Native Revival

How the Native Areas look following the rainy season and heading into a period of no rain and no irrigation.

From a distance the native areas look like a full meadow, but up close are more open with bunch-type  grasses that still allow players to find there ball and play shots from.

It has been quite some time since the last update on the native grass program at Pasatiempo.  This project has been a test of patience for not only the membership, but also those of us who have developed and implemented the strategic plan.  When first researching the project, we felt that within 3 to 5 years, there should be a significant stand of native grasses.  In January of 2010, the first areas were seeded with our native grass seed and following that rainy season, there was decent germination, but the look during last summer was less than desirable to most.  Amazingly, many of the grasses and small tufts hung on during the summer with no rain and no irrigation.  Once the first rains hit in October of 2010, the grasses began to show life and following a December that recorded over 15-inches of rain, the natives really took off.  Overall, there was an abundance of rainfall throughout this past rainy season and the areas that were seeded in January of 2010 are well ahead of the original 3-5 year plan.  A tremendous difference from year one to now and we look forward to many of these grasses going dormant and showcasing the golf course with their dramatic golden brown seedheads.