In the rough
Golf course maintenance makes for coarse play

Jacqueta Nez uses a spiker to smooth some of the bumps on a putting green at Fox run Golf Course on Tuesday. — © 2009 Gallup Independent / Brian Leddy

Copyright © 2009
Gallup Independent
By Alan Arthur
Sports Editor

GALLUP — Golfers at the Fox Run Golf Course were faced with some unusual obstacles this past week. Golf Pro Alex Alvarez said that he received numerous complaints from golfers on Monday as the maintenance crew at the course was aerating the greens on the back nine holes. The process interrupted the play of the golfers on the course and also made the greens hard and tough on which to putt.

The aeration of golf courses is a necessary procedure that is done usually once or twice a year, according to Alvarez. But Alvarez said the problem was with the communication with the public.

“I saw the greens and fully understand the golfers’ frustration,” Alvarez said. “It is a necessary procedure that should have been better coordinated with, and communicated to the public, so that golfers did not have to putt on unfinished, unputtable greens. I’ll do my best to be better informed next time.”

He added that prior to 2006, golfers were usually informed by public notice that the greens would be closed for the aeration of the greens. The process would usually take two days, with the back nine done on one day and the front nine done on the next.

Golf course Superintendent Bob Weekes, who was hired in 2006, refused to comment. Weekes said newly appointed spokesman Kevin Killough would answer any questions.

However, Killough has stated on his blog he will not have a professional relationship with the Independent. Killough is a disgruntled former Independent reporter who covered City Hall.

“It was a lack of communication with the golfers,” Alvarez said. “We should always communicate with the golfers. Next time, we’ll do better.”

On Tuesday, crews could be seen aerating the greens on the front nine. Golfer Kevin Yazzie, who has been golfing for three years, was unable to hit onto hole No. 2 until the crews finished their work.

Asked if it bothered him that he had to stop his game for the procedure, Yazzie commented, “At least they’re improving the golf course. It’s been horrible out here. As long as they get it fixed, I’m OK with it.”

Yazzie did say that he may have changed his golf plans if he had known about the work being done at the course.

“I didn’t know. If they had let me know, I probably would have played the back nine instead of the front nine,” he said.

The 24-year-old golfer added that he feels the course is not that bad and that “I did see some improvement late in the summer.”

Other golfers apparently weren’t so accommodating. It was reported that some golfers walked off the course on Monday and Tuesday because of the work and the condition of the course.

Gallup golfer Gary Leloff, who has been golfing for 20-25 years and participates in the New Mexico Senior Tour, was one of those displeased with the lack of communication.

“They didn’t tell anybody. Normally they would tell somebody,” he said and added, “They used to have a sign on the first tee box, telling you the front nine was closed and that they were aerating. And there was a note in the pro shop. The next day the back nine would be closed.”

Leloff said he finished nine holes on the back nine on Monday and the greens were “horrible.” He also had to wait for the crews to finish aerating on hole No. 13.

“I had to wait about 10 minutes to get on the green and then it was unplayable,” he said, “so I guess it was worth the wait.”

On Tuesday, Leloff went back to the course to attempt to play another round.

“I quit after six holes,” he said. “That was more than I could handle.”