Trunk Road going green with sports research

MAT-SU — A quick putt on your way home from the daily commute? That will be possible when UAF’s Matanuska Experiment Station opens a putting course between the old and new Trunk roads in spring 2013. And that’s just the beginning.

In 2012, researchers expect to construct a nine-hole, par-three golf course. The two courses will be used to evaluate turf grass cultivars grown at the experiment farm, according to Norm Harris, administrator at the farm.

Harris said the “greenness” between thoroughfares is practical research for the scientists and recreational opportunities for residents.

While turf grass research began at the Palmer Center for Sustainable Living — the new and proper name of the experiment farm — before construction of the new Trunk Road, it was the rerouting that spurred this project.

Construction displaced some of the center’s more typical research in farm crops, but provided Judson Scott, superintendent of farm operations, a place to expand his research.

Scott, who was a golf-course supervisor and designer for about 20 years in California, Colorado and Alaska, said the new project will reclaim the land, no longer suitable for traditional crop research, while providing area residents with new recreational opportunities and draw attention to other ongoing work at the center.

“It only seemed fitting to consider using the area to expand on northern adaptable turf grass research activities that had begun years ago,” Scott said.

Healthy Impact Grants from the Mat-Su Health Foundation will help build the putting course and a soccer field. Businesses will also contribute, Scott said.

The soccer-size sports field in the greenbelt between the two roads will be used primarily as a practice field, Harris said.

The researchers are looking for use that models the way Alaskans abuse the tender grass of spring to get out to enjoy their favorite field sports as soon as the snow melts, and continue their heavy use of the fields until after the snow flies again. Scott said the soccer field construction includes a 1.5 percent crown for improved surface drainage and an automatic subsurface irrigation system — the only soccer field of its type in the Valley. He said the course will host limited youth soccer league teams beginning in fall 2012.

Modeled after “The Himalayas” putting course in St. Andrews, Scotland, Scott said the course will be a unique challenge to golfers.

“Imagine your favorite putt-putt golf course, but on steroids in terms of the size of the bumps, swales, dips and rolls, and with real grass instead of artificial turf and without the traditional barrier walls surrounding most putt-putt golf course hold layouts,” Scott explained. “This will be up to one acre of wide open space on real grass, without borders between each hole, and where the course layout will be changed weekly. So, each time one plays the course, it will likely be a different layout than last time they played.”

While challenging and fun for golfers, for the researchers it will provide the means of studying how to better prepare turf grass systems for brutal Alaska winters, Scott said.

The putting course is due for seeding in July or August, but to give the turf a chance to get well established, it won’t be open for play until the spring of 2013.

The nine-hole golf course is sponsored by Wadsworth Golf Charities Foundation, and is being designed by Paul Logue Golf Design of Chicago. The pitch-and-putt course will be located in the field directly across old Trunk Road from the main buildings at the farm. Construction is expected to start in about a year, with the course to open in the summer of 2014, Scott said.

Scott said the short course will cater to youth, women and beginning golfers of all ages.

“However, the well-seasoned hacker will find the undulating greens and varying yardages an enjoyable challenge,” he said.

A chinkless log cabin erected as part of a class held last fall at the farm will be joined by another, and they will become the structures for the golf course facilities, as well as examples of their unique construction technique, Scott said.

It’s all a unique way to put the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ land grant mission to work: “to provide opportunities to Alaskans to learn about Alaska’s Natural Resources and their responsible management through education, research and community service.”

“We have big hopes for the sports turf fields,” Harris said. “We’re just waiting for construction to get done on Trunk Road.”

Scott thanked the many sponsors who have allowed the projects to move forward, and invited others to contribute by contacting him at 746-9481.