RESTORING OUR
WORLD-CLASS
GOLF COURSE
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September 1, 2026
Dear Members,
As we approach our October 1 reopening, I wanted to provide a broader update on where the golf course stands today and what members can expect when we return to play.
The golf course has made tremendous progress, and we are confident it will be ready for play on October 1. At the same time, all of the turf established during this restoration is still in its first growing season. Our focus is not only on October 1, but on protecting that new turf and positioning the golf course for an exceptional 2027 season and beyond.
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Member Play Begins October 1st
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- We will reopen for member play on October 1, and we are confident the golf course is ready to handle play.
- All areas disturbed during the restoration have now been sodded, our greens continue to mature, and repaired areas are progressing well.
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Because areas were planted and sodded at different times, not every surface is at the same level of maturity. Members may initially notice differences in color, density, texture, mowing height, and recovery from normal play.
- These differences are not a concern regarding readiness. They are simply characteristics of young turf that will continue to mature with time.
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Maintaining Quality Standards
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- Midway through tee sodding, we changed sod suppliers because the quality from our original supplier was not consistently meeting our expectations. The Zeon Zoysia variety itself never changed.
- Some tees, particularly on the back nine and Holes 4 and 5, were not sodded until late July and early August and are therefore considerably younger than others.
- Several additional areas where the original sod did not establish to our satisfaction were replaced. Those areas are healthy and progressing well but will require time to match the surrounding established turf.
- Our team continues to provide these areas with focused fertility, rolling, grooming, watering, and gradual reductions in mowing height as they mature.
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- The new turf is healthy and capable of handling play. The important distinction is that young turf does not yet have the recovery capacity of turf that has been established for several growing seasons.
- Divots, traffic patterns, and normal wear may take longer to recover. We may also manage traffic or maintenance practices differently in select areas as conditions dictate.
- We could accelerate conditioning with more aggressive mowing heights, but there is little long term benefit in stressing young turf simply to create a more finished appearance on opening day.
- Maintaining slightly higher heights of cut in certain areas provides additional leaf area, supports rooting and recovery, improves stress tolerance, and helps prepare the turf for its first winter.
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Managing Sod Health during Extreme Heat
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- Early in the project, timely rainfall was extremely beneficial to turf establishment.
- Since July 12 and 13, we have gone more than 40 days without measurable rainfall, with little meaningful relief currently in the forecast.
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Persistent summer temperatures, high evapotranspiration, and the lack of rainfall have placed additional demand on newly established turf.
- Our team is selectively hand watering and spot watering new sod each day rather than relying solely on overhead irrigation. This allows us to address individual areas precisely before moisture stress develops.
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This targeted approach has been very effective. The golf course continues to respond extremely well, and its current condition reflects the attention our team is giving it each day.
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LOOKING BEYOND OCTOBER 1st
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- Our October 1 reopening leaves us with a relatively short period of active growth before we historically begin approaching our first frost around the first couple of weeks of November.
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We want to use that remaining growing season wisely. Our decisions today are being made with the health of the turf through its first winter and into 2027 in mind.
- October 1 is an important milestone, but it is not the finish line for the maturation of this restoration. The golf course will continue to improve as the new turf matures.
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When active growth returns in 2027, we will be positioned to take the next significant step in refining and conditioning these surfaces toward the quality and expectations we hold ourselves to here at Escondido.
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We look forward to welcoming you back on October 1. The golf course will be ready, and we are excited for you to experience it. Our approach from there will remain the same: make thoughtful decisions, protect the investment we have made together, and continue moving the golf course forward.
Thank you for your continued patience, trust, and support throughout this process. Below are a few current aerial views that provide a great look at how far the golf course has come and where things stand today.
Warmly,
Clay Johnston
Director of Agronomy
Escondido Golf & Lake Club
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9090 Hwy 2147 | Horseshoe Bay, TX 78657 US
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