Heritage Hills course features spacious new putting green

Need putting practice?

Then you need to try the spacious new putting green at Heritage Hills Golf Course in McCook.

The green, located west of the clubhouse and south of the cart barn, opened last week after an eight-month construction, seeding and growing period.

"It gives golfers a lot more room to practice their putting, said Bill Bieck, the Heritage Hills course superintendent and architect of the expanded green project.

"For years we got by with the smaller, 1,400 square foot green," Bieck said. "It served us well but became very crowded, especially during tournaments."

The new green, which features a cover of creeping bentgrass, offers numerous contours, giving golfers a hint of the putting challenges they will face on the 18 greens of the Heritage Hills course.

The putting green is sided with a new, paved cart path, offering easy access for golfers. "I'd like to thank Bill Michalski for his help on the project," Bieck said. "He's a consultant who gave very helpful guidance in developing the project."

Heritage Hills also has a large putting green north of the 16 tee box and east of the 18 green. Bieck explained why.

"When the course was being planned, we had planned to put the clubhouse near that location. But then we decided to switch the starting point since the holes on the east (now the front nine) were slightly easier."

Bieck is in his 26th year as course superintendent. He started in 1980 when course construction began.

The maintenance staff also includes Dick Rima, assistant superintendent, with 17 years of service, and Clint Coleman, who is new to the staff this year.

"Clint will be a great asset because he grew up on the course. He actually learned the game on Heritage Hills. He has the advantage of knowing the members and the course."

Coleman, who has a turf degree, came to Heritage Hills from Meadowlark Hills in Kearney, where he served on the staff of John Beideck, formerly of McCook.

Rounding out the staff at McCook are a group of seasonal employees, all of whom are returning from last year.

They include Don Brandt, Harold Christensen, J.R. Anderson, Joel Arterburn, Anthony Bieck and Andy Lambing.

Despite the continuing drought in western Nebraska, Bieck says the McCook course in in excellent condition.

He gives much of the credit for this to an updated and automated watering system.

"We added 180 degree directional sprinklers that throw steams of water back towards the fairway," Bieck said.

"This will increase the quality and density of turf in the areas between the irrigated and native grass areas.

"We will not use any more water, but we will be able to apply water evenly throughout the irrigated turf areas."