Highlands course reopens to fanfare
Golfer says course ‘Beautiful, gorgeous’
The Highlands Golf Course is open for golf once more.
The course has been closed since July. During that closure the greens’ collars were resodded, the bunkers have been renovated and portions of the cart paths have been repaved, explained Alex Sanford, head golf professional for the course.
Additionally, he said, the Highlands Pub is now open, which features a full bar as well as hot dogs, brats, soups, salads and sandwiches, and the players’ area has been refreshed.
“It is now open and ready and looking beautiful,” he said. “It’s been a while since we’ve been open, so we’re trying to get the training wheels off, so to speak.”
The POA board of directors approved a $293,000 contract with Professional Golf Services for the Highlands work. The work was not initially budgeted for 2017, but the severe storms this year damaged the course and forced the work to be done earlier than expected.
Sanford said the course saw a great deal of business when it reopened Friday morning. While he likes what he’s seen, he hasn’t had a chance to play the course since the renovations.
The new cart paths, he said, have sections replaced that were bumpy because of roots growing under them.
“The (new) cart paths make it
"The (new) cart paths make it seem like a freeway out there." Alex Sanford Highlands head golf pro
seem like a freeway out there,” he said.
Over time, he said, the greens are likely to be the most important improvement. The new grass, he said, should be a great deal more resilient.
Moreover, he said, with the bypass open, the course is now more accessible than before.
Golfers seemed glad to be back on the course.
“We love it,” Dave Wixson said. “It’s great, beautiful.”
The greens were looking great, he said, and the new paths made for a much nicer ride around the course.
While Wixson waited to drive, Mark Krysl was putting.
Krysl said he appreciated the weather, though the game was going a little slow. That was primarily because of the crowd, he said.
“It’s in beautiful shape. Beautiful shape — gorgeous,” he said. “The new improvements are a terrific addition.”