Fox Run Golf Course prepares to re-open
Fox Run Golf Course has been closed for maintenance since March 9, but it will be reopening on April 11.
In an interview with the Sun, Fox Run Director of Golf Matthew Alcala explained what maintenance issues were addressed while the course was closed.
“We’ve basically been removing a lot of the salt affected spots and kind of replacing that soil,” Alcala explained. “And we really started on tee boxes and other areas that are having issues.”
The greens are looking a little yellow after winter, so golf course staff is preparing to plant more grass seed so that the golf course will evolve into a green splendor.
“We’ve been doing a lot of prep so when the seed is available, we have the opportunity to hurry up and plant it and get it in the ground,” Alcala said. “The biggest thing that we have been doing is really getting a lot of these soils that are basically salt-affected and poor-quality kind of removed and replaced with some perky (Puerco) dirt, which we’ve had really good results within the past.”
According to Alcala, grass seed is at an all-time high right now. A pound of it costs about $8 or $9 right now.
Alcala said normally it would cost about $1 or $1.50 a pound, but inflation and supply chain issues have caused the increase. He said his suppliers are hoping that the price will be back to normal come fall.
Another issue the golf course staff will be tackling in the near future is the issue of getting enough water to the course.
Alcala seemed hopeful when he spoke about the plans for a water pipeline.
“There’s a long-term plan in place now that’s going to be a permanent fix now,” Alcala said. “[The water pipeline] issue will no longer be the reason we can’t continue to improve the course.”
The project will be broken into sections. The first section already has funding, and construction will start this winter, according to Alcala. It will cover the north side of the golf course.
The price tag for the first section is $750,000.
“That’s where a majority of our leaks [occur],” Alcala said. “I would say somewhere between 60 to 70% of all of our leaks are in this section that’s going to be replaced this coming winter hopefully.”
Right now the golf course has temporary pipes put in place above ground. The permanent pipes will be underground. The golf course will be using reclaimed water to keep the grounds looking green and healthy.
The second section of the project will cover the west side of the golf course. Alcala is hoping the city council will approve the second part of the project soon enough that it can be started in the next year or so. The council discussed the golf course and the improvements that need to be made to it during their strategic planning sessions back in February.
“Usually these processes can take up to five years just to find funding for, so we really focused on trying to get that done,” Alcala said. He said he hopes the water pipeline project is completed in the next two or three years.
By Molly Ann Howell
Sun Correspondent
