Heritage Hills getting back to full strength on greens

Heritage Hills in Claremore has reopened four of the six greens that it resprigged nine weeks ago after its brand new Tif-Eagle ultradwarf Bermuda greens were severely damaged by the February record cold plunge.

Only the green on 17 and the practice putting green remain closed, with 17 expected to open within two weeks.

Superintendent Marcus Rifai and his crew and golf construction firm Jonesplan took the good parts from the six greens that were rebuild and sodded areas that were damaged on other greens throughout the course. The result is now all 18 greens are back in good shape and should be even better this fall and next spring assuming no further record cold snaps, a wish they are joined in by all  state superintendents and golfers.

The course had been charging $25 with the five temporary greens. It will continue to charge that during the week but return to regular rate structure on the weekends. However players paying full price on weekends will get a coupon to play for a cart rate of $15 during the week for October, according to Director of Golf Andy Forbes. All pricing will return to normal in November.

Both Forbes and Rifai are pleased with the resprigging and the way the other greens healed, particularly since the course was also attacked by Army worms in August.