Hurricane Irma Recovery

As detailed in my September 14 blog entry (click here) the eye of Hurricane Irma crossed over Olde Florida Golf Club on the evening of Sunday, September 10 causing significant wind damage and flooding. While there is still a great deal of work that needs to take place, I am extremely pleased with the significant progress that has been made to return the golf course and all facilities to pre-Irma condition.

Due to the extensive flooding on the golf course, and the inability of my staff to get to many of the holes on the golf course on the days following the storm, our initial efforts focused on removing trees, limbs and debris from the incoming road and clubhouse. This is a link to a video of one of the many oak trees that were uprooted by Irma and needed to be cut in pieces with a chain saw and dispersed with our Vermeer chipper (click here).

The golf course staff removing one of the many oak trees at the clubhouse uprooted by Hurricane Irma

When staff was able to return to work, Tom and his personnel had the primary focus of removing plywood from the clubhouse windows and doors. After this was complete, his staff assisted mine in the cleanup around clubhouse by raking and removing the smaller debris from the landscape areas.

As the water receded, beginning with the driest holes, my staff went hole by hole to remove trees and other debris on the turfgrass. The greens took first priority. Fortunately, no trees fell directly on any of the greens and only minor damage occurred to the putting surfaces.

Removing one of the many large pine trees from the turfgrass. Hole 1.  

Tree trunks stacked for removal at a later date. Hole 1.

Debris removal from turfgrass took priority over other areas. The turfgrass took precedence in order to minimize turfgrass damage or death from lack of sunlight. Due to the hard work of my staff, the lack of additional heavy rainfall following Irma and the quick drop in the lake levels, I am very optimistic that we will have minimal turfgrass loss.

The green side bunker on hole 5 after the storm water receded. 

Cleaning perimeters, landscape areas between golf holes, and things such as removing this palm tree, which Irma lodged in an oak tree between hole 10 and 18, will occur as time allows.

Many of the Olde Florida staff were without power for well over a week after the storm making life very challenging. With any challenge the opportunity for a positive reaction exists. Olde Florida has always had a "TEAM" approach (Together Everyone Accomplishes More). This was certainly the case in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma. When Tom didn't need his staff in and around the clubhouse, they assisted my crew on the golf course. In addition, Tom and I decided having a group lunch each day in the grill room would enhance the "team" concept and show deserved appreciation to the entire Olde Florida team.

The Olde Florida staff after lunch on Thursday, September 20

I hope that you are having a great summer and your Naples residences did not incur extensive damage. I am looking forward to another awesome winter golf season!

Darren J. Davis, CGCS
DarrenJDavis@aol.com
http://www.darrenjdavisgcs.com