Golfdom, April 2016

SMALL BALL Continued from page 25 Button Hole Superintendent John Rourke says the facility focuses on inner city kids We teach them something constructive Rourke says Were also increasing the number of golfers by teaching those who would never have gotten into it Rourke 36 in his third year at Button Hole came from the private Agawam Hunt Club in Rumford R I But he likes Button Holes concept The nonprofit status took me away from the exclusivity of golf he says Its taken me away from working with just one group of people This job is more fulfilling than just helping rich guys improve their handicap This pay scale is much different compared to where I was however theres more structure here and a different kind of conditioning I can also bring my son to work and Im more accessible This isnt a 24 hour a day job Before Rourkes time at Agawam he worked for a regional management company building and maintaining a lot of golf courses I got divorced and became ill because I was a workaholic he says I learned the hard way Rourke has no staff during the winter In season he has a crew of five that helps maintain the 26 acre facility which includes a driving range Rourke has been involved with restructuring maintenance practices and creating a feasible budget for the property Last year not much was done agronomically maybe one fertilizer application and one insecticide application he says But this year we have a new board Were in transition We have a lot of repair work going on and were getting back to normal Rourke follows a more sustainable maintenance program maintains higher heights of cut and hand waters more which gives him more control He uses as many native plants as he can and returns nutrients to soil via grass clippings He also uses volunteer labor and works with chemical companies that give money to the facility or donate product We do that with everything he says adding that he relies on the Rhode Island Golf Course Superintendents Association to help get donations and used equipment Even though Button Holes conditions arent maintained at the same level as Awagams theyre consistent We want to make sure quality and conditioning is at the beginner level Rourke says adding that a consulting firm helps determine conditions Conditions arent too difficult but theyre not neglected either We cater to the kids so they can have a good round Giving back to Mother Nature On the West Coast theres Bandon Preserve a 13 hole par 3 course thats part of Bandon Dunes Golf Resort in Bandon Ore Opening in 2012 and designed by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw Bandon Preserve begins atop a sand dune and rolls down toward the beach The Pacific Ocean provides the backdrop to every hole Its a true links course Its phenomenal par 3 ground says Ken Nice director of agronomy at Bandon Dunes When we bui lt the course we werent married to 13 holes We just said Lets build the most par 3 holes we can Were committed to true links golf he adds All of the courses were seeded to fine fescue which means fewer inputs For example were 26 Golfdom April 2016 Golfdom com PHOTO COURTESY JOHN ROURKE John Rourke Ken Nice The land for Button Hole Providence R I was reclaimed from an old junkyard Conditions arent too difficult but theyre not neglected either We cater to the kids so they can have a good round