An Uncommon Turnaround

CommonGround to re-open all 18 holes at the end of May

Seven months after needing a boat to navigate the flooded fairways of Aurora’s CommonGround Golf Course, PGA Director of Golf Dave Troyer walks up to the 12th green, which had been underwater for “about a month” after last September’s flood, killing the turf. On this April day, a rich bentgrass putting surface radiates beneath his feet, the result of a decision by the Colorado Golf Association to sod rather than reseed the putting surfaces on this and four other severely damaged holes (Nos. 5, 6, 11 and 14). “Seeding is always better and less expensive than sodding,” Troyer says, “but we figured sodding would allow us to reopen the whole course four to six weeks sooner than originally planned, and the revenue generated during that time would offset the additional cost, which was about $100,000.” (In total, the physical repairs ran $350,000, and factoring in lost revenue, the flood cost CommonGround about $1.2 million—none of it covered by insurance.)

So, instead of reopening in July with seeded greens, all 18 holes at CommonGround—which since the flood has operated with only its nine easternmost holes—will now reopen May 29 with a tournament and dedication of a community putting green. Higher handicappers might struggle with the tight lies on the re-seeded fairways, Troyer warns, but the bunkers and greens will mostly play as they previously had. “By the end of the summer you won’t see any difference between the new greens and existing ones,” promises Superintendent Bobby Martin, whom Troyer credits with much of the success of the recovery. In addition to the maintenance crews, praise also goes to former USGA agronomist Matt Nelson of Magic Valley Bentgrass, who delivered 46,000 square feet of perfect Dominant X sod, and to Jim Urbina and Eric Iverson, two of CommonGround’s architects, who volunteered many hours to ensure the integrity of the greens.

The integrity of the entire facility, which hosts scores of junior golf programs and gained national attention as the companion course to Cherry Hills during the 2012 U.S. Amateur, will also remain intact. Two of the bridges may have washed away and all the pump house equipment required replacement, but CommonGround will open at month’s end. To see how far they’ve come, all Troyer and Martin have to do is look at the high-water mark some 20 feet up the ridge just north of the 12th green.

303-340-1520; commongroundgc.com

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