Golf Course Advisory Board Agenda and Packet 2015 08 17

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ITEM #5a City„ Louisville COLORADO • SINCE 1878 GOLF COURSE ADVISORY BOARD COMMUNICATION SUBJECT: DATE: TALL GRASS ON COAL CREEK GOLF COURSE AUGUST 17, 2015 PRESENTED BY: JOE STEVENS SUMMARY: At the July 20, 2015 Golf Course Advisory Board (GCAB), residents adjacent the golf course on Manorwood Court shared a letter with the GCAB appreciative of City efforts to reconstruct and open Coal Creek Golf Course following the 2013 floods. At the July meeting, Manorwood representatives requested the City return the area around Hole #1 to its former bluegrass standard because, in their view, the tall grass is ugly, unsafe, a fire hazard and slows play. A copy of their memorandum accompanies this communication. In addition to inviting Manorwood representatives to the GCAB meeting, David Baril, David Dean and I have met on -site to listen to their concerns and to share the City's perspective. City staff shared that we have worked with the Golf Course community, Golf Course Advisory Board, citizens, Golf Course Architect /Design /Consultant team to come up with a program that would improve Coal Creek Golf Course, make it more interesting /diverse, reduce water consumption and long -term maintenance expenses, and be ecologically - friendly. Obviously, new distinguishing characteristics such as undulating greens, tall grasses, and strategically placed sand bunkers could contribute to slow play, but features were carefully evaluated, supported and implemented during the design /build process. The new irrigation system was designed and installed to support a cover of rye and tall fescue grasses specified by the golf course architect. With the wetter than normal spring and early summer (over 18" of rain in June), grass and weed growth created a temporary (first season) environment that was not anticipated but will become tall fescue dominant over time. Golfers have and will continue to adapt to tall grass areas and other new challenges within Coal Creek Golf Course. It will take time and patience to better evaluate success and or determine what, if any, modifications are warranted. Less than two months of operations are not sufficient to warrant modification to the irrigation system and the design intent of Coal Creek Golf Course. The City of Louisville, jointly or independently, owns over 1,800 acres of open space. Much of the property is adjacent native and tall grasses. Often, the safety of children, associated hazards, property values, etc. are more perception than reality when living next to parks, open spaces, golf courses, etc. It has been suggested that open, not fenced, ponds, lakes, detention basins and streams pose a far greater hazard to unattended children than tall grasses. In some instances, homeowners have utilized the golf course as an extension of their backyards which can create dangers for children and conflicts with golfers. An irrigated golf course and adjacent irrigated private GOLF COURSE ADVISORY BOARD 7