According to the Explore the Village website, Isabella Golf Club emerged onto the scene in 2000 and was designated the number one course in Arkansas by Golf Digest and the Arkansas Business Journal from 2002 to 2006. The 27-hole golf complex features three distinctive nine-hole rotations: Nina, Pinta, and Santa Maria. Unbeknownst to anyone, a hidden gem was hiding at Pinta, hole number two.
This is how the story began…
Todd Noles, Superintendent of Streets and Sanitation, explained that he, General Manager Kelly Hale, and Public Services Director Ken Unger were viewing Isabella—Pinta to examine drainage issues. They stopped at hole number two, where the GM noticed a large, overgrown creek. Discerning slate in the overgrowth, Hale pointed and said, “That looks like a man-made wall.”
Realizing this overgrown creek was a neglected, hidden, and long-forgotten treasure on Isabella—Pinta, the men’s excitement grew as they comprehended the extent of Hale’s find.
Perfect timing for the hard-working crews
Temporarily shut down for the Isabella – Pinta Bunker Project, the course is slated to be finished Monday, April 22. Taking advantage of the scheduled course close down, Noles said his Streets Department crew started cleaning up the site on Tuesday, April 16, hauling away 27 loads of dirt and silt and nine loads of brush and trees. They uncovered the slate wall. The bottom of the creek is also lined in slate.
Noles said the crew removed and replaced the damaged slate with repurposed slate found at the Lake Pineda spillway. The crews also installed rip rap stored at the Minorca facility to control erosion.
The staff uncovered a riverstone-clad island and planted red, white, and pink azaleas. Injecting the trees growing on the side of the creek with an aquatic-safe herbicide will result in permanent removal.
Finally, the surrounding area was reseeded with Bermuda and rye grass seed and strawed.
The Streets Department employees started the project on Tuesday, April 16, finishing on Thursday, April 18.
Out of keen observance, the Mayan Empire was resurrected!
“Nobody knew this was here,” stated Noles.
“An 11-year-long adjacent resident said that he had no idea this feature was there,” shared Noles.
The Superintendent pointed and said, “Kelly was just looking here and happened to see a little bit of a wall peeking out.”
“Out of that little bit of a wall, the Mayan Empire was ressurected!” enthused Noles.
Paint, Polish, and Preserve in the most economical way possible!
Due to the generosity of landscaper Zane Gieling of Casa Verde, who gave Noles a “tremendous” discount on river stone and azaleas, Noles estimates the project cost between $450 and $500. This does not include the cost of staff time and equipment.
Noles said, “We were out of pocket for the azaleas and the river rock. Additionally, the culvert was around $200.”
Hot Springs Village General Manager Kelly Hale’s mantra is “Paint, Polish, and Preserve.” True to form, that is exactly what happened at Pinta – hole two. Hale is well-known for his financial savviness in stretching the village’s funds and has been on a mission for over two years to make the Village shine in the least expensive way possible. This project is just one example of the many innovative ways Hale has revived beauty and order in Hot Springs Village.
Featured image (top of page) – Todd Noles showing where Kelly Hale discovered the hidden gem.
By Cheryl Dowden; Photography Todd Noles, Cheryl Dowden
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There are similar shale places like this, though not islands, on Nina #5 Par 5 in the left rough and Nina #8 to the right of cart path between the green and hitting tees. These areas could use some attention as well since the Nina 9 holes are closed for sandtrap facelifts.
The shale looked better in it’s natural state at the Pineda Spillway. They posted a sign there telling folks not to take rocks, because it ruins the natural beauty, guess they didn’t read there own sign. It looks horrible down there. They also crushed up a lot of shale when they were taking what they wanted and the next time we have a torrential rain and it flows with force over that spillway all of those little shale pieces will wash into Lake Coronado. Trying to save a few busks past the $500 or so that they spent on something that only benefits those that live on the course or play gold there. Thanks POA for going against your own sign and not thinking to much prior to doing this and further ramifications it could cause in the future.
What a great improvement at #2 Pinta! It makes you wonder who built the wall.