GOLF OPERATIONS
TEMPORARY SOLUTION, PERMANENT BENEFITS By Rob Thomas, Senior Editor
IN APRIL 2020, JUST AS COVID was expanding its grip on the country, an Executive Order in Mecklenburg County, N.C. closed driving ranges across the state because of social-distancing concerns. Like many clubs and facilities, Charlotte (N.C.) Country Club was forced to shut down its range for nearly four weeks. But coinciding with the government-mandated closure, golf was booming. “During the midst of the pandemic, our golf course was seeing historic levels of golf rounds. As we know, golf was one of the few things we could all do safely at the time, and we were at capacity nearly every day,” says Clubhouse Manager Quinn Moe. “When it was announced that we had to close our driving range, our golf professional staff, Golf Committee, and Superintendent came together with the idea of transforming our practice facility into a six-hole, par-3 golf course, which we called ‘The Loop’ ” Moe says. Golf Course Superintendent John Szklinski designed the layout using the whole practice facility, and the club incorporated its short-game area adjacent to the driving range, to maximize 40
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space, Moe says. “Our Agronomy staff got the course ready for play in a very short amount of time [under a week],” Moe says. “We are blessed with a large practice facility that was very conducive to being transformed into a short course. We cut the greens down shorter than usual, created tee boxes, and removed other targets on the range. Our golf professional staff managed tee times and the first tee, just as we would our golf course.” Tee times were managed through ForeTees online, in the same way rounds are scheduled for the regular golf course. Based on usage numbers, the temporary course was a success. “In the three-and-a-half weeks The Loop was open, we did over 1,000 rounds,” Moe says. “It was a wonderful mix of members who came out to play. We had older members who had said they hadn’t played golf in years because our regular golf course was too challenging; we also had junior golfers who were just beginning to pick up the game, as well as members finishing their day by playing The Loop with one golf club
THE GOAL:
Alleviate some of the growing demand for tee times at Charlotte CC while also utilizing the driving range that was shut down due to COVID restrictions.
THE PLAN:
Golf Course Superintendent John Szklinski designed “The Loop”—a six-hole, par 3 layout using the whole practice facility and incorporating the short-game area adjacent to the driving range to maximize space.
THE PAYOFF:
In the three-and-a-half weeks The Loop was open, the club did more than 1,000 rounds. Members who hadn’t played in years because the normal course had become too much for them were able to enjoy the short course.
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