Sports Complex Renovation

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Question: How will you pay for these improvements?
Answer: Through the Capital Dues program that is currently in place.  Social Members will continue to pay $40 per month and Golf Members will continue to pay $60 per month. 

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Question: When will the project begin and be completed?
Answer: Construction will begin on October 1, 2024, with an expected completion by June 2025, weather depending.

 

Question: Who are the companies handling the construction?
Answer: MCL Construction will serve as the General Contractor for the project. McConnell & Associates from Kansas City will install the playing surfaces for the tennis and pickleball courts.

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Question: Will the new Sports Complex, including the year-round Pickleball Building, be open to the public?
Answer: No, all guests must be accompanied by a member of Champions Run. 

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Question: Didn’t we just redo the tennis courts last year? Why are we rebuilding them?
Answer: We resurfaced the tennis courts last year in hopes that a “band-aid approach” would suffice, but unfortunately issues have started to show. The members of Champions deserve better, so we are tearing out all the existing courts, which sit on asphalt, and are replacing them with courts which sit on post-tension concrete. Post-tension concrete offers a more stable playing surface, reduces cracking, and requires less maintenance. This upgrade will enhance ball bounce and significantly improve playability.

 

Question: When the project is completed, how many tennis courts and pickleball courts will there be?
Answer: There will be four dedicated tennis courts, and six dedicated pickleball courts.

 

Question: We are going from five tennis courts to four, so will there be less available court time?
Answer: There will be substantially more court time available for tennis due to the fact that we are building six dedicated pickleball courts, and the two sports will no longer “share” courts.

 

Question: What will the pickleball building look like?
Answer: In addition to providing year-round shade, playability and allowing the Champions staff to create new and exciting programming, the Pickleball Building is going to look awesome! It will peak at 23’ in height, have large fans and a dozen roll-up doors for warm weather months, and will be very aesthetically pleasing.  The building will also have heaters for cold weather months. We will share renderings of the building shortly.

 

Question: Will I be able to host private events in the Pickleball Building?
Answer: Yes, members will be able to host private events in the building.

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Question: Why will the building only house pickleball, and not tennis as well?
Answer: It’s a space issue. A tennis court simply takes up too much real estate, and it would therefore be an inefficient use of space. In addition, to properly serve as a tennis facility, the ceiling clear height would need to be 45’. We do not want to build a 4-story building on top of our tennis courts.

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Question: Will the sports court be all-purpose, and what is its function?
Answer: Tennis Court #1 (now known as Kraken Court) will be converted into a turf-covered all-purpose court for various recreational activities, including basketball, soccer, volleyball, 4-square, and cornhole. The turf is designed for safety with shock-absorbing properties and will extend to the adjacent playground. So yes, please tell your kids that the existing black playground padding is being replaced with new playground turf.

 

Question: Will the sports court be open in the fall and spring when the pool is closed?
Answer: Yes! The sports court will be open when the weather allows it to be and will not be limited to only the days when the pool is open.

 

Question: I love the bar, why are you changing it?
Answer: Everyone loves the bar, and that’s why we are expanding and upgrading it! The new bar will provide additional shade and seating options.

Golf Course Renovation

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Question: When will the project begin and be completed?
Answer: The golf course will close on September 2, 2025, with all work expected to be completed in Spring 2026.

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Question: Why are we re-seeding and inter-seeding the golf course?
Answer: While our agronomy team has done an excellent job maintaining the turf, the grass has been affected over time by various seed varieties and diseases. After 32 years, re-seeding and inter-seeding are necessary to maintain the championship quality of the course.

 

Question: What type of grass will be used, and what are its benefits?
Answer: We will be using a blend of 007XL and 777 Super Bentgrass, a premium variety known for its drought tolerance, disease resistance, and superior playability. This grass was introduced to the upper fairway of hole #2 in fall 2022 with great success.  The first pass of the rough will use a Turf Type Tall Fescue.

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Question: I’m sorry, I don’t have a PhD in agronomy, so I have no idea what 007XL and 777 Super Bentgrass means. Can you please explain this in laymen’s terms?

Answer: Per Greg Jones, “007XL and 777 are the variety names of the turf.  They are developed from parent turfgrasses to provide a superior super bentgrass that has all the qualities for championship courses.  They grade out on a scale used in the turf industry and score almost 5 times better than the previous turf used.”

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Question: Why are we inter-seeding the greens and tee boxes, and not re-seeding them?
Answer: Greg Jones, “Re-seeding areas that have a lot of foot traffic, like tees and greens, takes a lot longer time frame to mature than we have during this renovation.  Opening the course in the spring with improved course conditions is the main goal.”

 

Question: How big of a deal is the creek/lake portion of the renovation for the golf course?

Answer: It’s a huge deal! We have been working with various government entities (including the City of Omaha, the Papio-Missouri River NRD, the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy, the US Army Corps of Engineers, and others) for years to create a permanent stabilization solution for the creek, and expansion, both in depth and area, of the lake.

 

Question: Why is creek stabilization important, and who will handle the project?
Answer: Creek stabilization will reduce erosion, improve water quality, and enhance the creek’s ecosystem by incorporating erosion control measures and planting native vegetation. The project is part of a joint effort with the City of Omaha under an interlocal agreement, with Embris Group serving as the engineering firm.

 

Question: What is the purpose of the lake restoration?
Answer: The lake restoration is essential for maintaining our primary irrigation water source. The project will include a forebay clean-out to manage silt buildup, restoring the lake to its original footprint while improving both its functionality and aesthetics. 

 

Question: Will the driving range be available during the renovation process?
Answer: Yes! To ensure the driving range remains available, we will level and re-sod the bottom two tiers with Low Mow Bluegrass starting September 30, 2024, to match the upper tiers that were completed in 2023. This work is being completed now so the range is fully operational next year during the re-seeding and creek stabilization projects.

 

Question: Will the practice facility be available during the renovation process?
Answer: Other than the driving range, no. The short game practice facility will be closed for renovation.

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