Fort Walton Beach Golf Club modernizes Pines Course greens with county tourism tax funding
Fort Walton Beach, Florida – As the Pines Course at the nearby golf club gets a major make-over, golf enthusiasts in Fort Walton Beach are eager for more consistent and smooth putting conditions. Home to two 18-hole courses, the Fort Walton Beach Golf Club is working to redesign all 18 greens on its Pines Course, the first course built there in 1961.
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Under King Villages Landscaping & Golf Construction Inc., this renovation started just recently with an eye toward long-standing problems with the turf quality of the greens. The greens have evolved over decades into a patchwork of several grass varieties, resulting in an erratic and uneven putting surface. The Golf Course Maintenance Manager, Richie Edwards, described the difficulties preserving such a varied surface.
“When you putt,” said Edwards, “and your ball is running nice and straight, and then all of a sudden it pulls over here and then it pulls over that way, that’s because it’s running through different types of grass.”
The update calls for a complete makeover of the grounds. The current grass and organic material will be taken down 4 to 6 inches in depth. New soil will then be added and a fumigation process will guarantee that no residual plant material remains. The choice of replacement turf is TifEagle Bermudagrass, a variety specifically developed for golf greens, known for its smoothness and durability.
The project benefits the local economy as well as the quality of play. Supported by an additional $29,710 from the half-cent surtax fund and $484,000 from Okaloosa County’s Tourist Development Tax, the renovation highlights the county’s commitment to improve its tourism scene. The funds support more general initiatives by Okaloosa County to employ tourism tax collections for amenities drawing tourists and enhancing nearby recreational areas.
Despite the extensive nature of the renovations, the impact on golfers will be minimized. The Pines Course will feature temporary greens and remain open to golf club members only during the renovation period. This restricted access is designed to reduce foot and cart traffic, therefore enabling the new greens to establish without disruption. The second 18-hole course of the club, The Oaks Course, will operate as usual free from any influence of the building activity.
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With weather allowing, the new greens should be ready for use by September. This schedule gives the recently planted TifEagle Bermudagrass enough time to grow and mature, therefore guaranteeing a premium putting surface for many years to come.
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To schedule a tee time and other information about the Fort Walton Beach Golf Club, interested parties can visit fwbgolf.com. The website guarantees that both members and guests remain informed and enthusiastic about the future of golf in Fort Walton Beach by providing specifics on the facilities of the club and the continuous developments.
