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Bermuda greens for Cedar Creek GC by ken macleod
C
edar Creek Golf Course at Beavers Bend State Park near Broken Bow shut down Aug. 9 to regrass all of its greens with Champion ultradwarf Bermuda. The entire process of removal of old greens, sprigging in the Champion and growing in will take close to three months and the course should be ready to reopen in early November. Kurt Adams, the course manager and superintendent, said it was tough to shut down with play booming this summer, but the old Tifdwarf Bermuda greens were in bad shape. “The last few winters have just killed them,” Adams said. “They’ve had a lot of disease and a lot of problems. Golfers will love the new greens once they’ve grown in.” Adams said some select tree removal will also be done on the course to allow greater sunlight to the new greens. Cedar Creek en-
joys one of the most spectacular natural settings of any course in the state. “Everybody thinks we’re lined with pines because the ping logging industry is so big down here, but we’re about 70 percent hardwoods,” The third hole at tree-lined Cedar Creek Golf Course. Adams said. “We’ve got somewhere near a half million trees on the summer. There is a new restaurant on site, trout fishing, floating and kayaking in the property.” The area around the state park has been lower Mountain Fork River, train rides, booming. In and around Hochatown there horseback stables, hiking and more. Adams said play was up close to 30 perare over 30 new restaurants, four wineries, two breweries and a distillery. There are cent over 2019 by the first of August. When complete, Cedar Creek will be the more than 3,000 private cabins in the woods surrounding the state park. Many are owned fifth state park course to switch to Bermuda or rented by Texans and that business has greens, joining Arrowhead, Lake Murray, been booming as folks look for a short drive Sequoyah and Grand Cherokee. The wild and a safe vacation during the COVID-19 canyon course at Roman Nose State Park and the more arid setting at Fort Cobb State pandemic. Beavers Bend State Park has a lodge and Park allow those two to be more successful cabins that have also been enjoying a busy with traditional bent grass greens.
Construction on Earlywine clubhouse begins in 2021 by molly fleming
Residents in south Oklahoma City could have a brighter place to hit golf balls by spring 2022. GSB, Inc. Architects is continuing to work with the city on the design for the new Earlywine Golf Clubhouse, 11600 S. Portland Ave. The architecture firm submitted its first round of plans in August 2019. Comments were received in December and another set of drawings were submitted last month.  The $8.5 million, 18,600-square-foot building is being funded by the 2017 general obligation bond package. There are three clubhouses in the entire package, with Earlywine being the first on the list. The other two clubhouses to be built are at Lake Hefner and James E. Stewart, which is being designed by Miles Associates. The new building will have a modern look, yet still appeal to guests of all ages. 14
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There will be large, glass windows on the side that faces the course, allowing natural light to fill the space. The building will have high ceilings and a covered porch on the golf side so people can sit out and take The back of the clubhouse features several windows, in the scenery. allowing natural light to illuminate the inside.  The updates at the golf course include more than a new clubhouse. Golf Trust Specialist Sean Simpson said the The existing driving range will be widened aim is to make Earlywine into a place that and lengthened, with a 24-bay covered hit- people want to hang out, offering a great ting tee area being constructed and lights restaurant, covered outdoor seating and an being added for evening hitting. While it inviting atmosphere for hitting range balls. The City is looking at offering a Toptracer won’t be as technology-based as Topgolf or similar operations, the goal is to create technology, available for rent, so golfers can a similar atmosphere, said Design Principal track how far their ball travels. Having this entertainment-like option is Mike Hinchey with GSB. “Covered hitting was something the city something the City has been discussing as and the community wanted to have,” he a revenue driver to make up for lost golf said. “The city wanted to create an opportu- rounds (though as of May, golf rounds are up 2.2% year-over-year at City of Oklahonity for events and other activities.” Oklahoma City Parks and Recreation ma City courses, with more than 181,000 GOLF OKL AHOMA • AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2020
