Laughridge Turf Consulting Proposal for responsible buyers of Mount Mitchell Golf Club

Save Mt. Mitchell Golf Club!

This proposal outlines the mom-and-pop, sweat-equity restoration path to revive the front nine. Laughridge Turf Consulting delivers the process, labor discipline, and localized oversight that buyers can trust.

$1M

Capital target

6 Phases

Cleanup through equipment fleet

12 Months

Management retainer (outside capital raise)

Mount Mitchell Golf Club logo

Mount Mitchell Golf Club

Front nine restoration focus

Revised Restoration Capital Budget

Front nine — $1,000,000 capital allocation

The expanded budget brings stability, durability, and speed without changing the course-first philosophy; every fund below is dedicated to on-course restoration only, with the management retainer tracked outside this capital total for accountability.

Cleanup & Debris Removal

$120K

Move beyond minimum cleanup and into true site recovery.

  • Longer crew engagements to pull buried silt layers and river rock off the fairways
  • Extended equipment rentals (skid steers, excavators, loaders) to reach deep sediment
  • Additional hauling capacity for contaminated material and fuller drainage rehabilitation

Greens Rehabilitation

$200K

Rebuild the worst greens, refresh the rest, and give the surfaces real durability.

  • Higher-grade rootzone, more sod, better contour shaping
  • Expanded drainage, aeration, and turf repair for the remaining greens
  • Option to rebuild a fourth green if inspections uncover hidden failures

Fairway & Tee Turf Restoration

$120K

Accelerate the turf program so the front nine reopens with coverage instead of bare spots.

  • Heavier topdressing, upgraded seed blends, and multiple seeding passes
  • More sod on tees and critical fairway spots, plus imported profile where flood damage stripped the soil
  • Detail grading and labor hours that favor quality over broad strokes

Irrigation System Repairs

$80K

Fix the bones of the system so water delivery matches the restored turf.

  • Professional pump station review with electrical repairs
  • Replacement of failing mainlines, heads, and valves instead of temporary patches
  • Isolation valves and better controls to reduce manual firefighting

Bunker Restoration

$50K

Preserve the course’s bunkering character instead of demolishing hazards for cash.

  • Higher-quality sand and edge stability
  • Drainage fixes in chronically wet bunkers
  • Sod reinforcement and targeted rebuilds in strategic locations

Bridge & Culvert Repairs

$30K

Turn crossings into durable infrastructure, not temporary fixes.

  • Properly sized culvert replacements with rock armoring
  • Stronger bridge decking, supports, and safer crossings
  • Right-sized equipment rentals instead of improvised placement

Used Equipment Purchases (Phased)

$200K

Build a reliable fleet so conditioning and recovery don’t depend on borrowed machines.

  • High-quality greens mower, backups, fairway mower, and dedicated rough machine
  • Utility vehicles, reliable tractors, and sprayer/spreader systems
  • Aeration equipment plus shop tools and parts inventory to keep gear running

All capital goes toward the front nine; management fees are tracked separately but keep the team accountable.

Capital target: $1,000,000

Management & Accountability

Laughridge oversight

Laughridge Turf Consulting acts as a single line of accountability. Daily oversight, contractor coordination, quality control, budget enforcement, and sequencing live inside the retainer structure, which is billed in addition to the capital raised for project start so the recovery can move steadily and transparently.

Pitfall playbook

Know the traps before they happen.

We keep the course playable, not just picturesque. Read the operational playbook that explains how we stay on task, avoid costly distractions, and protect the project from impatient stakeholders.

Read the Pitfall Playbook
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