Town councilors unanimously approved a plan to reconstruct the nine greens of the course. The project would include an overhaul of the irrigation system, cited along with salt buildup in the effluent water used for irrigation as the primary reasons the playing surface has been deteriorating.
Town councilors of Jamestown, R.I. recently approved a plan to reconstruct the nine greens of the Jamestown Golf Course, The Jamestown Press reported. The measure also includes an overhaul of the irrigation system, which has been the main culprit of the course’s deteriorating playing surface, the Press reported.
The damage to the course was blamed on the use of irrigation water containing sodium hypochlorite, the Press reported. In recent years, salt buildup in the effluent water used to irrigate has increased, leading to the damaged greens, reports The Jamestown Press.
“We have a huge problem,” said Jamestown Golf Course Operator Joe Mistowski. “I’ve been doing this for 46 years and I’ve never seen anything like it. It’s so bad that we might have to close the doors in a couple weeks. The reputation of the golf course, my reputation, are in jeopardy.”
Prior to the meeting, when the councilors were discussing water and sewer matters, golfers were adamant about the town changing its treatment process, the Press reported.
But Town Engineer Mike Gray rebuffed the claim, noting that sodium hypochlorite has always been used to treat Jamestown’s wastewater.
The joint plan between Mistowski and the town, which owns the property, is a race against time, according to Town Administrator Andy Nota. Seeds for the new grass will need to be planted by the end of August so the course will be ready for 2019, the Press reported.
“If we want to preserve the viability and playability of the course, we need to act now,” Nota said.
Along with reconstructing 70,000 square feet of greens, the town will rebuild the existing effluent pond behind the clubhouse, the Press reported. Workers are expected to remove all sediment and remnants (mainly sodium buildup on the surface floor), and then install new filtration material and a new liner.
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