Divot Digest - August

IN THIS ISSUE

4 6 8

From the Club President Doc Holliday From the Director of Golf Jeff Ostlund

Editor’s Corner Somin Beversdorf

10 12 13 14

Grounds Committee

MGA

WGA

LNGA

FROM THE CLUB PRESIDENT DOC HOLLIDAY

EXCITING UPDATES ALL AROUND TONTO VERDE This is the third in a series of updates on the club's summer projects. A slide show video is included at the end of this summary. BLEC SAND INJECTION PROJECT

RANCH 18 The new fairway bunkers on Ranch 18 are complete and looking great. The new grass has grown in and looks lush! From the teeing areas, the fairway appears to be VERY WIDE but still offers a penalty for wayward tee shots (as it should be on a closing hole). RANCH GREENS All the Ranch greens are growing and have been mowed. They are being fertilized weekly and have received the first micro-tinning (punching). They will be micro-verti-cut later this month. They are looking great. SOUTH PRACTICE TEE The South practice tee expansion is complete, and it looks great, as if it had always been there! CART PATH ROUGHS All the cart path roughs have been Shock-Waved and sanded, and the rough edges have all been repaired and resodded.

We have almost gone through the 1,700 tons or 3,400,000 pounds of sand this summer. Most of this sand has been used to continue to build on the 4”-6” sand base created several years ago with the Blec Sand Injection Project (we now have a much deeper base than above everywhere). This sand base allows the salt contained in our water (very heavy amounts) to be wicked away from the Bermuda root system and thus allows it to be healthy and lush. The fairways on the Ranch are spectacular this year (Ranch started with a newer strain of Bermuda that did not exist when Peaks was built less stringy). The overseed process (barring severe weather) will be great. NEW SAND IN THE BUNKERS Ranch fairway bunkers have had all repairs done and the new sand installed. The greenside bunkers will have the new sand installed later this month.

FROM THE CLUB PRESIDENT DOC HOLLIDAY

STORAGE BUILDING The new range storage building and surrounding area are complete and look great as well. SCOREBOARD PATIO EXPANSION The Scoreboard Patio Expansion/Renovation is progressing well. The new area has been cleared, and groundwork and preliminary grading have been completed. A new planter is currently under construction. The pavers were delivered promptly, just two days after they were ordered. They will be installed after the pergola footings have been poured. The final design of the pergola is complete and under contract, and permits are being filed this week.

New furniture has been ordered and is scheduled for delivery in October after the construction is completed. The new furniture was purchased at a significant discount, comes with a 15-year warranty, and is designed to withstand Arizona's hot and sunny weather conditions. The chairs are large, have low backs, and swivel 360 degrees, allowing for flexible seating arrangements and easy communication. These new configurations will be more practical and 100% more comfortable than the previous setup, eliminating the need to "drag" chairs around and creating a more appealing environment for all members to enjoy.

Doc Holliday, TVGC President Doc Holliday

FROM THE DIRECTOR OF GOLF JEFF OSTLUND

Although the recent wave of humidity has made life outside a bit uncomfortable, it has definitely provided a nice boost to the Bermuda grass. The monsoon rains have continued to dance around Tonto for the most part. Fingers crossed, we get a few steady soakers to help optimize conditions heading into the Arizona Senior Women’s Amateur Championship , which will be played on the Peaks Course September 9th-11th. This 54-hole stroke play event is open to any amateur with active status at an AGA member club. It includes both Championship and Flighted Divisions. Click Here for more information and/or to register to play. While the golf course won’t be open for member play on these 3 mornings, we’d be happy to help book tee times at reciprocal clubs for anyone interested. Take advantage of our summer guest rates and reciprocal play opportunities while they last. Shoulder season guest fees will take effect starting September 20th. Click Here to view the complete Member’s Guest Fee Schedule for the 2024-2025 season. Summer reciprocal arrangements will expire at the end of September.

Congratulations to Tonto Verde’s outside service stud, Jack Hiemenz, for qualifying for an upcoming PGA Tour Canada event! He shot 65 in a special qualifier for PGA Professionals last week on the Lehman Course at Cragun’s in Brainerd, MN which will be play host to the tournament August 25th – September 1st. Stay hot Jack!

Until next time, fairways and greens.

Jeff Ostlund, Director of Golf Jeff Ostlund

FOR SALE USED PATIO FURNITURES

$1,500 EACH

$300 EACH

PACKAGE SET: 4 CHAIRS + 1 TABLE = $2,500 ($200 DISCOUNT)

TVGC WILL DELIVER TO YOUR FRONT DRIVEWAY, NOT TO YOUR BACKYARD. DELIVERY WILL TAKE PLACE IN EARLY OCTOBER ONCE OUR NEW FURNITURE ARRIVES. ITEMS ARE AVAILABLE ON A FIRST-COME BASIS. YOU CAN CLAIM YOUR SPECIFIC PIECES, AND WE WILL PUT YOUR NAME ON THEM.

FOR QUESTIONS, REACH OUT TO TONTO VERDE GOLF SHOP AT 480.471.2710

EDITOR’S CORNER SOMIN BEVERSDORF REPRESENTING TONTO

Our awesome outside service staff, Team Clint & Jack and Team Matt & Joey took part in the shootout tournament at the Voyager Village Golf Course in Danbury, Wisconsin. Both teams were on the same flight out of 16 flights. Our two Tonto teams were tied for first place, both at 12 1/2 points, going into the final match, where they played against each other. After a challenging golf battle with a bit of beer drinking on the course, Clint and Jack defeated Matt and Joey with a score of 6 1/2 to 3 1/2, which advanced them to compete in the 5-hole shootout. They went on to beat 15 other flight winners and clinched the grand title as the Voyager Shootout Champions. Way to go, Clint and Jack! Blake Berry and his dad, Steve, had a fantastic time winning the Member-Guest event at the Lake Creek Country Club in Storm Lake, Iowa. They've been playing at this course since Blake was only 4 years old, so it's a special place for them. Blake's golf game was on full display as he scored two eagles in the final four holes to FATHER-SON DUO SHOWS OFF IN IOWA

secure the title for him and his dad. Congratulations, Blake and Steve!

GROUNDS COMMITTEE

MONSOONS? We need rain at Tonto! We’ve been regularly teased with possible showers, but most of them have dissipated before any significant moisture materializes. We’re managing reasonably well with irrigation water, but it’s both expensive and salty (not great for our grass). Send your best Rain Dance videos, and maybe we’ll publish them in next month’s Divot Digest. RANCH GREENS Doc will probably have something to say about the Ranch green re-surfacing in his President’s letter, but everyone should be aware that this year’s accelerated sprigging schedule has really paid off. The greens are coming in very nicely, and we’re ‘way ahead of last year’s Peaks re-surfacing. Travis and his team are already sanding, aerating, and mowing, and this head start should allow us to be much more aggressive with these practices….hopefully reducing some of the “hard green syndrome” we experienced on the Peaks last year. The Peaks greens have also responded very well to aggressive aeration and sanding over the summer and are holding shots nicely.

ENHANCED SIGHT LINES Perhaps not as obvious as some of the other changes happening at Tonto are significant improvements to sight lines from several of our tees. We’ve looked at views from each set of tees toward possible landing areas and have cleaned up vegetation that has gradually encroached on players’ ability to see where their tee shots are landing. Many of these changes will be so subtle that most won’t notice them, but some of the more significant work has been done to the left side of 1, 2, and 18 Peaks and the left side of 18 Ranch. We’ve also selectively cleared some nasty bushes and brush that had a tendency to swallow golf balls. Our purpose isn’t to drastically change the basic nature of our desert courses, but the changes should make it a bit less likely that the 3-minute search clock will expire on balls that take off on unintended lines. This work will continue over the summer.

GROUNDS COMMITTEE

Take a look at a photo of the new bunker complex on the 18th hole of the Ranch and “reach” and “cover” yardages from the middle of each set of tees (silver tee yardages weren’t included because our silver tee folks will be happy to see little more than green fairway in front of them as they tee it up!). LEFT BUNKER TEES FRONT CARRY TOTAL 18 RANCH BUNKERS

BLACK BLUE WHITE GREEN GOLD

302 248 225 200 167

316 262 240 216 183

437 378 356 333 295

RIGHT BUNKER TEES FRONT CARRY TOTAL

BLACK BLUE WHITE GREEN GOLD

274 220 196 172 140

292 238 214 190 158

437 378 356 333 295

MGA

UPCOMING EVENTS Sign-up opens on October 1st for MGA Opening Day and One day 666 Member-Member: Opening Day is on Wednesday, November 6th. It starts with a breakfast buffet at 8 AM, followed by a short informational meeting and shotgun golf at 9:30 AM. One Day 666 Member-Member will be held on November 13th. Line up your partner and register when open. 2025 DESERT CLASSIC It is never too early to start planning for our 2025 Premier Desert Classic Invitational Event, which will be on March 20th, 21st, and 22nd. Get your special guest lined up for yet another fantastic guest event. Details for these and all MGA events can be found on the member website on the events page, tontoverde.org

MGA INFORMATION All current MGA members have been billed MGA $50 annual dues. A current roster is posted on the member website under Leagues/MGA. If you are not on the list with our current 406 MGA members and would like to join and participate in our events, please contact Jon, the membership/communication liaison, at jjlynch4@cox.net. Hope you are having a great, safe, healthy, and fun summer with family and friends. Jon Lynch, MGA Communication Jon Lynch

WGA

It’s been a very, very hot summer at Tonto Verde, so those of us still here are looking forward to the return of the rest of you. That means cooler temps are due, too. If you’re as excited for Fall as I am, here are upcoming dates for your calendar: WGA OPENING DAY A MESSAGE FROM OUR WGA PRESIDENT, CHRISTIE GORSLINE Tuesday, November 5, noon shotgun, with a meeting and welcome party afterward. You’ll get an email prior to notifying the Golf Shop of your selected tees for the season. WGA GAME DAY Tuesday, November 12 SUPER SCRAMBLE

Gail O’Brien and Pam Schouten teed it up at The Club in Cordillera near Beaver Creek, CO. A Tonto foursome including Kay Birdsell, Barb Fortier, Barb Smith, and Robin Cole shared a photo of the ladies playing near Victoria, BC. And lastly, Lori O’Hara and Glenda O’Neal are pictured at Capitol Hill on the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail in Prattville, AL, where they played The Judge, Legislator, and Senator Courses. For those escaping the heat by heading to a northern home or traveling to exotic (or not) locales— please share your golf photos with Glenda O’Neal @ oneal.glenda@gmail.com for the next Divot Digest. Glenda ONeal, WGA Communication Glenda O’neal WHERE ARE YOU GOLFING?

Sunday, November 17 WGA MEMBER-MEMBER Tuesday and Thursday, November 19 and 21

Christie Gorsline, WGA President Christie Gorsline

LNGA

SIZZLING SUMMER FUN FOR NINERS LIKE IT HOT

SUMMER OLYMPICS at TONTO Twenty NLIH ladies celebrated the

SCRAMBLING IN MUNDS PARK A few of the NLIH ladies ventured to the

Olympics with an Olympic theme, which consisted of utilizing only three golf clubs and a putter for the duration of the round. It was fun and very challenging, as everyone had to strategize and determine how to best use the clubs they had chosen. Another aspect of this event was the Blind Draw, which determined who was teamed with whom. It was so enjoyable that it may be scheduled again before the summer ends.

Carol Noonan Communication Carol Noonan ON THE HORIZON: A College Game Scramble is scheduled for August 21, 2024. This themed event will showcase everyone's allegiance to either their alma mater or professional football team. Ladies must sign up by Friday, August 17, 2024, to participate. REMEMBER : Opening Lady Niners Day, November 5, 2024. who want to escape the heat of the valley, and the NLIH ladies are no exception. cool pines of Munds Park, Arizona, on July 17, 2024, and participated in a Niner’s scramble at Pinewood Country Club. Our representatives, who displayed their appropriate attire, took the Mad Hatters theme to the max. The event's popularity will attract more participants

CHIPPING CLINIC NLIH ladies enjoyed the chipping clinic on July 15th and 22nd. As always, Blake, our awesome instructor, schooled the ladies with some chipping techniques to minimize anxiety when faced with a “what do I do now” scenario.

August

2024

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday Thursday

Friday

Saturday

1 Ranch Closed Maintenance

Ranch Closed Maintenance

GCSAA Hack Attack

Ranch Closed Maintenance

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