|
||||
|
Nov. 30, 2000 By Jim Mimiaga At the urging of the golf advisory board and the Parks and Recreation board, the Cortez City Council voted Tuesday to ban winter golfing on the Conquistador Golf Course for the first time. Historically, the front nine of the 18-hole public course is open for free, unsupervised play during the winter. But a succession of relatively mild winters has increased use during off-months, a situation that has collectively caused heavy course damage, golf officials reported. Problems cited were multiple divots and golf-cart ruts on driving ranges and fairways, and players poaching holes on the back nine, which has always been closed during the off season. Frozen grass that is uprooted or damaged in the winter is less likely to survive in the spring, reported Ed Hallam, assistant parks and recreation director. "There’s no recovery (of the grass) till spring," he told the council. Because the city receives no golf-course revenues in the off season, there aren’t funds to repair the damage, he added. "In order to insure that the course is in good shape when it opens in March, the council accepted the recommendation to close it off until then," said Mayor Joe Keck. The vote was 6-1 for the closure, which will be from Dec. 1, 2000, to March 1, 2001. Councilman Fred Torres voted against the measure. Signs will be erected informing the public of the new rule, and maintenance crews will be on the lookout for golfers to inform them of the closure, Keck said. "We’ll try it for this year and see if it improves the course during the summer," Keck said, noting that there is year-round golfing at public courses in Farmington. But Torres said, "It seems rather strange that they would change their minds after it has been open all these years and suddenly close it off without forewarning. I don’t think closing it will prevent the abuse." |
||||
|
Copyright © 2000 the Cortez Journal.
All rights reserved. |
