Palmer golf changes course

JEREMIAH BARTZ/Frontiersman sports editor

PALMER - Local golfers have seen a few slight changes at the Palmer Golf Course. Call them improvements. Call them upgrades.

In an effort to improve customer service, course manager Jeff Barnhart said, course officials opted to change the traditional first two holes to the final two holes on the course. Now, rather than teeing off first toward the hole next to the Palmer Golf Course driving range, golfers will start from the old hole three.

The tee box for the new first hole stands just inside the fence line, across the street and parking lot from the clubhouse. Alongside the tee box is a starter shack where a customer official can check players in.

"We thought about this for quite a long time, because it gave us the ability to check people in better," Barnhart said. "Have a little more control over the starting hole."

Control in a nice way, Barnhart said. With the old course layout, stingy golfers looking for a free round of golf could walk onto the third hole without making their way to the clubhouse side of the course. Barnhart said he didn't did not think that was a great problem, but the new route of the course can prevent that before it becomes a major issue.

"I don't believe it was a major problem, but it exists everywhere," Barnhart said. "This day and age with cell phones, if anyone cuts in, someone calls the shop instantly."

Barnhart said preventing non-paying players from using the course factored into the decisions, but was not the basis.

"It added a level of customer service," Barnhart said. "It's better for us, better for the customer."

Barnhart said customer response has been very positive with the only problems occurring when someone refers to the new number one as hole three.

Also new to the course is the cart barn. Now all of the range balls, rental clubs and golf carts are stored within one building.

After paying for greens fees and cart rental in the pro shop, players now show their receipt to pick up a cart in the cart barn and head for the starting shack at the new hole three.

Barnhart said course management has had a list of improvements they have been eager to tackle.

"There are so many little things to do, but we are getting them done finally," Barnhart said.

Also new are yardage markers on the course, similar to those used on many of the European courses.

Along with the changes to the numbering of the holes, Barnhart said, the course has been re-rated by the United States Golf Association. Barnhart said he realized some time ago that the course did not have an accurate rating. The new numbers show the course was actually rated two shots easier for men, and four shots easier for women.

"When it's rated two shots easier, most handicaps would go up," Barnhart said.

A panel of three experts measured speeds, and took in consideration the types of rough, winds and any changes to the hazards when calculating the new ratings.

Earlier this year the Palmer Golf Course was named best course in the state by Golf Digest for the third year in a row.