When hurricane force winds and heavy rains raged through Fredericksburg, Virginia, trees and utilities in the area took a major blow. Picturesque Lake of the Woods Country Club in nearby Locust Grove was not spared by the damaging storm. IGM, which manages the golf course maintenance program at Lake of the Woods, has been working hard to restore the 18-hole course’s natural beauty and playability.
On May 15, 2018, a mini-derecho drenched the area and delivered violent winds, according to National Weather Service meteorologist Chris Strong. He described a derecho as a line of fast-moving storms with straight-line winds that can be as destructive as a tornado funnel. Wind gusts of more than 75 mph were reported.
IGM Regional Manager Tyler Minamyer has been on-site at Lake of the Woods golf course, which was built among woods of oak and pine trees, to assess damages and oversee implementation of a clean-up plan. “Nine large oak trees came down, scattering limbs, sticks, and debris across the property.” He noted that nearby homes also had downed trees, including some that fell on houses. “Our recovery plan began with clearing a path so we have access to the entire course to perform damage assessments. From there we are removing large material with heavy equipment. Then we remove progressively smaller material to re-open the course as quickly as possible.”
In addition to managing the Lake of the Woods clean-up, IGM’s course superintendent, Mike Kuhn, has coordinated the job with contractors working with neighboring property owners. The golf course is just one of several amenities in the private community. “Mike and his staff have worked incredibly hard through very wet weather. We were also fortunate to have a relatively short power interruption, so that didn’t slow us down,” said Minamyer.
May is typically a busy time at Lake of the Woods Country Club, with golfers enjoying a temperate climate and the natural beauty of the 18-hole PGA course. After an especially cold winter and spring, clean-up and recovery are important to minimize the disruption on the course.
Every part of the country is subject to some type of weather-related emergency, from the derecho or hurricanes to drought and wildfire risks. IGM provides complete golf course maintenance and management services in markets across the U.S. and has experience in crisis planning and recovery for the courses we serve. The company is committed to agronomic excellence and environmentally-conscious methods and products. To request a consult, please contact Greg Plotner, Executive Vice President, 407-589-7200. Additional information may be obtained by visiting IGM’s website at golfmaintenance.com.