Wickliffe Green Ridge Golf Course has success following rehabilitation work
Published by: The News-Herald
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Wickliffe Recreation Director Tim Stopp recently reported that Green Ridge Golf Course saw success this summer.
This comes after a fungus destroyed the greens and ultimately made the course at 29150 Ridge Road unplayable last year. The city met with professionals after that to address the course’s issues, as well as implement aeration, sanding, feeding, seeding and top-dressing in order to get the greens to grow.
Temporary greens have also been utilized to protect the recovering turf while keeping the 1920s course operational, according to the city. Dredging and final grading work on site was also completed before the course reopened in late April.
“The greens were dead in July of last year when we had issues with the fungus,” Stopp said. “Due to the efforts of the Service Department and the staff at the course, the greens have experienced a major turnaround.”
Stopp said he is grateful to all involved with addressing the golf course and is anticipating a rebound next summer.
Council President Randy Gerhardstein said he has played at the course for a number of years and has acknowledged the course’s significant turnaround from last year.
“The work the crew is putting in is evident,” he said.
Mayor Joe Sakacs said the Service Department put in a lot of time and effort at the course to get it rehabilitated.
Prior to opening this season, the course’s maintenance crew and service department worked hard in inclement weather to get the course ready for play, Stopp said.
Additionally, as part of the rehabilitation, golfers were kept off of the greens to encourage growth and not destroy the work that had been done.
While the course opened late this year, it was a necessity to get the course back to where it needed to be, according to city officials. Sakacs said he believes the new golf course manager, who is knowledgeable, an experienced service department employee and increased communication brought a dramatic improvement toward the course.
Stopp previously reported that to this day, the course holds the distinction of being one of the oldest courses in Ohio. Since its inception, increasing cart paths and addressing their condition have been among the projects at the course, as well as a facelift on the inside of the clubhouse.