Crystal Gilbert and the SaddleBrooke Ranch maintenance crew are working with Oliphant, Inc. to install the new greens, while still maintaining the current grounds and landscaping. Construction of new homes continues in the background.
Toni Graves
Oliphant, Inc. of Wisconsin is managing the work of replacing the current greens with fine-stemmed Bermuda grass. They have a long history of success with similar projects in the area. Residents at SaddleBrooke Ranch will see a large array of equipment and crews during the early summer months as all greens are dug out, refilled, regraded, and then sprigged with the new MiniVerde grass. Sprigging involves spraying small bits of the grass across the prepared surface of the green. Seeding isn’t an option because this type of grass is sterile, and using rolls of sod would cause issues with seams. Once the sprigs are in place, the greens will be closely monitored and well-watered while the grass becomes established. After about a week, new growth will begin to emerge.
Other projects for the summer include constructing five new forward gold tees, expanding several existing tee boxes, and improving drainage throughout the course. The 16th hole is being reconfigured by moving tee boxes and changing the slope on different parts of the fairway.
During the summer, while we’re playing on the temporary greens, rates have been reduced to $10 for annual pass holders, $15 for residents. Happy hitting at SaddleBrooke Ranch!
The SaddleBrooke Ranch Greens Committee is happy to answer questions at [email protected].