Texas-based company re-sprigging greens at GMGC

By Ryan Hanchett
Published in Sports on June 13, 2012 1:48 PM

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There will be no birdies at Goldsboro Municipal Golf Course today.

In fact, there will not be any pars or bogeys, either.

GMGC closed its doors today in order to start a massive renovation project, which includes installation of all new greens. The course is ditching the traditional bent grass surfaces for the bermuda variety already found at Lane Tree Golf Club and Southern Wayne Country Club.

"This is a big project and it is going to really make the course just that much nicer," golf operations director Rick Adkins said. "Not only are we going to rebuild the greens, but we are going to be trimming some trees and working on some bunkers as well."

The course will remain closed until June 30. It will then open with temporary greens for approximately six weeks. If all goes according to plan, the new greens will be ready for play some time in mid-August.

"It takes eight weeks from the day that they put the bermuda sprigs down (June 20) for the grass to really take hold," Atkins said. "We will be watching them closely to make sure they are ready before we let anyone on them."

Champion Turf Farms from Bay City, Texas, is removing the old greens and sprigging the new greens. Champion has been the nation's leader in bermuda grass technology for the last four decades. Due to its low cost of maintenance and hearty stock, Champion's Dwarf Bermuda has become the preferred grass of many North Carolina courses.

A total of 35 courses across the state have gone to Champion greens since 2003. Lane Tree Golf Club made the same switch less than two years ago and the reviews have been very positive.

"I think going to a Champion surface will make everyone very happy," PGA professional Jody Dean said. "It is easier to maintain, more cost effective and it provides the same level of quality."

The project will be the largest of its kind at GMGC since the course was completely renovated in 1999.