Page 3 - Eagle's Landing GC Report 10 14 2020_Neat

OVERALL FACILITY IMPRESSIONS

Congratulations on an impressive year! During my October 9, 2020 visit, the golf course was in
excellent shape despite just coming through a difficult summer season where many courses suf-
fered significant turf loss. In fact, Eagle’s Landing was the best conditioned daily-fee facility that I
have visited in all of 2020.
There has been a COVID 19 spike in rounds this year that is building upon 2019’s 33,000 rounds
played, so the golf operation is continuing to remain profitable for The Town of Ocean City. The
course is collecting green fees up to $130.00/round due to dynamic pricing which is a clear testa-
ment to the conditioning of the golf course. These high green fees coupled with the volume of
rounds is terrific, but it does restrict the opportunity for substantial resident and regional play. Be-
cause the golf operation is on such stable footing, this report (and the future master plan) is fo-
cused on improving the course’s infrastructure to maintain Eagle’s Landing’s significant market
share within the local golf package industry.

First impressions are important within the golf industry. A few things to consider…
1. Plantings along the Route 611 entry marker are dated and block portions of the sign.
2. While the lack of a driving range is undesirable, grassing enhancements around the putting and
pitching greens can create an elegant “formal lawn” appearance at the rear of the Pro Shop.
3. Pond edge enhancements near the 1st tee (and throughout the golf course) will improve the
presentation of the facility.
4. A more dramatic opening hole with enhanced bunker design will set a better tone for the round.
5. While the following point strays from a typical report, it should be said… During my visit, I en-
countered three starters/bag drop attendants and four maintenance staff employees. In each
instance I was greeted with a welcoming smile and wave and these people were helpful and
extremely courteous. These friendly encounters are important for a positive first golf course im-
pression and are unfortunately not as routine as they should be. You should be proud of your
Eagle's Landing team.

The effects of Ocean City’s recent investments into the golf facility are evident. A modern irrigation
system was installed in 2017. Concrete cart paths have been renovated since the original con-
struction. The course’s timber bridges have also recently been repaired. The course’s staff have
been continually resurfacing tees and re-draining/sanding the bunkers. The maintenance facility
also appears to be organized, clean, and comfortable. These past efforts are an important factor
for your current success. The remainder of this report focuses on bringing the rest of the facility
components up to a similar high standard.

Concrete cart paths Timber bridges

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