LAS VEGAS, NV – Unusually hot late-summer temperatures in Las Vegas created havoc for golf courses during their over-seeding programs. Some courses ended up with only a partial coverage of rye grass. One or two lost their greens entirely.
But at Las Vegas National, just the opposite was true. Key Golf Management’s over-seeding efforts at this venerable Vegas golf landmark were 100 percent successful.
“I bought a home directly behind the eighth tee back in 1980,” says General Manager Jack Stoberski, “and I have lived/played here for over 30 years. I can say without hesitation that Las Vegas National is in the best condition that it has been in since the 80’s. And that covers the time when the Sahara Hotel owned it and they had a virtual endless maintenance budget.
“A great deal of the credit for that goes to Key Golf Management (which was contracted to oversee all golf course maintenance efforts two years ago). They have gone beyond expectations when it comes to maintaining our golf course.”
Kip Wolfe of Key Golf credits changes in strategy and upgrading of a well for the terrific over-seeding results at Las Vegas National.
“First of all, we used 50 percent more seed than they used to use here,” he said. “Secondly, $100,000 was spent retrofitting one of the wells, so there was ample water to enhance the germination and growth of the seed. We also did many in-house irrigation changes for better pressure and coverage. Third, the course was closed for 20 days instead of 10.
“But maybe the most important change was that we did the over-seeding a few weeks later this year. By going in late September we were able to take advantage of the cooler temperatures that promote growth of the rye grass. High temperatures fight that growth and promote disease plus re-growth of the bermuda.”
Over-seeding is always a nervous time for golf course owners. Sometimes factors beyond human control can affect the outcome of what is a costly annual procedure. And if something goes wrong, a re-do is usually in order, doubling the expense.
When course owners outsource golf course maintenance to companies like Key Golf, they pass along the liability of things like over-seeding, equipment failure, personnel issues, overtime, etc.
“If the over-seed doesn’t come out right, it is the responsibility of the course and superintendent, and they have to incur the extra costs to fix it,” said Wolfe. “If Key Golf is contracted and the over-seed doesn’t come out right, it is the responsibility of Key Golf, not the golf course. We suffer the financial loss.”
Added Stoberski, “It’s like the difference between leasing and owning an automobile. When something major goes wrong with the car, you just turn it into the dealer when you are leasing. It’s not your problem.”
The over-seeding is the latest in a series of upgrades made by Key Golf. The ultimate goal is to raise the golf experience at Las Vegas National to the levels offered during its heyday, when it served as the golf course and 19th hole of choice for the Rat Pack. It was not unusual to see Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr. and Peter Lawford around the piano belting out a few tunes after a day of golf at Las Vegas National.
“Since Key Management began their work here, it has been like the rising of the Phoenix, from ashes and a cloud of dirt to lush fairways and some of best greens in Las Vegas,” said Stoberski.
ABOUT KEY GOLF
Key Golf Management is a wholly owned subsidiary of Pro-Turf International, Inc., a Nevada corporation specializing in the golf industry for over 20 years. The company offers construction, renovation and maintenance programs.
Key Golf also provides course owners with other services, such as national buying power with leading vendors; policy and procedure manuals; training and educational seminars for staff; and the ability for owners to know their fixed costs when it comes to course maintenance.
Key Golf represents such reputable products as, Linebacker™ Bunker Liner, and BTN fertilizer.
For more information, visit www.keygolf.com.
Contact:
Mike Jamison
407-328-0500, ext. 1
mike@jamisongolf.com
