Pine Lakes waiting for clay

If you play golf a lot at Pine Lakes Golf Course in Hubbard like I do (The Vindicator Golf League plays there every Monday), you are probably wondering just what the holdup has been for the opening of the last of the three new holes on the back nine.
Not only is everyone anxious to play the new No. 15 hole on the course (because you can see it and it really looks exciting), but all the construction has caused some extra leg work for area golfers.
Nobody is more aware of the situation than Dave Coller, Pine Lakes Director of Golf.
Weather caused problem
"We had expected to have that hole open a long time ago," Coller said. "But last year during one of the many storms that hit here, it blew out the banks on one of the two retention ponds in front of the hole and we lost all of the clay on those banks."
Coller said that what's taking so long to rebuild the banks is the amount of clay needed.
"We have a lot of clay back in our development areas that we are digging up daily and we are stockpiling it there and hopefully in the next couple of weeks we'll begin moving it down to the ponds," Coller said.
"We need a lot of clay and it's out there, but lately we've been hitting a lot of sand and that's been slowing down the process," he said.
A long trek between holes
Presently because of the construction, the old No. 13 hole has been closed, so golfers have to make the trek from No. 12 green all the way down to No. 14 tee at the par-3 hole.
Then there is the big walk from the new No. 14 hole, the par-5, all the way back to either the old No. 15 or No. 16.
Presently there are 10 holes open on the back.
Most of the golfers play all 10, but for league play, like The Vindicator League, nine are selected and usually the old No. 15 is omitted. Thus, the walk, or even the ride, is a long one up to the No. 16 tee.
"We're well aware of the problems and if there was anything we could do to get things done sooner, we'd be doing them," Coller said.
Made major improvements
J.V. Ferrara, Pine Lakes owner, has made tremendous improvements over the last several years at the course.
He started with renovations on holes No. 2 and No. 8, and added a new No. 9 hole, while turning the old one into one of the area's finest practice facilities.
He also rebuilt the No. 10 hole and constructed three new holes and when the final one opens will have one of the premier layouts in the entire area.
Coller says that he doesn't expect the last new hole to be ready much before next spring, but since the tee, fairway and green are all in place it is possible it could be ready late this season.
New way around
Once the final new hole is ready, golfers will have to learn the new way around the back side of the course.
No. 10 hole will stay the same, but golfers will then go down to the old No. 13 hole, which becomes the new No. 11.
Then comes the par-3, the old 14, then the three new holes, which will be 13, 14 and 15.
The No. 16 "saucer hole" will stay the same, but golfers will go from No. 16 to the new No. 17, which is the old No. 11 hole, but will be played in reverse.
The new tee has already been constructed there and the new green will be located just to the right of the present No. 11 tee area. The par-4, No. 18 will remain the same.
When it is all said and done, three old holes (11, 15 and 17) will be eliminated. The area where the old No. 15 and No. 17 sit will become condominiums.
"That's one of the reasons that we are taking our time building those retention ponds because all the runoff water from that development area will run into those ponds." he said.
XPete Mollica is a sportswriter for The Vindicator. Write him at mollica@vindy.com.