Grounds Superintendent at The Golf Club at Rainmakers Maintains Lush Turfgrass in Eco-Friendly Course

Alto, New Mexico (August 13, 2009)--The Golf Club at Rainmakers in Alto, New Mexico, just north of Ruidoso, is an environmentally responsible golf course recognized nationally for its pioneering efforts in conservation and water management. In 2009, it was named a “Course of Distinction” by GolfWeek and Golf Magazine honored it as one of the nation’s “Top 10 New Private Golf Courses.”

Nestled high in the mountains of New Mexico, the Bridge Investment Group of Salt Lake City created the Rainmakers Golf Community by making the Robert Trent Jones II-designed golf course the centerpiece of its 1,000-plus acre residential development. With each hole offering four sets of tees and 360-degree views of the Sierra Blanca and Capitan mountains, Rainmakers boasts a truly stunning golf experience that embraces its natural surroundings. The first Audubon Signature golf course in New Mexico is further enhanced by 135 acres of open space, set aside in perpetuity as a natural habitat and wildlife conservation area. Golfers can expect to see migratory fowl, elk and deer nestled among the ponderosa, piñon and juniper pines.

Gregg Fjelland, a veteran golf course superintendent with more than 25 years of industry experience, has worked at top courses from Las Vegas to Hawaii, before overseeing the care of Rainmakers starting in 2006. He learned about the industry starting as an entry-level worker, advancing to an irrigator, then assuming assistant superintendent positions prior to becoming a superintendent in 1992. He served as a superintendent at five different courses in Las Vegas, the most recent being Rio Secco Golf Club in Henderson, NV, managed by the Harrah’s Gaming Group.

At Rainmakers, Fjelland has faced some unique challenges maintaining the award-winning course. As an Audubon Signature Program course, the use of salt-based fertilizers is avoided because of the toxic runoff and danger to nearby flora and fauna. An arid climate, cool temperatures and high altitude also contribute to the challenges Fjelland faces in maintaining turfgrass on a course with a limited growing season.

Rainmakers takes its commitment to the environment seriously. With a water allocation that is only 110 acre/ft per year, or 35 million gallons annually, Rainmakers uses less water than any other facility in the area. By putting out 180,000 to 250,000 gallons a night, Rainmakers is limited to an irrigation cycle of 4-minutes per sprinkler a night, as compared to other local courses which have daily allocations of 400,000 gallons and above.

In spite of this, Fjelland maintains that his greens are among the most verdant in the mountainous community and its surrounding valleys. He attributes this success to Ultimate Turf, a product from Bio Tech Nutrients™ that mirrors the nutrient ratio that makes up the plant mass. Even with tight water allocations in a high desert climate, Fjelland has managed to grow roots “like a mop” that he has measured to be 8 to 12 inches deep.

He applies Ultimate Turf to all areas, including greens, tees, rough and fairways. Fjelland is impressed with the product’s ability to nurture dense root growth without any supplemental fertilizers. Says Fjelland, “We recently pulled samples and the density of roots showed a massive amount of volume. The density is unbelievable using just Ultimate Turf.”

Ultimate Turf is formulated with essential nutrients that enable the plant’s roots to dig down deeper into the soil and extract more water from the ground. Having a healthy root system reduces water usage while producing heartier plants that are more resistant to insects, drought and disease damage.

During the summer months, with heavy monsoon rains for two months annually, Fjelland transitions from a daily watering schedule to deep watering only every three to four days. In the fall, he resumes daily watering and applies Ultimate Turf weekly. He is proud of never having used any granular fertilizers or other soil amendments since the course’s creation.

Says Fjelland, “Ultimate Turf is comprised of energized carbon, hydrogen and oxygen with just the right amount of nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium and sulfur; all tied to oxygen, hydrogen or carbon, making them naturally available for plant absorption.” Chemical runoff is a serious consideration with regard to the Rainmakers’ sensitive eco-system. “As a LEED-certified property and signatory of the Audubon program, we chose Bio Tech Nutrient™ products that reduce and repair the salinity of the soil and water without damaging the native grasses and avian preserve, which contribute to Rainmakers’ uniqueness.”

Large underground cisterns throughout the development help collect rainwater and runoff that is later reused for irrigation. With such a system, Fjelland avoids salt contamination by using Ultimate Turf, a product that can rid the environment of toxins and impurities while helping water sources remain pure. Traditional fertilizers, high in nutrient salts, have a long-term adverse impact on the organisms living in the soil and are detrimental to the soil’s future productivity. High-salt fertilizers also degrade polymer granules, which Fjelland uses as an additional support system for extending his restrictive water allocation. Polymer granules help control temperature spikes in grass, cooling the area beneath the surface, which helps lower water usage.

The Golf Club at Rainmakers has thrived in spite of tough environmental regulations and rigorous water restrictions. Yet, Fjelland freely admits that even without restrictive water allocations and eco-initiatives – he would choose the same maintenance regimen for any golf course he oversees. “Ultimate Turf conditions all areas of green, even in super-dry conditions that persist for months at a time or in high rainfall areas where fungi and other pests thrive. It’s a breakthrough formula that treats carbon, hydrogen and oxygen as the macro-nutrients, a formula designed to replenish the carbon-based diet all plants need for optimal growth while conserving water. I swear by the stuff. There is no other product like it on the market. I’ve been using it for several years and I’m still learning what all it can do.”