POA Board talks trails

The greens on the Scotsdale course are ahead of schedule and looking good, the POA Board learned at their work session last Thursday. Many of the greens were damaged by cold weather last winter.

Board member David Whelchel, who is a professional golf course architect, said the 13 greens that were replanted are looking very good. Scotsdale should reopen as scheduled in September.

General Manager Tom Judson warned the board that the new greens will be aerated this week. They always get a lot of calls when greens are aerated since they look as if they are damaged, he said. The small holes that result from aeration keeps the greens healthy by allowing water to evaporate quickly and preventing soil compacting.

A repair to the 12th green became a capitol project when it became necessary to rebuild the entire green. The final cost was $51,000. The board will vote to approve the expense at this week’s meeting.

With word that the Walton Family Foundation will provide funding for another 40 to 50 miles of trails, the board considered a maintenance agreement. POA attorney Doug McCash helped draw up the paperwork. The city and the POA will share maintenance expenses on the trails with a maximum expenditure of $35,000 each for the new section. The Back Forty Trails on the east side of Bella Vista are also maintained jointly. That agreement also calls for a maximum of $35,000 a year.

The board also heard an update from Judson about the Country Club golf course renovation. One goal of the renovation is to make the course more flood resistant. He sent requests for proposals to three of the companies that responded to an earlier request for quote. Each company will send a representative to interview in Bella Vista, he said. The deadline for the RFP is Aug. 15.