CONSTRUCTION IS COMPLETE!!!

As of Saturday, August 23rd, 2008 we can officially say that the construction of CommonGround Golf Course is complete! On Saturday, the team finished seeding the Kid's Course to bring the construction phase of the golf course to a close. Now with some time and some TLC from Tracy and his crew, the golf course should be in spectacular shape for opening day late next spring.

I'd like to extend a special thank you to all of the people from Renaissance Golf Design, ACC, Modern Golf, and the CommonGround maintenance crew for all of their long hours and hard work that it took to build what will soon become one of the premier facilities in Colorado. Specifically, I'd like to thank Tracy Richard, Bobby Martin, Eric Iverson, Dwight McCormack, and Darren Flanagan for their efforts. Their work ethic and dedication to the project has been like none I have ever seen, and all of them deserve a round of applause......oh yeah, and a little time off to relax!

In other news, I will be releasing the rates for CommonGround Golf Course next week, so be sure to check back then. Also, I am reminding everyone again, that if you are planning on hosting a tournament or group outing at CommonGround next year, please get in touch with me sooner than later so that we have the best opportunity to accomodate your needs.

Finally, with such a spectacular morning, I was able to take some really good photos today. Click here if you would like to view them: August 25th Photos -- Have a Great Week!

Rain, Rain, Go Away & Stay Away.......

...at least until we can get some grass established on the last couple of holes! Since this weekend felt more like we lived in Seattle rather than Colorado, we have once again had some wash out issues on holes #18, #10, & #9. Although we have received over 2.5" of rain since last Friday, the washouts were not as severe as the previous week and the established areas of the course drained extremely well. As you can imagine, all the rain has left it pretty muddy in the unfinished areas which means that the seeding of the Kid's Course is behind schedule, but should be completed by the 22nd.

On a positive note, planning is wrapping up on the Starter Clubhouse, and we should see some site work begin in the next 3-4 weeks. Also, we hosted our second VIP Tour this week and received nothing but glowing reviews from those who attended. For this weeks photos, and photos of the Tour, click here: August 18th Photos

Finally, if you are planning on hosting a tournament, a league or an outing at CommonGround in 2009, please be sure to get in touch with me sooner than later. I have already begun receiving tournament requests and am starting to put dates on the calendar. I can be reached by email (dtroyer@cogolf.org) or by phone -- 303-340-1520.

Just When We Thought We Were Done......

it finally decided to rain! Tuesday, after the team had finished seeding #18 (the last hole by the way), mother nature decided to bless us with 1" of rain in less than 30 minutes. The large amount of rain in such a short time washed away about 25% of the seed on #18 and about 10% of the seed on #9 & #10. Although disappointing, the weather has been extremely favorable up to this point. With a little rework once the ground dries, we should be able to reseed the affected areas and complete the course by early next week.

In other news, the construction of the Kid's Course is fully underway. With all of the green cavities prepped, irrigation being installed, and work on the drainage nearing an end, the greens mix should be added early in the week. This should allow Renaissance to finish shaping the greens and fairways by the end of next week with grassing to be completed the following week!

Finally, I urge everyone to check out this weeks photos. The more established holes look amazing! Click here for this weeks photos: August 8th Photos

Have a great weekend watching the final Major Championship of the year!

Only Two More Holes to Go!

Time sure is flying! In just 8 short weeks, the team has been able to complete 16 holes. This week, we finished seeding holes #11 and #9. This just leaves holes #10 & #18 to complete. If this weather holds, there is a good chance that every hole on the Championship Course will be complete by the end of next week!

Work continues to progress on the Kid's Course as well. This week, Tracy worked with Eric Iverson of Renaissance Golf Design to lay out the irrigation for the course, and make a few minor enhancements to the routing. Timing wise, once #18 is grassed the team will move over to the Kid's Course to finish the construction and grassing.

Finally, as you know from last week's post, the first official shot was struck at CommonGround. Well this week (not to make you all jealous or anything), the first holes were played. With some arm twisting (not too much though), I was able to convince Mr. Mate to join me in playing holes #12, #13, #4, #5, and #6! Granted the greens were only running about 6 on the stimpmeter, but all I can say is this course is going to be AWESOME!

I'll be moving next week and unfortunately will not be able to post another update until August 8th. By then, the course should be done! Have a great weekend!

For this weeks photos, click here: July 25th Photos

The First Shot Has Been Played!!

On Wednesday, July 16th, 2008 the first documented shot was played at CommonGround Golf Course on the green of hole #12. The honor went to Joanne Braucht, a CommonGround Board Member, during the first of four VIP tours of the golf course. After all the attendees had a chance to putt, a bunker shot contest was held for a round of golf. Tim Taylor barely edged out Berith Jacobsen (who unfortunately had to use a left handed 6 iron for the shot) for the prize.

For more photos of the VIP Tour and this week's course photos, click here: July 18th, Photos

On the construction end of things, the team had another very productive week. Highlights include:
1) Hole #1 was seeded (4 holes left to go!)
2) Drainage and irrigation was installed in the chipping/pitching green
3) Sand mix was added to the Putting Green, Hole #9 & Hole #10
4) Prep work will be completed on Hole #11 by Tuesday for seeding
5) Bridge construction to the tees on #12 began

They remain very optimistic that by the end of next week they will have both #11 and #9 seeded, leaving only #10 and #18 to complete. On the grow in side, Tracy added #3 and #8 greens to his mowing rotation this week bringing the total to 10 greens and 5 fairways that are being mowed.

J3 Engineering submitted our second round of civil drawings for the Starter Clubhouse to the City of Aurora this week, and Eidos is putting the final touches on the constructions drawings scheduled to be submitted next week.

Other than that, all I can say is that each day I can see more and more green out my window! Have a Great Weekend!

Tracy tells me he doesn't control the weather, but...

he sure is doing a great job of it. The condititions this year have been ideal for seeding. Just this week the team was able to get #2 and #17 seeded, bringing the total number of holes complete to 13. Tracy and his crew are currently mowing 7 greens (#'s 4,5,6,12,13,14,&15) and 5 fairways (#'s 4,5,12,13,&14). Holes #1 and #11 are in the final stages of prep work and we will look to get #1 finished next week. Additionally this week, construction on the bridges to the tee boxes on #12 has begun.

On the operation end of things, we are working hard on the pricing structure for the facility and should be able to release the rates by the end of the summer. Also, we have made our second submittal to the city of Aurora for our plans for the Starter Clubhouse and are still on schedule for construction to begin sometime in September.

Enjoy the cool down this weekend! For this weeks photos, click here: July 12th Photos

Happy 4th of July!

When Dwight McCormack of ACC (I generally refer to him as Chief Dirt) told me yesterday that the dirt on site at CommonGround might very well be the best dirt he has ever worked with, I was astonished. I've spent plenty of hours trying to dig holes through bentonite clay in my own yard to form the opinion that great dirt and Colorado don't go hand in hand. Well to me, this meant:

GREAT DIRT = GREAT TURFGRASS.

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I admit I am no expert, but based on how well the grass has already begun to establish itself with the help of Tracy and crew, I'm extremely excited about how good the playing conditions will eventually be!

Thanks to the great weather, the team has been cruising! This week they were able to finish seeding hole #16 and the entire Driving Range. We now have 11 entire holes complete as well as the Driving Range! By the end of this week, Tracy and crew will be mowing 6 of the greens (#'s 4,5,12,13,14,&15) and 4 of the fairways (#'s 4,5,12,&13). Looking ahead, holes #2 and #17 have been prepped and will be seeded next week, while #1 and #11 will be prepped for seeding in the near future. Finally, shaping has begun on the Kid's Course.

Have a great holiday weekend! For this weeks photos, click here: July 3rd Photos.