LJWorld Green
Golf course south of Lawrence goes natural
A Vinland man is hoping to land a hole-in-one with his latest environmentally-friendly adventure and change the way golf courses around the world are managed.
October 1, 2008
Advertisement
The Vinland Natural Nine is not a run-of-the-mill golf course. There is no perfectly manicured bright green grass, sprinklers, or golf carts, and that is how owner Richard Morantz likes it.
Morantz, an acupuncture specialist with an office in Lawrence, got the idea to create a golf course after using the controlled-burn method to maintain the prairie on his property near Vinland, between Lawrence and Baldwin City.
"After I did that I would stand back and look and it would just look like a golf course rolling off across the hills," he said. "So I decided to try to make a golf course."
Morantz created the course by simply discovering the holes, not by bulldozing or carving up the land - practices used to construct most golf courses.
"What I'm really doing is trying to demonstrate that it's possible to create this sort of recreational place without using chemicals, without using toxic chemicals, pesticides and herbicides," he said.
Morantz is also trying to use less energy. He mows the greens and fairways with a tractor once a month. The course has no irrigation system because there is a source of underground water.
Upon entering the property, visitors can see signs instructing them to wear protective clothing and stay on the paths to avoid poison ivy, insects and sink holes.
Danny Rogovein plays at the course once a week on average and said it improves his overall game.
"The course requires accuracy, which is the hardest thing to do in golf," he said. "It's easy to hit the ball as hard as you can with each club and hit it a specific distance, but to hit it right on line of where you want it to go and to get it to stop when it hits the ground is very hard to do."
Richard Morantz hopes the Vinland Natural Nine can serve as a model for small towns to create sustainable golf courses. He wants the golf industry to take notice and use his methods to maintenance of golf courses across the county.
Playing on the course is free. The Vinland Natural Nine is hosting a single club golf tournament on Sunday. For more information, visit vinlandnaturalnine.com.
Top ads RSS
- RETIREMENT COMMUNITY Pioneer Ridge Retirement Community is currently accepting applications ...
- Para Professional for pre-school classroom Full time. Benefits. BA in ...
- FOOD SERVICE • Food Service Worker Underground Mon - Fri ...
- PROJECT ASSISTANT The Kansas Enrichment Network at the University of ...
- SIGN ON BONUS! Full time! $400 - $500 per week. ...
- On the street: Would you like to see the local anti-smoking ordinance overturned? February 10, 2010 · 21 comments
- Stabbing victim in fair condition; Lawrence police seek public's help in finding suspect February 9, 2010 · 37 comments
- Historic KU building to get $1.1 million exterior renovation February 9, 2010 · 11 comments
- Proposed constitutional amendment to block federal health care reform considered February 9, 2010 · 53 comments
- Pitching in to help save schools February 10, 2010 · 12 comments
- Initiative on Latin America is lacking February 10, 2010 · 3 comments
- Two taken to hospital after Wednesday morning incident February 10, 2010 · 10 comments
- ‘Tea party’ is Palin’s people February 7, 2010 · 237 comments
- Poll: Which do you like better, the Summer or Winter Olympics? February 9, 2010 · 4 comments
- Fight to the finish February 10, 2010 · 2 comments
- KU's Self on doorstep of win 400 February 10, 2010
- Western Kentucky hires Bowen February 10, 2010
- Bill would allow big-cat hunting February 9, 2010
- KU employee suspected of charging personal items on university credit card February 9, 2010
- New, legal, drug has law enforcement concerned — and it's already on a Lawrence store's shelves November 4, 2009
- Tour of Lawrence offers events for all ages, interests February 9, 2010
- Inspection questions arise after teen injured by medical gas accident at dentist's office April 17, 2009
- Peoples Bank ordered by federal regulators to improve financial condition February 1, 2010
- Color of Money: Big Mama’s house was priority No. 1 February 10, 2010
- KU communication studies professor is a finalist for MU post February 9, 2010
1 October 2008
at 2:31 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
northtown (Anonymous) says…
Now this is Cow Pasture Pool
1 October 2008
at 4:01 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
nobody1793 (Anonymous) says…
Just like playing golf in scotland.
1 October 2008
at 4:12 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
scott3460 (Anonymous) says…
Awesome and more in keeping with the game's origins.
1 October 2008
at 5:01 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
fastwalker (Anonymous) says…
this is awesome! Vinland's such a cool place.
1 October 2008
at 5:05 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
CrazyDiamond (Anonymous) says…
What? No drink cart??
1 October 2008
at 6:21 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
introversion (Anonymous) says…
Bravo for being a trend-setter in one of the least sustainable popular hobbies in our time. Good, good work.
1 October 2008
at 6:25 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
spammer89 (Anonymous) says…
This is right north of my house will have to check this out. I really like the natural aspect of this.
1 October 2008
at 11:33 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
sjschlag (Anonymous) says…
If only the city would do this with Eagle Bend- maybe save some money in the process?
1 October 2008
at 11:39 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
malehrman (Matt Lehrman) says…
I would recommend checking this out before totally slamming golf course effects on our environment:http://www.usga.org/turf/articles/environment/general/environmental_principles.htmlThat said, tip of the hat to Vinland, this is the future, regardless of how careful we try to be today.
2 October 2008
at midnight
Suggest removal
Permalink
Newell_Post (Anonymous) says…
He mows the greens once a month? How can you tell they are greens?
2 October 2008
at 7:50 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
just_another_bozo_on_this_bus (Anonymous) says…
I've never played golf there, but I've been to his property, and it's a really nice spot, even if you don't play golf.Personally, I prefer disc golf over ball golf, anyway.
2 October 2008
at 2:20 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
Donnuts (Anonymous) says…
Sometimes you feel like a nut; sometimes you don't.