Rancho Sierra Golf Course - October 2007 Newsletter

Hi Everyone,

I was out at the golf course yesterday. What a beautiful day it was. The air was still, it was warm but not hot, the way fall in the Antelope Valley should be. The trees are just beginning to turn colors. The ducks were out in #2 lake. It was quiet on the course, since we are a few miles away from the city. Fall is just a gorgeous time to be out, whether playing golf or just enjoying the sunshine, nice temperatures and beautiful scenery. Come out and experience the joy of fall golf in the AV at Rancho Sierra.

Thanks Glowballers

Thanks to those who came out and played night golf with the staff at Rancho Sierra at the end of September. Everyone had a great time.

Rancho Sierra Annual Halloween Tournament

Shirley, our Director of Golf, never gets too relaxed. She has been busy decorating the clubhouse for Halloween and planning our annual Halloween tournament. Here is the lowdown:

• Saturday, September 27. Check in at 11:30 AM (for lunch). Tee off is at 12:30 PM.
• 4 person scramble (best shot). Bring a team or we can place you on a team.
• Golfers of all abilities welcome.
• Only $40 per person, including BBQ lunch, 18 holes of great golf with cart, and prizes.
• Come wearing a Halloween costume and scare the other golfers. Win a prize.
• Prizes include 1st and 2nd place team, closes to the pin, longest drive, and best costumes.
• For more information, call the course at 661-946-1080.

Fire in the hole!

We had a small fire in the Men’s room last week (no jokes please, although I can barely refrain). Luckily, we only had smoke damage and some damage to a rubber floor mat. It turns out that a fan partially melted and caught on fire. We think it dropped through the ceiling and onto the rubber mat. A golfer named Chris opened the bathroom door, and saw the flame. After alerting the crew, he pulled the mat outside. Shirley then extinguished it with the fire extinguisher . Needless to say, we are all lucky it wasn’t worse. The bathroom has been thoroughly cleaned and all other fans have been cleaned and checked. Thanks to Chris for all the help!

Lake Elizabeth Golf Course Bites the Dust

Not to spread malicious rumors, but we have a confirmed report that Lake Elizabeth Golf Course has closed. Calls to the course resulted in a recorded message saying the line was disconnected. We don’t like to see our friends at Lake Elizabeth going out of business. It presents a hardship for the staff and for the golfers. We welcome the golfers to Rancho Sierra.

The rumor is that Lake Elizabeth is for sale. If we all get together a million friends with ten bucks each, I think we could put in a successful bid. At Rancho Sierra, we’ll put up a big pot where you can put your ten bucks. We’ll also have a thermometer on it showing the progress towards our goal. Let’s work together to buy Lake Elizabeth!

And of course, the preceding paragraph was completely a joke.

Superintendent’s Corner

While at the golf course yesterday, I had the chance to see what Steve, Pedro, Bob, Rick, Andrew, and Adam were up to. The course is looking great. We have a newly installed fertigation system (I know sounds strange but it is a real word). Fertigation is the process of applying fertilizer through an irrigation system. It is a great way to feed a golf course without having to spread granular fertilizer every month or every quarter. What’s even better, we can do this in very small amounts every night we water. Compare feeding a course to feeding a person. Would you rather have 30 dinners in one night or one dinner every night for 30 days. Which is healthier for your body (not counting our starter John of course)? Fertilizing a golf course once a month with large amounts of fertilizer is like giving the grass 30 meals in one day. The grass can’t absorb it. However, the fertigation system “spoon feeds” the grass a little bit each night we water, which is every night in the summer and about every other night in the winter.

We already can see the results. Our turf is lusher, greener, and grows more quickly. The course will also stay green longer. Look forward to Rancho Sierra being green through November and hopefully into December.

There are always a ton of things to do on the course. Other things Steve and crew are continuing to work on are:

• The new tee boxes for #4 and #5 are coming along very nicely.
• #6 green is growing in nicely. Steve had to remove a cottonwood tree beside the green last month, and it is benefiting the green.
• 
• Steve built a new bridge for hole #3. He is getting ready to remove the old bridge. This will improve the look of the hole since carts have damaged the turf on both sides of the old bridge.
• #2 lake has been refilled and looks great. The ducks seem to like it too. The have made this their new home.
• Rick and Steve are working on extensions to the irrigation system to reach areas that don’t get enough water.

Free Stuff from Rancho Sierra at the Fall Festival

Rancho Sierra will be represented by High Desert Broadcasting (The Quake, The Edge, etc.) radio stations at the Fall Festival. Look for the giant boom box trailer. Chuck and company will be giving out free Rancho Sierra golf passes, and have a putting contest, so be sure to stop by.

Shop Rancho Sierra

We have some great specials, including our golf and driving range monthly special and our new golfer special. Check the web site or call or come into the course to see for yourself. And when you are making out your Christmas list, don’t forget to shop for the golfer on your list at Rancho Sierra. We are continually getting in new inventory. And our prices are great.

Thanks for your patronage. Please let us know how we can better serve your golfing needs

Sincerely,

Tim