion.com

Hole 4 - 6/21 The tee & green complexes, fairway bunker and drainage basins have all been sodded. The remainder of the hole will be “sprigged”. Golf Course Superintenent, Darren J. Davis, CGCS will explain the bermudagrass sprigging process in his next blog entry.

Hole 4 - 6/21 The tee & green complexes, fairway bunker and drainage basins have all been sodded. The remainder of the hole will be “sprigged”. Golf Course Superintenent, Darren J. Davis, CGCS will explain the bermudagrass sprigging process in his next blog entry.

Grassing with the new variety, TifTuf is going great!
The first six holes are the southeast corner of the property (3-8). These holes should be finished by the middle of next week. The next six will be the northeast holes 12 through 16 & 11, with the final six holes being closest to the clubhouse (17, 18, 10, 1, 2 and 9 and the driving range). However, the team decided it would be nice to finish the practice green complex early so members that drop by the club can see how the final product will look.

Grassing with the new variety, TifTuf is going great!
The first six holes are the southeast corner of the property (3-8). These holes should be finished by the middle of next week. The next six will be the northeast holes 12 through 16 & 11, with the final six holes being closest to the clubhouse (17, 18, 10, 1, 2 and 9 and the driving range). However, the team decided it would be nice to finish the practice green complex early so members that drop by the club can see how the final product will look.

The Blog of Darren J. Davis, CGCS Olde Florida Golf Club

Darren J. Davis, CGCS has provided an update on the renovation project to the membership of Olde Florida.

In this update he focuses on why the decision was made to grass with Certified TifTuf Bermudagrass

The Blog of Darren J. Davis, CGCS Olde Florida Golf Club It has been a very productive couple of weeks since my last update on the 2021 renovation. Things continue to progress on schedule and as planned!

Things continue to “roll” along with the renovation project. All TifTuf sod installation is complete on the par-3 holes 3 & 5
Sod on holes 4 (pictured) 6, 7 & 8 will be complete within the next 7-10 days.
Sprigging on these holes will follow the sod installation.

Things continue to “roll” along with the renovation project. All TifTuf sod installation is complete on the par-3 holes 3 & 5
Sod on holes 4 (pictured) 6, 7 & 8 will be complete within the next 7-10 days.
Sprigging on these holes will follow the sod installation.

The renovation project is really starting to take shape!
In this series of photos you will see the steps involved in the bunker renovation. All of the photos are of the right greenside bunker on hole 4.
1. Sand Removal
2. Rough Shaping and Reinstalling of Perimeter Features
3. Drainage Installation
4. Installation of Granite Gravel Liner
5. Spraying of the Better Billy Bunker Patented Polymer
6. Sod Installation
7. Sand Installation

2021 Renovation Update #2 - Bunker Renovation

As promised, an update on the renovation project from Golf Course Superintndent Darren Davis , CGCS can be found below:

2021 Renovation Update #2 - Bunker Renovation It has been a very productive two weeks since my last update, and although the region is in desperate need of rain, the weather has been p...

Sunrise on Hole 1 at Olde Florida is always special, but I would assume most golfers would prefer the February 17th photo (Member/Guest Invitational) to the sunrise this morning.

The renovation is going as planned and on schedule. Look for an update from Darren Davis, CGCS in the next couple of days.

We hope the membership are enjoying their summer. The entire staff look forward to welcoming you back in November 1!

Greg Muirhead, Senior Vice President and Senior Designer with Rees Jones, Inc. was back on site today to inspect the progress of the renovation.
Greg was the Rees Jones, Inc, team member on site in 1992 when the golf course was built.
Since the inception of the club Rees, Greg, and all involved have worked diligently to provide the Olde Florida Golf Club membership and their guests with the best golfing experience possible.

It’s been another productive week for the team at Olde Florida GC !
The renovation is progressing on schedule and as planned!
Here are a few pictures of the progress since Monday.

Another component of the renovation this summer is the reclamation of two lake banks that had significant erosion since the clubs inception in 1993.
Below are before and after photos of the lake bank in front of 5 green.

The renovation of the bunkers at Olde Florida is underway! These photos of the left green side bunker on hole 4 provide an example of the work being performed. Many of the original features has been lost after 29 years.

2021 Renovation Update #1

Two weeks ago today Olde Florida GC shut the golf course down for play for a planned renovation. Darren Davis , our Certified GCSAA Golf Course Superintndent provided the membership with an update on the progress. http://darrenjdavisgcs.blogspot.com/2021/05/2021-renovation-update-1.html?m=1

2021 Renovation Update #1 It's been only two weeks since the golf course was closed for play, but the progress on the renovation has been tremendous!!! The day after...

It’s been a very productive week at Olde Florida!
In addition to the Drill and Fill process on all of the greens, sand has been removed from the bunkers on the front 9, the fraise mowing / removal of turfgrass is completed on hole 7 and currently on hole 8 and the lank bank stabilization on holes 1 and 5 is underway.
Stay tuned for more updates and a soon to be published blog entry by our golf course superintenent.

Today the agronomy team, with the help of a contractor began the annual deep tine aeration process (Drill and Fill) on the 29-year old TifEagle greens.

It was a very productive week at Olde Florida!
A cold front stalled on top of SW Florida early in the week delaying the second herbicide application for the bermudagrass eradication, but it enabled the agronomy team to apply an additional quick release nitrogen fertilization to encourage growth.
When the weather cleared, the staff was able to make the herbicide application yesterday and today.
The staff has also been very active in thier annual tree trimming.

It has been one month since the initial herbicide application to eradicate the existing bermudagrass. From a distance, the tees, fairways and rough appear to be dead. However, on closer inspection the re-growth has been tremendous! Tomorrow will be the last day the facility will be open for golf play.
The agronomy team will make the second herbicide application on Monday (April 19) and a follow up application in another month (May 20).

A number of people have asked, “Why is the golf course being fertilized and irrigated when we are trying to kill it?” Similarly, some have said, “Why can’t we drive golf carts wherever we want, it’s dead anyway.”

The answers to these questions can be found in Darren J. Davis, CGCS latest blog entry

http://darrenjdavisgcs.blogspot.com/2021/04/growing-grass-to-kill-it.html

A number of people have asked, “Why is the golf course being fertilized and irrigated when we are trying to kill it?” Similarly, some have said, “Why can’t we drive golf carts wherever we want, it’s dead anyway.”

The answers to these questions can be found in Darren J. Davis, CGCS latest blog entry

http://darrenjdavisgcs.blogspot.com/2021/04/growing-grass-to-kill-it.html

It has been two weeks since the first herbicide application to eradicate the existing bermudagrass - the first step in the 2021 renovation. Everything is going as planned.

The agronomy staff are maintaining the greens in the same manner they have all winter, and as they would in any other year.

It’s been 11 days since the first non-selective herbicide application to eradicate the existing bermudagrass varieties.
The golf course certainly has a very unique look, but it’s playing well!
15 Green

It’s been 11 days since the first non-selective herbicide application to eradicate the existing bermudagrass varieties.
The golf course certainly has a very unique look, but it’s playing well!
15 Green