The really good news is that the calvary has arrived and, in this case, he came from Mississippi—rested and ready. Our Head Golf Professional, Keith Maher, is on-site and the Maher’s have made Beaufort their home already. We are hosting a “Meet the Pro” party next Thursday, March 30th from 4:00 PM until 6:00 PM in the golf shop. We’ll have light hors d’oeuvres, beer, and wine while we mingle. If you are receiving this weekly update as a friend of Cat Island Club, you are also invited to attend this special night. It will give you an opportunity to not only meet Keith, but to see the progress in the clubhouse as well. The Cabana Bar will be open until 7:00 that night, so take a walk across the street and toast the night while you grab a bite.
Remember, on Saturday, April 1st, Steve Luckhardt will be conducting swing evaluations on the range. Although we are booked for each reservation at this point, please let me know if you are interested; I’m building a waiting list in case of cancellations. The swing evaluations are 30 minutes each and through Trackman and a variety of computerized camera angles, Steve will share hard data information regarding your swing. More importantly, things that you can do in your swing to move the data in a favorable direction.
These warm days and, more importantly, nights above 60 degrees will give our golf course the fuel that will push the Bermuda grasses to not only break dormancy but also grow and spread. Ben and his team have been encouraging weak areas and perimeter areas with light topdressing and nutrients to promote a smooth surface as the Bermuda Grass spreads. The end result will be full coverage of turf where there previously was none and better playing conditions. The warm nights are the key for pushing the Bermuda Grass to spread. While we’re confident that the conditions during the soft opening next month will be good, they will only get better as the weather heats up and Ben has more time to develop the golf course.
I was asked again recently, “When will the golf course be finished?” My answer was once again, “Never!” We’ll always have projects and tweaks to the golf course that will have an impact. As play continues and trends are set, we’ll make adjustments to a variety of elements to enhance the experience. Some will be more noticeable than others, but all will be welcome as we check off items on our list to address.
Speaking of impact areas, our main entrance to the clubhouse is under construction as we are installing the three flag poles that will welcome you to Cat Island Club when you pull into the parking lot. If you have been following our progress over the weeks, you’ll know that these flag poles are as important to us as anything on this project. Raising them during our Grand Opening over Memorial Day weekend will be a moment and memory that I for one will never forget.
Mark your calendars for Saturday, April 8th as we host our first Easter Egg hunt at the pool and practice range. Then on Easter Sunday, make plans to watch the Masters at the Cabana while enjoying the fresh air and a pimento cheese sandwich or two with your favorite adult beverages. More details about Easter weekend will be out soon on Clubster for members.
So, at the speed that we’re traveling, we should be at our destination very soon. However, I assure you that as we cross that threshold of a soft opening next month, we’ll continue working hard to get us to the Grand Opening over Memorial Day. Then, before you know it, we will be celebrating Independence Day and enjoying the back patio as we watch players finishing up their rounds and posting scores. The “chaos” of renovations and restorations will be fond memories when we have the four-footer for par on the 18th green and the smells of the grille cooking fill the air. Just the thought of that brings me great joy. Have a great weekend friends and please mark your calendars to stop by the clubhouse next Thursday to Meet the Pro!
With warmest regards,
Tim Mervosh
General Manager