Golf course looking for greener days Published July 20, 2010 By John Ingle 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Paul Peters, Sheppard's new director of Wind Creek Golf Course, said July 15 that Old Man Winter didn't do any favors for one of the best courses in the region with his wintry blast in December. Boasting some of the best greens just a year ago, winter storms damaged the putting surfaces, he said, making a nice golf outing miserable for some golfers, and treacherous on the number of people hitting the course. "We're just coming off of a brutal winter here that y'all had," Mr. Peters said. "Overall, the golf course - the fairways - were in great condition. We did suffer some damage to our greens." Click here to see the video on Sheppard's YouTube channel. The new manager said the grass on the greens at Wind Creek is Bermuda, a type that is unique to this area. He said Bermuda fairs well in warm conditions, but cold weather can easily destroy the grass. Sixteen of the 18 greens are near 100 percent in shape, he said. The course superintendent and his course crews are working to get the remaining two - which suffered the most damage - back in shape by the end of August or early September. Part of that effort includes a new piece of equipment that Mr. Peters called a "roller." The roller is a machine that packs down the Bermuda that creates less stress on greens, reduces the number of mowing per week and also creates a smoother, player-friendly putting surface. Repairing the greens isn't the only goal of Mr. Peters, he said. He also wants to get the course to where it is financially stable again, and that means getting players from all over to return to the course. "With the diminishment of our greens, we've lost a lot of our customers, particularly our family downtown," he said, referring to citizens of Wichita Falls, Burkburnett, Iowa Park and other outlying towns. "The word has gotten out that we've lost our greens, which is not true." Mr. Peters said if you don't have golfers show up, everything else on the "business end" suffers such as sales at the clubhouse snack bar and Pro Shop. Jim Winters and Dale Vis, Air Force retirees and contract employees at the 80th Flying Training Wing's flight simulator complex, said they agree with Mr. Peters' assessment that the greens aren't as good this year as in years past. But, they said for the cost and variety of the course, they will continue to play it. "I like the layout better," Mr. Vis said when comparing other area courses. "The layout is fun." A Professional Golfers' Association of America Family Course, Wind Creek is one of the largest courses in the Wichita Falls area. Only the Champions Course at Weeks Park is longer than Sheppard's, 7,277 yards from the longest tees compared to 7,028 for Sheppard. The front nine holes of the course feature an open layout with relatively wide fairways. The back nine features a tighter layout with rolling hills and a winding creek. "There are some holes that are very challenging," Mr. Winters said. He specifically said holes 12, 13 and 15 provide demanding layouts that test even the most seasoned golfers. Mr. Peters said, as a golfer, he understands the importance of quality greens to a golf course and the effects they have on other golfers' overall impressions of their experience. He said most golfers can handle fairways that aren't in the best of conditions, but pristine greens can make or break an outing. To help pique interest in playing at Wind Creek, Mr. Peters said the course offers a tremendous discount to golfers who come out and play. For the next several months, he said the cost to play - including green fees and a gas-powered cart - is $20 anytime the course is open, including weekends. For those wanting to introduce their children to golf at an early age, Wind Creek provides golf instructions during the summer and other times. Mr. Peters said this, too, is also available for children of area residents. Off-base civilians who wish to play the course can click here to download an application to enter the base. Follow the instructions on the form and submit it to the Wind Creek golf shop. Once approved, the golfer will receive a one-year pass to enter the base for golf only. For more information, go to www.sheppardservices.com and click on the hyperlink for "Wind Creek Golf" on the left-hand side.