The back nine project at Gilwood Golf Club is in full swing again this summer. Last week crews were securing the rim of the giant, seven-acre pond against future slumping, building the sand base of the tee boxes and doing final shaping. According to club president Carl Chykerda, the irrigation system is set to go in this month, with seeding expected to take place in August.
The pond job consisted of laying a special plastic sheeting (to prevent erosion) around the rim of the pond and then covering it with dirt. The finished product should be a pond that allows mowing right off to the edge, with a fairly steep slope below the water line - good for swallowing errant shots.
Chykerda, speculating about how Hole #12 might play, says the pond is going to present a huge challenge to any golfer. It’s a long par five (606 yards), curling around the pond from right to left like a crab leg holding a pearl. The pearl is the green.
The long hitters will be tempted to lay up on a point of land and then to go for the green with one mighty shot across the water. Chykerda says some guys have already tried driving that distance and mostly ended up on the downslope, just below what will be water level. Good luck.
The irrigation system is the big ticket item. Gilwood is forging ahead without all the money in place to pay for it, but Chykerda says the consensus is that things will work out. The project has received decent corporate as well as government support so far, and with the end in sight, it seems likely the support will continue or even increase as the excitement of having an 18-hole course begins to take hold. Cash flow from the front nine business is improved this year as well with the club receiving direct benefit from the pro shop sales plus driving range and cart rentals.
“It’s been really good,” says Chykerda.
Look for more back nine coverage in this paper as construction progresses through the next few months.

Copyright © 2000 The Lakeside Leader. All Rights Reserved.
No part may be reproduced without written permission.

View our Privacy Statement.
Send website suggestions to the Webmaster