Installation of Fan at #3 Green and Blue Pipe in Fescue Areas

We are working on running electrical conduit from the control panel for the well on #4 to behind #3 green. So far the digging has gone well.

Unlike the fans on #8, this fan will be 14 inches larger (thus reducing the need for two fans) and will not have a pole sticking out of the ground during non-use times in the Spring, Fall and Winter. Once the fan is removed only a plastic box flush with the ground will be seen.

For additional information on the benefits of fans for greens please click on the link for this short article in a recent Golfdom Magazine issue.

Golfdom-Fan Article

We have been installing PVC pipe painted blue in Fescue areas.

We are marking the location of irrigation valves so they may be quickly found and turned on or off when a repair is needed. Depending upon the height of the Fescue in the summer we may shortened the pipe as needed.

Fairway Aerification Holes

This week we will begin mowing fairways. Along with cleaning them up this will promote more lateral growth which will fill in the old aerification holes from last Fall. With the harsh winter we had not all the aerification holes closed. This is actually not bad as the freezing and thawing of the soil has had a fracturing effect giving us some additional benefits. With sunshine and warmer weather the fairways should be filled in shortly.

Bamboo, Cart Paths and Bunkers

We are removing as much of the bamboo to the left of #2 fairway as possible. This is a time consuming process to cut then chip but it will make a big difference on this hole when completed.

A couple of cart path repairs are occurring now. Prep on #8 and #18 is almost complete and we will pour concrete when we are confident there is a day with acceptable weather. Once those are finished we will move to replace a piece between #2 and #3 next to #11 tees.

The cart path on #8 which was buckled up had a large root underneath.

This is what we pulled out.

With the root removed and new concrete being poured there will no longer be a bump when riding along this path.

Currently our staff is edging all bunkers and making sure the sand depth is consistent throughout the bunkers. This is a time consuming process and our hope is to have it done by Tuesday of next week,

If the weather cooperates our first greens mowing will be tomorrow (Thursday).

Aerification Update for March 27, 2014

We will be closing the back 9 today (Thursday, March 27, 2014) to aerify tees and approaches. Then tomorrow (Friday, March 28, 2014) we will be closing the front 9 to aerify tees and approaches. As always the weather can throw a wrench into our plans but this is our goal. With two machines (one our own and the other borrowed) we should move through this pretty quickly.

After much discussion and looking at long range weather forecasts and many other variables we have decided to not hollow tine aerify greens this Spring. Instead we will be hollow tining the collars and one pass along the green edges next week if the weather cooperates with us.

Course Open This Weekend

Still some snow and ice on the course. Here's what #6 cart path looks like today.

#13 cart path is ice.

We have applied ice melt and will try and physically remove the snow and ice before opening on Saturday. Expected opening time is 9 am with range open at 8:30 am.

#7 will be played from the forward tee as the tee complex is snow and ice covered.

The greens and tees have been blown off and work on cleaning of the cart paths is currently underway. Expect to see plenty of sticks and branches throughout the course. As mentioned in my previous blog post it will take us at least several weeks to clean the course up.

In terms of turf damage there is some disease on the fairways. Most notably on #5, #12 and #14. These areas should recover during spring green-up. The back of #9 green looks like it has some desiccation damage that we will address.

Finally, our seasonal staff is scheduled to start Monday, March 24th. This is also when we will aerify greens, tees and approaches.

Still Snow

Photo of #4 green taken on Monday, March 10, 2014:

Photo of #18 fairway taken on Monday, March 10, 2014:

As you can see there is still some snow on the course. Not to mention plenty of sticks and other debris. After touring parts of the course we noticed a lot of mud everywhere due to the melting snow.
It will take us weeks to completely clean the course of all debris, limbs, sticks, etc but our goal (weather permitting) is to open this weekend for play.

Almost Spring

The Golf Course Agronomy team is ready for the upcoming Spring golf season! We've been doing plenty of sanding, staining and painting this Winter to get all the golf course accessories ready.

Here are the newly refurbished tee markers with the right side being the old and the left newly painted:

Here is a comparison of our driving range clock and yardage signs. The yardage sign on the right has been stained while the clock on the left has not:

As the snow melts look for more blog posts to come!