Mimimalism at its minimalist!------- 9 holes for $140,000

[Ron Farris]

I was recently involved in a project that converted a 9-hole golf course with SAND GREENS into grass greens.  The project consisted of installing a single-row irrigation system, importing the most economical sand for greens, shaping the greens with a skid steer loader, incorporating peat moss into the greens, fine grading, and seeding of the golf greens and tees, soil stabilization polymer application and hydro-mulching for dormant seeding protection.  This was done for a grand total of $140,000 and some extremely dedicated volunteer work by the local people of Murdo, South Dakota.  Murdo is located halfway between Rapid City and Sutton Bay.  I can honestly say that I have never seen a more dedicated bunch of golfers bust their rear ends to improve there playing conditions.  The course has natural buffalo-grass fairways and roughs, which get mowed about 3-4 times a season.  With the new irrigation system it will be interesting to see if the grasses change.    

This is minimalism at its minimalist state, but it is golf at its purest form.  Thoughts or Comments

[Tommy_Naccarato]

Ron, Being I love golf in its most purist form, please do show us some photos!

[Mike Nuzzo]

Why change at all?
Cheers

[James Bennett]

Mt Coolum Golf Club built nine of their holes in the early 1990's using volunteer labour and some generosity from a person involved in the design of the neighbouring Hyatt Coolum course (north of Brisbane in Queensland Australia).  Total cost (including clearing, drainage, irrigation and greens) for some pretty neat holes was $150,000 (Australian!).

I was impressed.  The club is well patronised by retirees throughout the week, throughout the year.

James B

[Adam_F_Collins]

This type of golf course may be the area of GCA which I am most interested in.

As Tommy asked, please post some images if you can.

How were you involved, Ron?

[Ron Farris]

I live 2 hours drive from this course.  I have worked with Pete Dye, Rod Whitman, Tom Doak, Bobby Weed, John Harbottle, David Postlewaite, just to shamelessly drop names.  I do some work as a golf course designer and I charged them $1 for some design advise and other recommendations.  

This is my first attempt at posting a picture so bear with me.

Sand Green

#2 Green after seeding

Originally they wanted 1,000 sf greens.  
Currently they have two mowers.  One for the greens and one for the fairway and other areas.  Ranchers cut the rough and use it as bale of hay for livestock.  
They anticipate a budget of somewhere near $40,000 a year for maintenance.  

On a sad note - they have carpet in their cart barn.

[Tommy_Naccarato]

I'm ready for a trip to Murdo right now! (With hickories)

Ron, You've got to show some other stuff here. The land looks amazing. How's the water there?

[Ron Farris]

Tommy - The water is horrible.  pH is about 8.3 so it is used sparingly.  The course was laid out by a local priest when Interstate 90 came through town.  All things considered it is quite good.  One can easily walk, but if you hit it into long grass one must keep an outlook for rattlesnakes.  


The gentleman with the flag and no sleeves is not a caddie.  Dress code is up to the individual player.

[Adam_F_Collins]

The heart of golf is still beating.

[RJ_Daley]

Tommy, it is sort of like Tori Pines in Hollywood, but in a arid and harsh environment sans palm and eucalyptus trees....

Ron ain't kidding about the water in Murdo.  I stayed overnight there twice on my way out to Wyoming.  Both times when I took a drink out of the tap, I thought I was going to gag.

[Ron Farris]

RJ_Daley

Just north of this GC is a lake (where they actually should have built the course).  It was used as a water source for the town of Murdo.  Recently they brought a water line from the Missouri River (Sutton Bay or Oahe Dam) to the Pine Ridge reservation.  Murdo now has good drinking water.  The old lake is being used to supply water to the golf course.  

The game of golf must have many hearts, but rest assured the Spirit of the Game lives on in Murdo.  

[George Pazin]

Thanks for the info, warms the heart.

Ron, you might be the first person in the history of golfclubatlas to not get the dreaded red X on his first photo post.

 

[Ron Farris]

Geroge - I confess I had my 15 year old daughter help me with the photo gig.  

Now, this is the honest to God's truth:  I just recieved an email from Murdo Golf Club.  It is from a banker who started the project and I think it gives an indication of the environment that they are dealing with and the can do spirit there:

We started watering the fairways yesterday.  I feel really good about where we are at and think it will be a fun, wide-open course.  We'll be expecting you to come out and play as often as you want.  
 
I put down some granules yesterday to hopefully kill the little ant hills on some of the greens and also shot 7 gophers and 1 rattlesnake.

They post the rattle tails on a board in the clubhouse.  Last year I saw a tail that had 9 beads.

[Tommy_Naccarato]

I can see that they are a prejudice lot up there in Murdo. No Shoes, No Shirts, No Rattlers!

Sounds like a place I'll have to visit one day if I ever make it up to Sutton Bay!

Dick, Tori PinesHolmby Park is playing better then ever, in fact I might be playing it this next week with Noel when he comes to town.