Cart Path Only
There have been quite a few questions raised about certain holes being closed to carts recently. Golfers using handicap flags in particular have pointed out that they were allowed to use their carts on Cart Path Only (CPO) holes last year. The previous maintenance company decided that closing certain holes would reduce wear and tear on the course. While designated as CPO holes these were actually REST holes wherein the hole was being given a rest and not closed due to course conditions. In 2010 the Golf Advisory Committee allowed carts with handicap flags on these holes.
Conditions are different this year. As was communicated in a recent email and a flyer available at the pro-shop, our primary objective is to improve the health of the golf course so that it will be the beautiful course we all want it to be. During the healing process, steps are being taken by BCG to strengthen the root system. Part of this process is to close certain holes to carts because the hole(s) is (are) fragile and not strong enough to bear the traffic of any carts including carts with handicap flags and maintenance vehicles. When a hole is designated CPO it is not an arbitrary rest day. Although a hole is designated CPO you may occasionally see the course superintendent riding a vehicle on the hole during his inspection of the hole’s condition. Such traffic will be limited and should not be construed to mean the hole should be opened to carts.
WE WOULD LIKE TO REMIND YOU THAT AT OUR MEETINGS IN MARCH AND MAY WE (AND BCG) STRESSED THAT THE IMPROVEMENT IN THE CONDITION OF THE GOLF COURSE WOULD BE OUR TOP PRIORITY AND THAT PATIENCE WOULD BE REQUIRED BY ALL INVOLVED. OUR GOLF COURSE SUFFERED SEVERE TRAUMA LAST YEAR AND THE HEALING PROCESS HAS JUST BEGUN. BCG GOLF IS BARELY THREE MONTHS INTO THE PROCESS OF RECONDITIONING THE COURSE. WE BELIEVE ALL ARE IMPRESSED BY THE PROGRESS MADE IN THE IMPROVED CONDITION OF THE GREENS, BUT MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE. WE MUST ALLOW BCG TO PERFORM THE RECONDITIONING AND MAINTENANCE OF THE ENTIRE COURSE (EVEN IF IT IMPEDES SLIGHTLY ON OUR ABILITY TO ACCESS THE COURSE).
For those who can’t play in CPO conditions we suggest that the CPO holes be skipped (this cannot be done on women’s/men’s league and tournament days when all holes must be played). If a hole is not played, record your score as par for the hole plus the number of strokes your current handicap would give you on that hole. This is allowed by the USGA handicapping rules (See page 13 of Uncle Snoopy Wants You to Know How to Use Your Handicap published by the USGA).
We recognize that CPO is a hardship on certain members, but the long term health of the golf course is, as previously stated, our prime objective. We ask for your patience and cooperation now so that in the future such actions will not be necessary.