The Litmus Test

Many people think of south Jersey as nothing but flat farmland.  However, thanks in large part to the property's prior use as a quarry, Laurel Creek has 60' of elevation change.  Additionally, during construction of the course, 1.3 million cubic yards of soil was moved.  So, with plenty of mounds and slopes to contend with, when looking at a new piece of equipment, we often give it the "billy goat" test.

The view looking down from #16.

That's right, in order to make the grade, you have to be able to climb the grade.  In this case, that's the hill between #16 and 17.

Recently, we were considering the acquisition of a new mower, which will primarily be used in the Fescue, so what better place to take it for a spin than on this challenging slope.  The theory is, if it can handle this hill, the rest of the course won't be  a problem.

A different perspective as you look up to #16 from down below.

We're happy to report that while many machines have failed this test (sorry, no pictures), the Ventrac mower passed with flying colors.  This piece of equipment will be a great addition to our inventory, and help provide better conditions in the 40 acres of naturalized areas throughout the golf course.