We have just gone through a demanding period for the golf course and our crew.  Member Guest requires plenty of planning and much of what we do in preparation is done well in advance of the competition.  Accolades go out to our crew for providing a great course for our members and their guests.  The rain on Sunday was a disappointment but we were able to get the course open by noon.  Great job by the crew!

 

Head mechanic Oscar Garcia sharpening mowers in preparation of the tournament.  All green, tee and fairway mowers are sharpened prior to the competition.

 

Juan installing the cutting bars on a fairway mower.

 

 

Three fairway mowers cutting the 12th fairway.  We mow over the same lines so they will stand out.

 

 

Here is a great example of the look of the new fairways. This is a picture of the 2nd fairway. The turf on the left is the existing turf and to the right is a monostand of pure bentgrass.  The fairways will look like this when the renovation is complete.

 

 

We are beginning to apply fungicides regularly to turf to prevent diseases from developing.  Here Eric is spraying the new fescue sod around the 12th green.

 

 

Roots are beginning to shorten but are still pretty good.  This is from the 15th green.  The roots are best in voids created by aerification.

 

 

Fans are back on the course to improve air circulation in pocketed areas.  A new fan will be installed near the 4th green this week.

 

 

Unfortunately this is happening way too much.  We received 2.25 inches of rain Friday and many of the bunkers washed out.  So far this month the course has totaled 10.4 inches of rain.

 

 

This snapping turtle was seen this morning making his way back to 15 pond.

It has been a difficult week maintaining the course with all the rain.  Fortunately we did not get any from the expected deluge on Thursday so we consider ourselves lucky.  Rainfall totals are almost 6 inches since last Friday.  Our crew is to be commended for all their hard work through this period.

 

Drainage on #7 working

 



 

Recently installed drainage on #8 doing its thing.

 

 

Bunker on #8 before repairs are made.

 

 

A cheerful bunch after restoring the bunker for play.  No more rain!

 

 

One of the unfortunate results of too much rain.  Soft greens and large unrepaired ball marks. 

 

 

This is an example of ryegrass contamination in a predominately bentgrass fairway.  Our fairway conversion will allow us to have a consistent stand of one type of turf that is easier to maintain.

 

 

Bermudagrass encroachment in our new fescue green surrounds (the silvery turf is the bermuda).  Applications of the new herbicide Pylex  begin in July to eliminate the bermuda.

 

It is a wet day on the course.  The golf course received two inches of rain last night and Tropical Storm Andrea has not yet arrived.  Hopefully we won't get hammered today. Here are some current pictures from our week on the course.  

 

 

Bunker washing out on #8. The sand will be pushed back tomorrow.

 

 

Storm water on 4 green this morning

 

 

We solid tined aerated greens on Tuesday. Here Francisco is venting the green.

 

 

Erik is rolling the green immediately after aerating.

 

 

The completed green ready for golf.  Notice how smooth the surface is. We try and do this every two weeks during the summer.

 

 

After a poor showing in 2012 our purple martins have returned in abundance. Here is a house full of martins on the 15th hole.  They arrived in April and will remain until early August.

 

 

Our bluebird nesting boxes are also doing quite well after a late start.  Here five young are eagerly awaiting their next feeding.  They will fledge within the next ten days.