The first step in the renovation of the Taylors Creek Golf Course greens got under way May 16, when weed-killer was applied to kill the current grass and make way for the new.
Contractors will arrive in early June to begin the next phase of the approximately two-month process. During that time, play will be on temporary greens, and all patrons will pay a reduced rate in recognition of the inconvenience to them.
 “The grass on the greens must be killed 3-4 weeks before the contractors can start the work,” said Darrell Eshelman, PGA professional and course general manager.
Golfers will see the grass on the greens yellowing and looking very distressed, Eshelman said, adding that eventually all the grass on the greens will die.
Eshelman said the greens will be puttable as the grass dies.
“The greens will be ugly, but we will be rolling them, and we’ll mow them and cut them down low, so hopefully the ball will still roll pretty good,” he said.
Taylors Creek’s greens have served golfers for half a century — 30 years longer than their expected lifespan.
Eshelman said the 328 Bermuda grass now on the greens will be replaced with a new type: Tifdwarf  Bermuda.  
“We don’t want the old grass to grow up through the new, so we have to be certain that all of the old grass is dead,” he said.  
Once play on the temporary greens begins, all-day greens fees will be $5, and the all-day cart fee will be $10.
Annual greens-fee players will receive 50 percent off regular cart fees and the $2-per-round fee will not be charged.
He said the total construction time includes the grow-in period for the new type of grass.
“We expect that we will be playing on the new greens about the middle of August,” he said.
Although the new grass will be planted on all Taylors Creek’s greens, only one green will be modified.  
“No. 17 has a very severe slope to it,” Eshelman said, “and the golfers have trouble keeping the ball on it. If you miss a putt, the ball rolls off the green. So the slope on No. 17 will be reduced.”  

Matthews is a family and MWR marketing publicity specialist