The club is currently in the fourth of five week-long summer closures. While certainly not over, it has been an extremely productive summer! We are ahead of schedule having completed all of our aggressive cultural practices (aerification, vertical mowing and topdressing). In addition to the hard work by my team, we are ahead of schedule in part due to “normal” rainfall this summer. Year to date we have received 33.47” of rain. At this time last year, we had received 63.2” of rain. Twice as much!
We are now focused on small projects, ancillary activities and beginning our detail work to be ready for the 2025/2026 winter golf season.
Vanderbilt Beach Road Extension
If you haven’t been to the club this summer, the first thing you will notice when you return is the progress on the Vanderbilt Beach Road extension project. With any project of this scope there have been challenges. Most GPS/directional programs have been affected, we’ve dealt with numerous road detours and other issues, but the end is in sight! Hopefully before the winter golfing season is over we will be utilizing the new road.
The Big Cypress Canal that bordered our southern property line (#8 and #9) has been filled and shifted to the south. Our lake system was successfully connected to the new canal, which is located on the other/south side of the new six-lane road. Water exits our lake system through a 48” reinforced concrete pipe. As you can see in the pictures below, our original pipe has been connected to the same size pipe that was installed under the new road. This pipe also enables us to bring water into our lake system during the dry season. Everything is functioning perfectly.
Canal Reconnection, May 2025 Canal Reconnection, May 2025
Drill and Fill
As reported in my inaugural summer update (click here), in addition to traditional core aeration, since 2019 we’ve hired a contractor to complete two, separate Drill and Fill processes. The Drill and Fill machine has a series of 1” bits that drill to a depth of 10” and then fill the created channel with bagged, dried sand.
The second Drill and Fill of the summer was completed from July 21 - 25. During the process, an additional 70 pallets of bagged, kiln dried sand were deposited into the subsurface of greens #1 - #18 and the putting green. Each pallet has 56 bags weighing 50 pounds each. The total weight of the sand used in the second process is 196,000 pounds (98 tons).
Between the two processes, 417,200 pounds (208.6 tons) of sand was deposited in the greens this summer during the Drill and Fill processes.
SOX Erosion Control System
As part of the golf course renovation in 2021, we installed the SOX Erosion Control System to reclaim and stabilize the shoreline adjacent to #1 and #5 green (click here). These greens have significant sheet flow across their surface to a concentrated area. Both projects were successful and have performed exceptionally. This summer we repeated the process on 150’ of shoreline adjacent to #2 green.
The SOX system is a geotextile based system with a patented anchoring design used to stabilize shorelines and reclaim deteriorated or lost area and prevent future erosion. The Sox product consists of a double layer of knitted high-density polyethylene (HDPE) mesh. After being anchored, the mesh is filled with a soil mix and shaped to match, or change the slope or shape of the area. As with the areas on #1 and #5, the result on #2 lake bank is dramatic! We were able to regain over 10’ of lost shoreline! Before and after pictures are below.
SOX Installation #2, June 2025
SOX Installation #2, June 2025
Finished Product #2, August 2025
Vertical Mowing
In addition to aerification, we have aggressively vertical mowed the tees, approaches and greens in multiple directions on several occasions throughout the summer. This process reduces thatch, firms the surface and reduces leaf-orientation.
Vertical Mowing #6 Approach and Green, July 2025
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| Vertical Mowing #10 Tee, July 2025 |
Tree Work
We continued our annual tree trimming this summer. All of the Live Oak trees in the clubhouse and incoming road have been “lifted and thinned.” We’ve also been working on the Oaks and Cabbage Palms on the golf course. We have trimmed over 2,500 Cabbage Palms this summer and should exceed 4,500 trees this year.
Trimming Palm Trees #3 / #7 (Contractor), August 2025 Trimming Palm Trees #6 / #7 (Olde Florida Staff), August 2025
In addition, as we have done to numerous areas on the golf course (most recently #17), my team has initiated underbrush removal and cleaning of the area to the right of the landing area on #18.
Approach Expansion
Olde Florida has three par-4 holes, #4, #7 and #14 that require a carry over rough on the approach to the green. Over the last few years we've heard a couple comments about the carry being more challenging on the longest of the three holes, #14. At the beginning of the summer we lowered the height of the rough, doubling the size of the approach on #14.
The photo below depicts the change. The original approach is “greener” in the photo and the “less green area” is the expanded area now being managed as an approach. The change will enable the use of a less lofted club or putter if an approach shot comes up short. After a summer of aerification, vertical mowing and topdressing, the turf is consistent on the entire approach. We also expanded the approach on #4 to be consistent with #14.
Approach Expansion #14, June 2025 Approach Expansion #4, June 2025
Drainage… Drainage… Drainage
Sub-surface drainage is never ending! So far this year we’ve installed projects on #6, #9, #12 and #16 totaling 445 linear feet. Pictured below is a 125’ project on #12 that we completed this week. The excavated drainage trenches are 18” wide and 18” deep.
Drainage Project #12, August 2025 Drainage Project #12, August 2025
See you soon!
With one more closed week, and projects never ending, we are excited to continue our efforts to enhance your golfing experience. I hope you are having a great summer and we look forward to welcoming you home to Olde Florida!
