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RJ_Daley

  • Karma: +0/-0
Rolling up a golf course...
« on: October 08, 2008, 04:58:11 PM »
When I was a kid, the 9 holer that was behind our backyard fence was sold and subdivided into residential, commercial and school property.  It was an old Tom Bendelow as near as we can tell.  They hired us neighborhood kids for about 50 cents an hour to help roll-up sod that they cut on the course FWs to resell for lawns.  (of course it was old blue grass FWs not bent but probably heavy on poa).

My question is if anyone knows of any companies or even side jobs of GC construction companies like Wadsworth or Landscapes, who specialize in reversing the construction process and de-constructs for salvage, dying golf courses, like what is happening at Beechtree? 

Beechtree is reportedly being converted into housing tract.  So, sod may be available, though bent isn't actually lawn grass cultivar.  But, perhaps area courses with significant area for enlarging turf nursery, could benefit, or sports fields in need of replacement of turf...

Then there might be the sprinkler heads, and associated irrigation hardware, and of course the pumphouse machinery.  And, if coper wire is in the irrigation wiring, that could be worth something more than the effort to dig it up.

Obviously, the maintenance facility has plenty of machines and tools...

And, of course to whatever extent the club house is furnished and kitchen equip. 

Jay Flemma mentioned the parkland grounds with hardwoods.  While housing is reportedly coming in, not all those hardwoods are ideally positioned, and those that come down for roads and lots may have great worth if there are desirable hardwoods of good size and shape.  Smaller trees may be able to be dug up with tree spades for transplanting into the new lots.

And, perhaps the well and pump station is in an aquifer that only requires a resevoir tower and treatment house to supply the new subdivision.  So, they might leave the highcap well and pump in place...

I guess it is an obscure topic, but it is at least about golf course 'de-architecture', which is topical for our deconstructed social-economic times... ::)
No actual golf rounds were ruined or delayed, nor golf rules broken, in the taking of any photographs that may be displayed by the above forum user.

Michael Dugger

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Rolling up a golf course...
« Reply #1 on: October 08, 2008, 05:11:45 PM »
So very "green" of you, Dick....

I just finished sitting through a seminar on sustainable building practices which sure is the future....

What does it matter if the poor player can putt all the way from tee to green, provided that he has to zigzag so frequently that he takes six or seven putts to reach it?     --Alistair Mackenzie--

PCCraig

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Rolling up a golf course...
« Reply #2 on: October 08, 2008, 05:43:02 PM »
I suppose you could just "roll up a course," but wouldn't it just be cheaper to plant new grass seed?

Or you could just leave the course!
H.P.S.

Mike_Young

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Rolling up a golf course...
« Reply #3 on: October 08, 2008, 05:47:25 PM »
RJ,
The problem is in most cases it is ceaper to purchase new than the labor involved in removing heads, or cutting sod and shpping etc....
"just standing on a corner in Winslow Arizona"

RJ_Daley

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Rolling up a golf course...
« Reply #4 on: October 08, 2008, 06:04:48 PM »
Pat, I tend to think that after labor and equipment costs, some courses salvage could be profitable.  I think it depends on the nature of the land track, and the infra structure within the course.  I'm not current on costs of sprinkler heads and all the replacement parts and used market.  But, when some of those cost a couple hundred bucks new, there has to be a market for used, and when some courses have several hundred sprinkler heads, that could be a lot of ping... If it cost a hour manual labor to dig up 60-100 dollars worth of sprinkler and parts, that might be a good gig.
No actual golf rounds were ruined or delayed, nor golf rules broken, in the taking of any photographs that may be displayed by the above forum user.

Jay Flemma

Re: Rolling up a golf course...
« Reply #5 on: October 08, 2008, 07:49:02 PM »
So very "green" of you, Dick....

I just finished sitting through a seminar on sustainable building practices which sure is the future....



Mike, this sounds really interesting and important.  Can you elaborate?  What was the central conclusion and why did they reach it?  What does the future look like?

TX Golf

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Rolling up a golf course...
« Reply #6 on: October 09, 2008, 02:50:22 AM »
The other issue is that most courses that are being closed down and dug up usually aren't brand new. This means that the equipment i.e. irrigation systems are probably fairly old and out of date.... stuff that someone building a new course probably isn't interested in.

Lou_Duran

  • Karma: +0/-0

Michael Dugger

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Rolling up a golf course...
« Reply #8 on: October 09, 2008, 02:40:45 PM »
So very "green" of you, Dick....

I just finished sitting through a seminar on sustainable building practices which sure is the future....



Mike, this sounds really interesting and important.  Can you elaborate?  What was the central conclusion and why did they reach it?  What does the future look like?

Sorry, Jay, I think you misunderstood me.  I meant "building" as in structures, houses, condos, etc.....

Not related to golf nor landscape arch.  Just good old fashioned architecture architecture....
What does it matter if the poor player can putt all the way from tee to green, provided that he has to zigzag so frequently that he takes six or seven putts to reach it?     --Alistair Mackenzie--