Long Beach Golf Hall of Fame.
The Course of the Year award encompasses the role
courses play in their community and how they are managed,
but also their overall quality and environmental steward-
ship.
In 2004, a redesign by Cal Olson allowed Skylinks to in-
stall modern irrigation control systems, as well as drought-
tolerant species of grass, which reduced its water usage,
along with using recycled water. That has enabled the course
to save millions of gallons of potable water, and it also partic-
ipates in a Long Beach water program that allows the city to
shut off the water supply to the course when it's necessary to
help manage overall demand.
Skylinks is also home to American Golf's The Players
Club, a golf development program that, for a nominal fee,
allows more than 3,800 players daily access to the driving
range, weekly group lessons and lowered green fees at
Skylinks and other tracks owned by the city.
And on a personal note, May said that Skylinks is an en-
joyable course to play both from a layout standpoint as well
as how customers are welcomed and treated.
"It's one of my favorite courses in our portfolio," he said.
"I always seem to have a little more fun and score better
when I play there. I think some of that speaks to a fun track
but more importantly, Gary and his team really nail the
experience from a customer-service perspective."
Skylinks Golf Course has been an integral
part of the Long Beach landscape since 1959.
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CGCOA INSIDER
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SPRING 2019
