LEESVILLE, La.-- The Leesville Municipal Golf Course received some much needed TLC July 16, 2015 with the arrival of Golf Course Specialties.

The company, owned and operated by Barry Hamiter of Plain Dealing, La., started work at 7 a.m., performing deep-tine aeration, verticutting, and topdressing/leveling of the greens.

"We are really just helping Mike catch up on neglected maintenance of the greens," said Hamiter of the purpose of this project.

Golf Course Specialties was the go-to contractor for the course in the 80's, but has only been providing rye-grass to the course since 1989. This type of maintenance has to be performed bi-annually in order to promote healthy growth of the grass and proper water distribution to the roots.

The process includes running the aerator over the greens to produce small holes to allow for proper air flow and water distribution. The green is then dragged, and a verticutting machine follows. The verticutting machine cuts the grass to remove vertical growth. This will allow for smoother putting.

The Golf Course owns most of the equipment to perform these tasks, but years of neglect have caused the equipment to deteriorate.

Mike Carter, golf course manager, is excited to have the contractors here performing the work. "Something should have been done months ago," he said. "The City didn't have the resources at the time it was needed. We were incredibly lucky to find this contractor. He is giving us an amazing deal."

The process allows for immediate improvement of the greens, while at the same time producing newer, healthier grass.

"We want to bring this place back to its glory days," added Carter. "People tell me all the time how nice of a course this used to be."

The course will be open for play again on July 17, when everyone is encouraged to come check out the greens, "It is going to be a slow process, but I am excited to see the improvements made," said Carter.

The Golf Course is open Monday-Wednesday 8 a.m.-6p.m. and Friday-Sunday 8 a.m.-  6 p.m.

To use or view photos of the golf course undergoing maintenance, click here.