Improvements at Madden’s welcome golfers

BY SHEILA HELMBERGER

The conditions on the course and the playability of the golf courses at Madden’s have been appreciated by golfers for years. Consistently recognized as some of the finest in the state, four championship courses mean there is a place to play for everyone. The Classic has been recognized by Golf Digest and Golf Week magazine as one of the top places to play in the state. Updates to the course will make it better than ever.

Tanner Schoenfelder is the Head Superintendent of Golf and Grounds at Madden’s Resort. He talks about some of the recent changes made to the resort’s courses.

“Over at The Classic, we are reshaping the bunkers on Hole 11. It is one of our more picturesque holes,” Schoenfelder says. When aerial photos noted natural changes slowly over time to the shape and size of the course, staff decided to take steps to restore it to the original shape. Play will not be any different for golfers. New sand will soon be found at all the bunkers on the classic. The project is two-thirds done this year with completion set for next year. One last project at the Classic includes re-leveling and resurfacing the driving range tee.

The largest project of the season will be a complete reconstruction of the driving range by the airport. It will be completed by in-house staff by Madden’s. Nothing will be changed at the tee box or putting green. Aesthetic changes to the driving range are on tap, too. “We will have all new target greens,” says Schoenfelder. “The Target greens and fairways will be a different variety of grass than the rough. The variety we are putting on the greens and fairway are a fine fescue mix. This will give us a really nice definition between the target greens and the rough. The change means you will be able to see the target greens better from the tee with the difference in color.”

Schoenfelder says the design of the new driving range at Maddens has been his baby.

“It has always been a dream of mine to work on some golf course architecture. This is a great starting project. I threw a few ideas at them, and they decided to go with it.” This year golfers will also notice new mulch and mulch beds, more flowers and a new Madden’s sign at the entrance.

The changes should all be completed by June. “We have a really good grounds staff at Madden’s,” he says, “Our plan is to always keep improving.