NATCHEZ &045; Sure, it’s impolite but gawking at the of shape the greens at Duncan Park Golf Course is understandable.

With the City Championship set to kickoff Saturday, head PGA Professional Marvin Gray and his crackerjack staff could not have picked a better stage to display them on.

&uot;There wasn’t any doubt in my mind with the staff I have and the dedication of the people from the administration down to the guy on the mower&uot; that the greens would be near tip-top condition, Gray said. &uot;To run a big business like this it takes a lot of resources and hard work.&uot;

The damage, which mainly affected greens on the front nine, is believed to be a result of contamination of chemicals designed to boost the condition of the course’s greens, Recreation Director Ralph Tedder told The Democrat June 12.

Samples of the tainted soil were sent to testing laboratories in Memphis, Tenn., and Starkville where it was determined what caused the problem.

&uot;The good thing was there was no residual problems in the soil, which would’ve prevented new grass from growing,&uot; Gray said. &uot;We were able to replace the areas that were damaged.&uot;

Some greens, such as the par-4 third, still bear patches filled with sand, a clear sign that the Duncan Park is still trying to recover from the incident. However, Gray expects even those to show new grass within a week.

With approximately 80 golfers signed up at day’s end Thursday, and a full 96 expected in the City Championship field when tee times get under way Saturday, many entrants are guffawed at the quick recovery time.

&uot;It’s in a whole lot better shape than it has been in recent weeks,&uot; defending champ Lee Jones said. &uot;Marvin (Gray) and the crew has done a super job to get it ready.&uot;

Even more astounding is realizing the amelioration occurred while patrons tread over and across for daily rounds and charity events.

Gray first’s premonition of a possible tampering came days prior to the Veterans of Foreign Wars tournament in late April.

The following week, leading up to the highly-attended Joe Fortunato Classic, Gray knew he had a problem on his hands with scarring visible on numerous greens.

&uot;We didn’t shut the course down. It just made it tough to put for a while,&uot; Gray said. &uot;The players just had to bear with us and it’s worked out.&uot;

He added that many of the sponsors’ contributions for this weekend’s tournament went to improving the golf course.

The city’s Recreation Department made some deep cuts last month, including two seasonal golf maintenance positions, to offset a loss of more than $106,000 in golf, tennis and park user fees.

&uot;If you could’ve shut down the course, I thought it might be ready&uot; this weekend, said Carl Rogel, who will play in his fourth City Saturday. &uot;But with the heavy play that goes on here, it’s amazing to see where these greens are. Marvin has done a fine job.&uot;

Gray credits Johnny Carrothers and his team for volunteering to remove exposed goose grass from the green, picking up limbs and weed-eating.

All of those are normal maintenance activities that have been difficult to accomplish with the budget cuts, Gray said.

The front nine’s No. 2 will again serve as the closing hole Sunday, allowing spectators and finished players to gather and watch as the tournament culminates.

&uot;I would play regardless of the condition of the course because it’s tradition and such a fun tournament,&uot; said Chuck Fields, who is entered. &uot;But I am impressed with the way the course has recovered nicely.

Gray, who is administering his sixth City Championship in Natchez, likes the event because it allows former residents to come back and compete.

Since it is a flighted tournament, the championship allows scratch golfers and hackers the chance to capture hardware.

&uot;It’s a little different than some other municipal golf courses,&uot; Gray said of Duncan. &uot;Municipals are suppose to appeal to a broad spectrum of ability types and incoming players. That’s what makes this such an enjoyable golf course to play.&uot;