Maintenance News

Rush Creek Maintenance Year in Review

The 2009 golf season provided Rush Creek with a few opportunities to improve the
golf course in both environmental ways and golf course playability.

Greens
2009 marked the second full season after the greens regrassing project to
Penn A1/A4 bentgrass during the fall of 2007.  From a maintenance and players
point of view these new greens continue to impress.  Penn A1/A4 tolerates
lower mowing heights producing greens that roll true and fast.  Penn A1/A4
also thrives in the hot dry weather allowing for tournament condition even
in the heat of the summer.  If you have not played Rush Creek in a few
years you will be impressed by the conditions of our new Penn A1/A4 
bentgrass greens.   

Naturalized Areas
Over the past few years there has been an increase in the amount of
naturalized fine fescue areas on the golf course.  This past year our total
naturalized acreage has reached 15 acres.  This has been done for several
reasons.  Naturalized areas reduce fertilizer, pesticide, and water use during
the growing season.  During the 2009 season Rush Creek was able to save
2 million gallonsof water with the increase in naturalized areas.  These areas
also provide habitat for the wildlife seen at Rush Creek.

Bunker Renovation
Rush Creek started the initial stages of a bunker renovation project.  Bunkers
on holes 1 and 9 will have all the old sand removed, drainage issues resolved, 
edged to find the original bunker shape, new bunker liner applied and new sand added.  Bunker renovation will continue during the 2010 season. 

Superintendent Dale Hiebert

Fine Fescue #17	Fine Fescue #17
Fine Fescue #14	Fixing drain tile #1
Application of bunker liner #1	New sand into #1

Testimonials
"The new greens at Rush Creek are now the best in the state.  Though fast, they putt true.  Last spring, when other courses had severe winter kill, Rush Creek had minimal.  A day or two after they were aerated and sanded this year - they were still better than a lot of other greens in the area.  They also seem to heal very well after play, as I never see any sustained damage from ball marks." -- Jim Burkstrand 

"We play many different courses in Minnesota during the year and Rush Creek is always the yardstick, especially comparing the greens.  I have not played at any other course where I think the greens are better." -- Scott Leonard

"Rush Creek's greens are now among the best in the Twin Cities, especially for a public course.  Not only are they fast, they roll true and are great at holding approach shots." -- Bill Adams

"The decision to upgrade the greens was obviously a good one.  The added quickness hasn't deminished the true roll and make the course all the more enjoyable." -- Bob Miller 

"The new greens' putting surfaces have far exceeded most expectations and put a great deal of enthusiasm in thinking about playing again at Rush Creek Golf Club."
-- Greg Bakeberg 

"The greens are better than they have ever been.  They were fast and rolled perfectly!  It has been fun to see the changes at the course over the last couple of years and as a result the course is in the best shape ever." -- David Devins

"I thought the greens were great before.  Now they are even better!  I like 'em fast!"
-- Randy Zejdlik

"The greens at Rush were worth the wait.  They're fast and they're true!  Oh, did I say I really liked 'em?  You 'betcha!" -- John Nicolay

"#18 is one of the greatest finishing holes and I believe the changes in the
past several season to change holes #13-15 are wonderful, not to mention,
new greens and the movement Dale has made to help the ecology of
the course by taking portions of the course out of the watering zones
by adding ornamental grasses." -- Phil Griffin