Atoka Municipal Golf Authority approves superintendent report after updates on cart building, equipment and turf work

The Atoka Municipal Golf Authority approved the superintendent’s report at its meeting after receiving updates on a recently completed golf cart building, equipment repairs and ongoing turf maintenance.

The superintendent told the authority, “The new golf cart building is completed. We’re gonna wait for the electrical to be completed, and we’re waiting for the gravel,” and said staff expect the gravel delivery this week and that electrical work has started. The building will remain closed to use until doors, electrical hookups and gravelling are finished.

The update included several operational items relevant to play and course upkeep. The superintendent said staff have cleaned brush and trees around multiple holes, have been topdressing sand on a schedule intended to continue through the month, and received a delivery of about 20 loads of topsoil that are being stockpiled between the No. 8 and No. 4 holes for use this fall and into spring. “We have right now. We have a stockpile kinda in between number 8, number 4,” the superintendent said.

Equipment problems were highlighted. The authority was told a fairway mower’s motor remains down; staff have tried on-site fixes but may need John Deere service if internal computer issues cannot be resolved. The superintendent said efforts to download files and repair the mower have so far been unsuccessful and that the mower’s availability is important because “the grass isn't growing much” and continued use of nonfunctioning equipment could harm turf.

The superintendent described a turf fungus detected on a green and said staff applied fungicide: “I'm like, oh, the green powder. It's a fungus that's on the greens. I applied the fungicide.” Irrigation issues on No. 9 were also discussed; the superintendent said plumbing repeatedly failed over about a week but has been fixed and greens have been watered daily.

Staffing and maintenance-vendor items were noted. The superintendent reported that a staff member, Sam, had a last day of Oct. 1 because of a family medical matter. The authority was also given a quote from a Stillwater-based sharpening shop for mower reels: the superintendent said the shop quoted “about a $170 reel,” with higher costs (up to roughly $300) if bearings need replacement. The authority was told blade sharpening is important to avoid turf damage caused by dull reels.

Course scheduling and events were discussed. The superintendent said a tournament organized by Tesco will close the course on Saturday; the tournament organizers will set up and, as discussed in the meeting, will pay for golf cart rentals for the event. The superintendent and other staff noted an existing fee schedule and an email form documenting fees — one attendee said a 10% tax applies to the fee.

Other work in progress includes expansion of the No. 3 tee box by about 20 feet to allow turf recovery in high-use periods and sourcing replacement parts and sharpening options for additional equipment.

On a motion to approve the superintendent’s report, Trustee Miss Thomas, Trustee Mister Burridge and Trustee Mister Kathy voted aye and the motion carried. The meeting record also shows the consent agenda was approved and the meeting was adjourned on roll-call votes with the same three trustees recorded as voting aye.

The authority did not record objections to the superintendent’s recommendations during the discussion; several operational items remain contingent on vendor scheduling and delivery of gravel, electrical completion and possible external service to repair the fairway mower.