A recent customer at Stevinson Ranch couldn't figure out the covered southern portion of the golf course's parking lot.
"What are these owners doing?" he asked. "Why are they just putting up shade for cars?"
The man didn't realize that he was standing next to George Kelley, Stevinson Ranch's owner and co-designer."
"That is called solar energy," Kelley responded, sparking a few apologies from his newly enlightened fellow player.
Stevinson Ranch, now in its 16th year, made major waves in the golf industry this year by becoming what is believed to be the nation's first course to be operated 100 percent by solar power.
Atop that parking lot patio are panels that energize the clubhouse and carts. A second network, near the 17th green, powers the irrigation system.
Such was the story's novelty, it was even proclaimed on one of the storyboards at Times Square Station in New York City. "I never thought Stevinson Ranch could make it to Times Square," Kelley said.
Nevertheless, Stevinson has become a buzzword in the business since it went solar two months ago. Then again, Kelley's golf address south of Hilmar has prided itself over the years for its ahead-of-the-curveness.
Not long after its opening, Stevinson was one of the first courses in the country to receive signature status from the Audubon Society. Later, it scored breakthroughs in its unique approaches to chase the pesky poa annua from its sidewalk-slick greens.
Emerging from that process was Greenway Golf, the Kelley-inspired turf management company that serves more than 100 golf properties from Turlock Country Club to the Bahamas.
The transition to solar continues Stevinson's lead-taking role. The project was not cheap. Kelley said the total cost was $963,000, a daunting price given today's tough economy.
"We financed the entire amount over 10 years. The federal government offered a 30 percent cash grant, so we're getting $270,000 back in cash," Kelley said. "In 10 years, we'll have free energy."
Kelley likes the idea of producing about 300 kilowatts of clean energy each year. What they've done also is the equivalent, he said, of planting a 45-acre pine forest.
Many people and countless companies talk a big game about the environment. Not many have stepped up to the plate like Stevinson, which once again affirmed its pace-setting reputation.
"The golf industry is so challenged these days. If you're not ahead of the pack, you won't survive," Kelley said. "If we keep doing the same old things, we'll die a slow death. You have to stay ahead."
THE SHAG BAG — Mark Wiebe, the Champions Tour pro who teamed with Turlock's Kathleen Rojas at the Nature Valley First Tee Open at Pebble Beach, rallied to a tie for fifth Sunday. Wiebe and Rojas missed the pro-junior cut by one stroke, though Kathleen and sister Esther ended the weekend at Del Monte with the Core Values Cup for the juniors who didn't advance to Pebble for the final round. ...
Sixty-three members of The First Tee of Central Valley (Modesto) rooted for the Rojas sisters Saturday at Pebble Beach. Among the group's chaperones was Monica Shahade, the chapter's new director of programs and operations. Shahade comes from the First Tee chapter in Contra Costa. ... Livermore's Casie Cathrea, 15, the impressive junior who set tournament records while winning the pro-junior with Ben Crenshaw, lived in Manteca from age 6 to 9. ...
The American Century Championship, to be held Friday through Sunday at Edgewood Tahoe, has become one of the top events of the summer at Lake Tahoe. For autograph seekers and stargazers, it doesn't get any better than watching icons such as Michael Jordan on the golf course during the day and having fun in the casinos at night. Billy Joe Tolliver will defend his title, but Sacramento Kings fans are looking forward to watching top draft pick Jimmer Fredette, who admits his game isn't as sharp as his jump shot. Visit www.tahoecelebritygolf.com. ...
More good news in the Sierra: The American Century and the Reno-Tahoe Open won't be held on the same weekend this year. The RTO, the PGA Tour event won last year by Beyer High graduate Matt Bettencourt, tees off Aug. 4-7 at the gorgeous Montreux Country Club south of Reno. David Duval, the former British Open champion, committed to play this week. ... Cal State Stanislaus star Teddy Schrier birdied the par-3 fourth playoff last weekend at Merced CC to edge Atwater's Troy Williams and win the 60th Merced County Championship. Both shot 74-69. One stroke off the pace was Turlock's Paul Smith (76-68), a freshman at Stanislaus. ... Jim Drew, an ex-Warrior, has won more than $67,000 and leads to Gateway Tour money list.
Bee staff writer Ron Agostini can be reached at (209) 578-2302 ragostini@modbee.com.
RSS
E-Mail
Print
reprint or license
