Course Improvements, Jr. Golf Equal A Great Summer

Teaching our junior golfers is a genuine pleasure.

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It’s July and finally the weather is beginning to resemble actual summer. After a weird winter and spring, I was beginning to wonder if the weather was more golf-appropriate in February. I’m glad to see the sunshine and feel the heat, glad to see more golfers out enjoying the new-and-improved Ridgewood.

Two years ago, Tyler (Good, our course superintendent) and I set goals for course improvements over a three-year plan. The first goal was to improve the overall condition of the greens. We started a deep-tine aerification program that has dramatically improved the health of our greens. The second goal was to pick one hole a year and make big impact changes. Last year we added new tee space to hole number 14. Tyler redesigned the greenside bunkers while adding necessary drainage to properly expel unwanted water. Tyler also took down the split rail fences on both sides of the cart paths after drastically improving the drainage in the fairways allowing carts to travel freely in the fairway.

This year, you will notice major changes to hole number 12. Tyler added an additional 45 yards of tee space to help with tee rotation, along with adding length to a drivable par four. He took out the greenside bunkers but kept the infamous tree that guards the green from the long ball hitters. After receiving a donation of pipe from one of our patrons, we were able to extend the playing area to the right of twelve's fairway as well. Now golfers who slice their drives to the right can recover quickly because we added more playable space to the right of the creek. Golfers will be able to access this area now by driving the carts across a newly designed area. For now, the ground is deemed "under repair" and we ask you respect the signs and not drive carts into this area until it has a chance to develop and mature.

We enjoy making Ridgewood an even better place to play, for our regulars, our newcomers and our Jr. golfers, who are enjoying their summer sessions now.

Look for more improvements to come soon.