Adopt A Hole Cancel The title field is required!

1. Paul Double

   

   37 posts
   
   11/1/2017 12:11 PM

   We have a golf improvement committee that has established for 2018 an "Adopt A Hole" program for the members. This program is for the members to help with pickup any trash or debris and help keep their hole as clean as possible and they are also going to plant flowers in the flower beds and supposedly take care of them. I was asked about the idea and I liked some ideas, but feel there is a lot of risk and issues that I see could arise. I advised them that nobody can apply any kind of pesticide to the flowers they plant because of pesticide regulations on who is applying them, and I have already heard of one member planning on planting things that are high maintenance and require fungicides that they plan on applying. I have heard horror stories where a couple members went out and cut down trees that they did not like.
   
   Just looking for any input from anybody that has been involved with anything like this.
   
   Thanks,
   
   Paul L Double

   
   
   
   
2. Joshua Sawyer

   

   0 posts
   
   11/1/2017 1:11 PM

   I have gone through this in the past. On the surface it sounds like a good idea, but from my experience, it brought a lot of walk-in complaints about 'why don't you do this or that on my hole'. The plantings end up being a long term problem because the members generally keep them up for a couple of seasons, then you are on the hook for upkeep or removal. You bring up a good point about the maintenance of what is installed, because if they don't keep up with it, you know who will. We disbanded our program after 2 seasons. My suggestion would be to limit the work to divot repair, fixing ball marks,etc. and steer away from anything with long term implications. Good luck.

   
   
   
   
3. Keith Fellenstein

   

   0 posts
   
   11/2/2017 10:11 AM

   Ditto. Usually starts with plenty of energy and enthusiasm that fizzles rather quickly. Limit their involvement if possible. I never liked the planting and care of beds, once they bow out, can look bad if not kept up. Also, should have an overarching planting design that everyone agrees on so things don't look disjointed but are more unified and consistent.

   
   
   
   
4. Melvin Waldron

   

   43 posts
   
   11/2/2017 4:11 PM

   While in theory it sounds good, unless there is some upfront control and specifications that you should be the one to implement, as you have stated, it doesn't sound like it would end well.
   
   If it is something that the board is going to push, I would suggest that you have control over any changes or improvements, such as for example, adoptees can only select plants off a list you provide, etc. Just my opinion.
   
   Mel

   
   Melvin H. Waldron III, CGCS, Horton Smith Golf Course, City of Springfield/Greene County MO
   
   
5. Kenneth Ingram

   

   18 posts
   
   11/3/2017 1:11 PM

   Limit it to broken tees and ballmarks and it can't go wrong. Kenneth Ingram, UMD.

   
   
   
   
6. Scott Robbins

   

   2 posts
   
   11/21/2017 12:11 PM

   We started ours for ball marks and divot repair mostly. Like most of the above posts, it started good then fizzled within a year. I set up a tool box with repair tools, and even put a handle on aeration tines to plug out the bad ball marks. The tool box and tools are in new condition setting in the cart barn.
   
   Flower planting and bed maintenance sounds like a real bad idea. You may have to do it just to satisfy the members and it will most likely die on it's own.