April 2021 Newsletter
NEWSLETTER by Bart Wolfe, PGA General Manager on April 1, 2021
Dear Wildewood Members,
CAPITAL PROJECTS/SOCIAL REPORT
Firepits – A natural gas line has been run to our new firepits overlooking the stadium courts and they will be operational again in a few days.
Driving Range Renovation – The pad for the synthetic tee has been poured and the grass tee has been leveled for the new sod. The new sod and the new synthetic tee will be installed in the next couple of weeks. We will practice from the synthetic tee until the new sod has had a chance to take root. Trees will be removed on the right side of the driving range starting on 4/19. We are also adding 2 new target greens on the range and a net at the end to stop balls from going into the lake.
Splashpad/Playground – The Splashpad will be completed shortly. We are adding a swing set to the playground and the entire pool/splashpad/playground will be fenced in with landscaping.
The pool will open in late May and our swim team will start having afternoon practices around May 20th.
Tennis Rest Shelter on Stadium Courts – Our new rest shelter on the stadium courts will be installed this week. I want to thank The Cliffhangers for their donation towards this project in memoriam of longtime member Fred Cliff.
Social Events – We feel that everyone that wants to get a Covid-19 shot will have the opportunity to do so by the end of May. We are starting to plan some social events starting in June.
GOLF REPORT
JUNIOR GOLF CAMPS
$125/JUNIOR
Discount Rate if they attend more than 1 Camp ($225 for 2 and $325 for 3)
2 DAY CAMPS (Age 5-18)
8:00 AM – 12:30 PM (Lunch starts at Noon each day)
INCLUDES SNACKS, DRINKS, LUNCH, & PRIZES EACH DAY
PGA General Manager Bart Wolfe and PGA Teaching Professional Mike Castelluzzi
Camp #1 June 21 & 22 _________
Camp #2 July 12 & 13 __________
Camp #3 August 9 & 10 ________
THE WILDEWOOD CLUB GOLF HOURS OF OPERATION FOR APRIL 2021:
Golf Hours of Operation for Mondays for APRIL 2021:
Pro Shop: 11:30 am to 6:00 pm
Tee Times: 12:00 am to 6:00 pm (Carts must be in by 7:30 pm)
Range: 11:30 am to 7:30 pm (Once it reopens after the renovation)
*THE WILDEWOOD GRILL WILL NOT BE OPEN ON MONDAYS DURING APRIL.
Golf Hours of Operation for Tuesday to Sunday for APRIL 2021:
Pro Shop: 7:00 am to 6:00 pm
Tee Times: 8:00 am to 6:00 pm (Carts must be in by 7:45 pm)
Range: 7:30 am to 7:45 pm (Once the range reopens after the renovation)
These are the DAILY GROUP PLAY TIMES WILL BE CHANGING for the month of APRIL. You can sign up online or by calling the golf shop. DAILY GROUP PLAY is a SHOTGUN START at the times listed below:
Tuesdays: Seniors Play Day – 9:00 am/ Ladies Play Day – 9:00 am
Wednesdays: Wednesday Morning Group – 9:00 am
Thursdays: Seniors Play Day – 9:00 am/ Ladies Play Day – 9:00 am
Fridays: Friday Morning Group – 9:00 am
Saturdays: Catfight – 8:40 am/ Dogfight – 8:50 am
*These times may change during the month due to weather conditions.
Please call the golf shop or go online if you like to sign up for any GROUP PLAY times. Please remember to sign up for GROUP PLAY on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays AT LEAST 1 HOUR PRIOR to the start time so that scorecards can be made by the pro shop staff.
The pro shop has new MIZUNO IRONS, PING WOODS, and SRIXON and TAYLORMADE IRONS/WOODS available to demo in addition to our Callaway and Mizuno fitting systems. Please stop by the pro shop to try out these new products.
New Greg Norman and Foot Joy apparel has arrived and is for sale in the pro shop!
GOLF TOURNAMENT NEWS:
The Shamrock Scramble was a rousing success as our first member tournament of the year. 56 participants made for a great event even in the chilly weather conditions. Here are the results:
1st Place: Ken Brown, Scott Jenkins, Ken Steiger
2nd Place: Thomas Livoti, Jeff Capogrossi, Patsy Gross
3rd Place: Pete Clough, Roger Catarino Sr., Nubby Napolitano, Greg Ryle
Closest to the Pin #3 – Vince Williams
Closest to the Pin #6 – Jeff Capogrossi
Closest to the Pin #13 – Al Hageman
Closest to the Pin #16 – Dennis Waller
The Ladies Opening Day Scramble Winners:
Suzy Ellison
Julie Snider
Margaret Haymaker
Closest to the Pin #13 – Carolyn Knight
Thanks to all the participants!
The next tournament will be the MASTERS SUNDAY GREEN JACKET on Sunday April 11th.
Book your own tee-time and play with your own group. Scorecards must be turned into the pro shop by 6pm.
Format: Each player’s individual score plus the score of a randomly drawn player from Sunday’s final round of The Masters. (Gross and Net Winners)
Cost: $15 (plus applicable cart fee)
*This event is open to FULL GOLF MEMBERS ONLY.
Food: No organized food for this event but the Grill will be open to order on your own.
Please call the golf shop or email R.J. at rj@thewildewoodclub.com to sign up!
The deadline to enter is Thursday, April 8th at 6:00 pm.
The FOUNDER’S DAY TOURNAMENT will be held on Friday, April 16th.
This will be a 2-Person Modified Alternate Shot format. A separate email will be sent out tomorrow for this event.
IMPORTANT REMINDERS TO ALL GOLFERS:
Please call the golf shop to make a tee time if you are going to play in the afternoon after 4:00 pm. This helps the golf shop to maintain a steady pace of play and prevents the back-up that occurs when several different players show up to play at the same time without having made a tee time.
Water coolers have been returned to the stations on Hole #4, #7, #12, and #14. Bunker rakes have also been returned to the golf course. Bunkers are still to be played as lift, clean, and place within a club length.
Full golf members need to always have their WildeWood bag tag on their bag. Stop by the pro shop if you need to get one made. Only full golf members and their daily guests are allowed to use the practice facilities. Tennis/Social/HOA members may only use the practice facilities when they are paying to play one of their 6 rounds per year.
PLEASE LEAVE THE GREEN TOWELS IN THE CART UPON THE COMPLETION OF YOUR ROUND. Please DO NOT take them with you. We provide these as a courtesy to the players and must be able to wash and reuse them every day.
Please return carts to the area near the cart barn upon the completion of your round. This helps our golf staff to quickly clean/sanitize the carts for the next players. We appreciate the members who already do this!
We strive to keep all members safe and healthy. We aim to provide single carts to members whenever possible. However, due to the high volume of play Friday-Sunday, we ask that all players ride 2 per cart. Single carts will not be allowed. With over 300 full golf members, we want all members that wish to play to be able to do so.
Please make sure to be ON TIME and CHECK-IN for your tee time before going out to play. Players that miss tee times will have to wait until the next opening to play. Please call the golf shop if you would like to cancel your tee time.
Jeans, gym shorts, sweatpants, work out shirts, cut off shirts, and sandals are not allowed at any time on the WildeWood golf course or practice facilities. All shirts must have a collar. Members are responsible for informing their guests of our dress code policies.
REMINDERS TO ALL WILDEWOOD WALKERS/DOG WALKERS/BIKE RIDERS:
WALKERS, DOG WALKERS, AND BIKE RIDERS ARE NOT ALLOWED ON THE WILDEWOOD GOLF COURSE FROM 8:00 AM TO 6:00 PM. THIS IS DONE FOR YOUR SAFETY AND FOR THE ENJOYMENT OF THE PLAYERS. THE WILDEWOOD GOLF COURSE IS A DANGEROUS PLACE TO WALK WHEN THERE ARE 100 TO 120 PLAYERS HITTING GOLF BALLS ALL OVER THE COURSE THROUGHOUT THE DAY.
Please pick up after your pet. Please make sure to throw pet waste bags into a trash can. Please do not leave them on the ground. We have had several instances of bags of pet waste being left on the ground in different areas of the golf course. We thank you for helping us to keep litter off the golf course.
Please do not allow your dog to walk near any TEES, GREENS, OR BUNKERS. This helps to prevent any unnecessary damage to the golf course.
State law requires all pets must be on a leash when walking on the golf course or in the WildeWood neighborhood.
TENNIS REPORT
Important Information:
- Deadline for Mixed and Tri-Level USTA League is April 11th to create new teams.
- Kid’s tennis camp posted!
- We will be going back to putting fresh ice and water in the coolers. Please do not reach into the coolers if you do not see bottled water, as that will be our drinking water. Thank you all for adapting to the challenges we have faced with this pandemic and we are all verry excited to start returning to normal.
Tennis Court Maintenance
Hard Court Maintenance – We are going to have two benches and a canopy built in between courts 7 & 8 in the following days. Be on the lookout for those courts being down for a few days for maintenance.
Clay Court Maintenance – Courts 1 & 2 just received over 2 tons of clay each. This will slightly change the playability of the court and the way it responds to the elements. They are adjusting well and play better than ever!
Clinics
Ladies Clinics –
2.5 – Tuesday 9:30-11:00, Saturday 10:00-11:00
3.0 – Monday 9:30-11:00
3.0/3.5 – Saturday 9:00-10:00
3.5 – Friday 9:00-10:30
4.0 – Wednesday 9-10:30, Thursday 9:00-10:30
*These Clinics are open to all players; however you must be rated at the same level of the clinic that you attend or play on a WildeWood team at the same level of the clinic that you attend.
Cardio Clinics –
Tuesday 12:00-1:00
Thursday 12:00-1:00
Saturday 8:00-9:00
Kids Clinics –
Junior Clinic Sign-Up
Yellow Ball Clinic (Ages 13-16): Monday, Wednesday 4:30-6, Friday 4-5:30
Green Dot Clinic (Ages 11-12): Tuesday and Thursday 4:30-5:30
Orange Ball Clinic (ages 8-10): Tuesday and Thursday 3:30-4:30
Red Ball Clinic 1 (Ages 6-8): Monday and Wednesday 4:00-4:30
Red Ball clinic 2 (Ages 3-6): Monday and Wednesday 3:30-4:00
Kids Tennis Camps –
June 14-17 (Ages 5-18): 12pm-5pm / $250 / Snacks and Drinks provided
June 21-22 (Ages 5-18): 12pm-5pm / $125 / Snacks and Drinks provided
July 12-13 (Ages 5-18): 12pm-5pm / $125 / Snacks and Drinks provided
July 26-29 (Ages 5-18): 12pm-5pm / $250 / Snacks and Drinks provided
Aug 9-10 (Ages 5-18): 12pm-5pm / $125 / Snacks and Drinks provided
Aug 16-19 (Ages 5-18): 12pm-5pm / $250 / Snacks and Drinks provided
HS Girls Tennis Boot Camp – August 23-27 (JV or Varsity Team Member): 12pm-5pm / $300 / Snacks and Drinks provided
USTA Leagues
Mixed-Doubles League and Tri-Level League – Teams are filling up and the deadline to create a team April 11. Please email Bill@thewildewoodclub.com if you are interested in playing in any of these leagues!
Bill Simpson
The WildeWood Club
90 Mallet Hill Road
Columbia, SC 29223
bill@thewildewoodclub.com
(c) 803.622.8813 (o) 803.699.2446
MAINTENANCE REPORT
What a difference a year has made! As I wrote the April newsletter last year, the world was shutting down and we were learning new things daily. Even though we haven’t completely put Covid-19 behind us we now have a better idea of our dos and don’ts.
This March was very productive for us in the Agronomy department as we have gotten both our Spring fertilizer and pre-emergent applications out, nearly finished with the root pruner, started the range tee renovation, top dressed greens for the first time, started our Spring re-fresh of straw and flowers around the Club House, and started lowering heights on most of our mowers.
The plan for this year will be to start the rough at 1.5” and tees/fairways at 3/4”. Hopefully, this added height in the fairways paired with another season of fertilizer will really help us fill in completely and allow for better lies. The rough will be the same height we started at last Spring and like last year will slowly increase thru the season until we reach our Winter heights of 2” by October.
I would like to introduce our new assistant superintendent, Steve Whitaker. If you see Steve around the club, please welcome him as we are excited to have Steve join our team.
As April begins, our winter projects are behind us and we start moving into our routine of regular mowing and course maintenance.
We will be resurfacing the older bunker rakes and switching them out as needed and wrapping up the range tee renovation.
As the course continues to green up, we will sod the areas we did not get to last year, most notably the beginning of 1 and 18 fairways. These areas were skipped last year to finish the areas in landing zones. Now that we are actively growing again, we have turned our irrigation pumps on full time and are trying to manage weeping irrigation heads and major leaks as they arise.
Much of the irrigation system is original to 1973 meaning we are on borrowed time as the average life span of a golf course irrigation system is typically 25 – 30 years. So, I would like to apologize in advance for any wet areas around heads or puddles from heads getting stuck on thru the nightly irrigation cycle.
Also, in April the Golf Course Superintendents association invites you to bid on a round of golf at courses from all over the nation. What started as a grassroots fundraiser for turf research here in the Carolinas has now grown nationally with over 550 tee times to bid on April 26 – May 2. Attached below is a link to the auction website.
https://www.biddingforgood.com/auction/auctionhome.action?vhost=rounds4research
As always, we look forward to seeing everyone on the course and please do not hesitate to reach out with questions or concerns.
Grayson Clark, GCSAA
Regards,
Bart Wolfe
PGA General Manager
(803) 788-8000 Option 3
bart@thewildewoodclub.com
