Gator Lakes reopens

  • Published
  • By Jon Ortiz
  • 1st SOSVS
HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. --  The Gator Lakes Golf Course opened Nov. 15 after nearly seven months of renovations.

The course, which closed in April, suffered from drought and outdated drainage and irrigation systems, prompting the greens renovation project. Officials expect the greens to be fully matured by May 2007.

Meanwhile, the course's front nine holes are grown in and contain a new type of grass called Paspalum, a more heat- and drought-tolerant grass, unlike the more traditional Bermuda grass, according to Maj. John Cronin, Services deputy business operations flight chief, who oversaw the renovation project.

The back nine holes are layered with temporary greens next to the original greens until the new grass grows in after the winter season.

"The most glaring problem was the drought this past summer," Major Cronin said. "The water level in the lake became so low that water couldn't be drawn up to the pump house to irrigate the course. A submersible pump was installed in the lake to get water out to the course. It helped, but it still didn't provide enough water. This caused some delays in getting the grass sprigs planted."

Although the course underwent major repairs, the original 72-par golf course design has remained mostly intact. The project cost $1.1 million, Major Cronin said.

The renovation work included rebuilding the greens, planting grass sprigs, reshaping the fairway bunkers and filling them with new sand, and improving the irrigation system. In addition, some of the tee boxes were extended, and work has begun on carving out new drainage channels, which is expected to relieve some of the problems seen in the past.

Some golf lovers here anticipated the reopening of Gator Lakes.

"I'm happy I don't have to drive all the way to Pensacola to golf," said Master Sgt. Ken Wallace, 1st Special Operations Support Squadron. "You can't find a decent golf fee."

"We will be offering reduced green fees until the grass on the greens fully matures," Major Cronin said, adding that golfers may play the course for now at a twilight fee.

The Gator Lakes snack bar, renamed Oasis, also opened its doors this month. Oasis serves breakfast and lunch, which include sandwiches and burgers. The snack bar is open Monday-Friday from 7 a.m.-3 p.m., and 6:30 a.m.-3 p.m. on weekends and holidays.

Tee times at Gator Lakes begin daily at 7 a.m. and end at dusk. For more information, call 881-2251.