The Friends of Hollydot and Colorado City Metropolitan District (CCMD) crews have been busy working on the Hollydot Golf Course to make sure it remains one of the best kept and favorite courses in the region.
There are three new tee boxes and several have been revamped, reshaped, leveled, and improved. Some irrigation lines have been extended and new sprinkler heads installed, which worked out perfectly for water to be ready when new sod was installed. Hollydot had an architect look at the course and found that corrections were needed to accommodate players. The addition of the new tees is the beginning of moving toward the goals set up by architect Kevin Atkinson of Atkins Golf Design Group.
In a coordinated effort, eight bunkers have been remodeled, wind-torn tree branches cleaned up and hauled away, and tee boxes completed. Some of the earthwork on the bunkers was subcontracted to Solid Earth Civil Contractors, Inc. of Pueblo. The tee boxes were rebuilt by the Hollydot Maintenance Department and the Friends of Hollydot were on hand to help lay sod.
The projects that are taken on by The Friends are diversified and vary depending on the needs of the course, and the approval of course management. Lew Sadler puts in daily effort and time in managing the gophers, tree maintenance, course fixture maintenance, and other odds and ends he feels need to be done. The biggest project to date has been the coordination of efforts and funding with CCMD to rejuvenate a number of bunkers and tee boxes.
Marc Anzlovar, Hollydot Golf Course Superintendent, is quick to show appreciation to The Friends of Hollydot group. He stated, "Most municipal courses do not have groups like this. Being so rural and with not a lot of budget, we truly appreciate their work."
Marty and Vern Unruh spoke about the Friends of Hollydot projects, "We don't do anything without Marc, Phillip (Phillip Spicer of the Hollydot Pro shop), and Jim's (Jim Eccher, Colorado City Metro District Manager) approval. We want to be part of the solution, not part of the problems. And we are very aware this is CCMD property."
Friends of Hollydot is a non-profit volunteer group established in 2018. They strive to assist with any projects outside the normal daily operations and to assist, maintain and improve the golf course while striving to keep the rates low to allow for the enjoyment of all income levels and our youth. Funding comes entirely from those who are supportive of Hollydot Golf Course and its value to the community.
“Area businesses and golfers support and participate in our annual tournament,” Unruh continued. “These funds are what led us to continue to follow our mission statement, ‘to promote, support, and enhance the golf experience for the benefit of our community and its surrounding areas’."
The Friends of Hollydot meet on the first Thursday of the month at 3:00 p.m., at the course clubhouse. Call Marty at 719-648-0589 for more information.
Vern commented, "The golf course is good to draw people into the community so most businesses are glad to help support the course. The players spend money at a lot of different businesses while they are here."
Anzlovar agreed, "The economic impact of the course is huge to the community." The 5th Annual Friends of Hollydot Golf Tournament will be held on June 11, starting at 9:00 a.m. at the Hollydot Golf Course. Entry Fees are $85 per person or $340 for a four-person team. This includes the entry and cart fees, lunch, hole prizes, and prizes for other business places. It also qualifies you for an entry into four $50 cash drawings.
Sponsorships are still available, with a gold sponsorship costing just $500 which would also give one team entry, silver at $250, and bronze for $100. For more information about the tournament, please call Phillip at the Pro Shop at 719-676-3341, or Marty of Friends of Hollydot at 719-648-0589.