November has already been a wild ride: snow, colder than normal temperatures and all those leaves – it seems that the red and sugar Maples decided to drop all of their leaves in one weekend! It’s going to take a day or two to chop them up.

On November 13, we will be blowing out the irrigation system. This usually takes the whole morning, so if you’re planning on golfing that day please bring your rain suit because you will probably get wet! We also apply one last fungicide application for snow mold just before Thanksgiving. After that application, we will be installing the snow fence behind #5 green and in front of #9 green.  Greens #3, #4 and #6 will be tarped just prior to the threat of measurable snow, with a temporary green in front.

The shoreline project at #3 green will be starting after November 11. The scope of the project includes the installation of the retaining wall at the water’s edge starting at the small bridge, going across the front of the green and ending up tapering off just on the south side of the front bunker. The project is estimated to last 4 weeks. The hole will be played with a temporary green close to the river on the fairway side of the hole.

On behalf the entire grounds staff, I would like to say thank you for all of your support in 2019. Without you, our extended family, we would not be able to do what we love! May you holidays be filled with joy and happiness and your winter days be short in anticipation for the 2020 golfing season!

We couldn’t have asked for more perfect weather this weekend for the annual PGC Men’s Tournament, and Nick Maze provided us with an impressive 2-day total of 145 to take the 2019 Men’s Tournament title.

Congratulation Nick!!!

Daniel Shepherd led after day one by 6 strokes, firing a red hot 1-under par 69, but slowly on day two the lead started to creep away. Collin Prentiss and Mike Connell did their best to put the pressure on Shepherd, but it was Maze’s even par 70 on day two that helped him not only win the Championship Flight , but take home the title of Overall Champion!

Championship Flight

Nick Maze…75-70-145

Daniel Shepherd…69-79-148

Collin Prentiss…75-76-151

Lukas Lengwin…80-74-154

David Newland…79-76-155

Mike Bertke…78-79-157

Brad Riva…83-78-161

Jonathon Hunecke…85-80-165

Dan Pessetti…85-82-167

Don Hancock…had to withdraw due to a hamstring injury.

Don, we all hope you get well soon, and we look forward to seeing you next year!!!

 

The highly contested A-Flight pitted two of our 50+ Tournament top spot contenders (Mike Connell and Wally Plywaczewski), an STC boy that now resides in Ohio (Eric Spenske) and one of our Saturday-Morning-Regulars (Clint Ortiz) battling it out to the end. Connell got started early on Saturday with a 73, and it looked like he was going to put the rest of the field in his rearview mirror.  But after the dust settled on Sunday the scores were much closer than anticipated!

A-Flight

Mike Connell…73-77-150

Eric Spenske…78-78-156

Wally Plywaczewski…78-80-158

Clint Ortiz…85-76-161

Mike Heithoff…87-80-167

Ken Cline…83-86-169

Ron Ingold…85-86-171

Chris Jones…89-86-175

Jonathan Rand…88-87-175

Mark Eckhout…84-nc-nc

 

Chuck Downing stole the show in the B-Flight. After beginning his round on Saturday thinking his tee shot went out-of-bounds, Chuck pulled it together to have the low 18-hole rounds both Saturday and Sunday in his Flight.  Congratulations Chuck!!!

B-Flight

Chuck Downing…83-77-160

Noah Muehlfelt…85-84-169

Brian Shaunnessy…85-87-172

Brad Beaulieu…90-84-174

Eliot Kaufman…86-89-175

Nick Koukos…90-93-183

Jeff Mertz…90-94-184

Ryan Starosto…87-97-184

Ken Balon…97-89-186

Dave Forsell…90-100-190

 

Consistent and steady play helped Gus Eash come from 3 strokes back after day one in the C-Flight to win the Flight by 4 strokes, but the bigger story here might have been the first day round of Wayne Heuertz. Heuertz shot an 81 (42-39) in round one to put himself in the top 10 after day one.  In talking with Heuertz after his Saturday round, Heuertz said he know on the 16^th hole he was having the round of his life and he just kept telling himself, “keep it together, and don’t blow it!”  Advise I think we all tell ourselves, and sadly can’t convert.  Congrats Wayne for a great round, and great job Gus for winning the C-Flight!

C-Flight

Gus Eash…84-87-171

Wayne Heuertz…81-94-175

James Miller…86-94-180

Carl Masters…87-95-182

Tom McCulloch…93-93-186

Bob Szyman…99-93-192

Ed Blyshak…93-100-193

Russ Davis…100-93-193

Dan Langland…91-nc-nc

Dan played through an injured hip on Saturday, but could not continue on Sunday…we all wish you a speedy recovery Dan!

 

Mike Foulkes snatches the D-Flight title away from Bob Wulff in the last 9-holes. Wulff had a 1 stroke lead going into Sunday’s round, and after the front 9 Wulff extended that lead to 7.  But trouble struck a few times on the back 9 for Wulff, and Foulkes just kept his head down and posted the low 18-hole score for the D-Flight.  Awesome job Mike!!!

D-Flight

Mike Foulkes…103-97-200

Bob Wulff…102-101-203

Lan Nielsen…104-105-209

Lee Tross…103-116-219

The St. Charles Park District recently unveiled a new wooden sculpture at Pottawatomie Golf Course, honoring the history and natural integrity of the 80-year-old course along the banks of the Fox River.

Made from a 150-year-old dying white oak tree near the practice green, professional chainsaw artist Michael Bihlmaier created the piece over the past couple of weeks. It stands 16 feet tall and 3.5 feet wide, and it features carvings of a vintage golf bag and native wildlife including hawks, foxes and birds. The sculpture is the first of its kind in the Park District.

The design reflects all aspects of Pottawatomie, according to Golf Course Superintendent Denise Gillett-Parchert. “First we wanted it to represent the course’s history, and second, our status as an Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary – which is a testament to being good stewards of the environment,” she said.

The sculpture was made possible by the persistence of Gillett-Parchert and the private donation from St. Charles residents Bill and Nancy Cox.

When the golf course lost a few trees to emerald ash borer infestation five years ago, patrons had asked about making a carving out of one of those trees, Gillett-Parchert said. The ash trees couldn’t be saved for a carving, but she didn’t give up on the idea.

“This was a goal of mine to see this type of project come to fruition, and with the generous donation from Bill and Nancy Cox it was made possible,” Gillett-Parchert said.

The sculpture was the perfect way for Bill and Nancy Cox to give back to the community, of which they’ve been residents since 1978. In addition to volunteering with various local environmental projects over the years, Nancy Cox served on the St. Charles Park District Board for 12 years, and Bill Cox has been a volunteer starter at Pottawatomie for the past five years.

“We are happy to donate the funds to help create a sculpture out of something natural, which will add even more beauty to an already scenic and beautiful place,” said Bill Cox. He added the gift is from their family fund that also includes their daughter, Halle Cox.

“I think this sculpture will be a nice piece for the park, something residents and visitors can enjoy for years to come,” said Bihlmaier, whose local work includes the ear of corn carved out an ash tree at the Kane County Farm Bureau’s office on Randall Road in St. Charles.

Renowned golf course architect Robert Trent Jones, Sr, designed Pottawatomie Golf Course in 1939.

In 1997, Pottawatomie became the first 9-hole golf course in Illinois to receive the status as a certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary. It has maintained its status ever since, always keeping the environment at the forefront regardless of renovation or addition.

For more information about the sculpture, contact Denise Gillett-Parchert at 630-513-4351