Cool weather persists and plants everywhere are responding accordingly.  There is nothing we can do to expedite growth on the course until the soil begins to warm.  Currently soil temperatures are around 40 degrees and not much growth happens when the ground is that cold.  Around fifty and spring takes off!  The course is beginning to dry out so we can begin getting some equipment on the course.  Fairways will be cut Tuesday and should knock off some of the winter brown.  We are aware of the high populations of annual bluegrass that has invaded many of our fairways but feel confident once warmer days come the bent will begin growing and crowding out the annual bluegrass.

 

Soil temperatures must rise for plants to grow.  Forty degrees will not cut it.

 

 

While waiting for the grass to grow we have many chores to complete.  We are changing all the ball washers to black to match our tee signs.  Here Rony preps the old posts for new paint.

 

 

The course has been so soft that much of the clean up has been done by hand.   Here the crew cleans around the first green Saturday morning.

 

 

The soil has finally dried up to allow mulching of beds to begin.

 

 

Edgar cutting an edge in a bed to hold chips in the parking lot.

 

 

The irrigation system has been up and running for about two weeks.  Though we won't be irrigating anytime soon we use lake water to fill our spray tanks. 

 

 

Flagged annual bluegrass plants to be removed on the practice green.

 

 

Cutting out the plants and replacing with bent.

 

Daffodils blooming on a southern exposure.

Winter is gradually melting away.  We are ready to get this course open!  Today we removed the covers on greens 3,4 and 5 and all looks fine.  We replaced them at the end of the day to minimize any shock to the turf but anticipate them to be off permanently by Monday.  We ask for your patience as we start the golf season.  This winter has set us back two to three weeks and we have plenty on our plate.  We anticipate the entire course to be open by March 21st weather permitting!

 

Active pink snow mold on the 15th approach.  This disease can be found present in fairway drainage areas as the snow melts. Thankfully there is not too much out there.

 

 

The new sod around the collars appears to have survived the cold.  This will look better once it greens up and is mowed.

 

 

A spring ritual at our club.  The grass is greener under the tarp!

 

 

What a contrast to the rest of the course.

 

 

Five green after the tarp has been removed.

 

 

Winter marches along unfortunately.  After an icy start this morning we are finally getting some significant melting to occur.  When exactly the course opens is a guess right now.  Longer days and a stronger sun are helping and we expect rapid improvement after this weekend based on the long range forecast.  In the meantime there is plenty of split firewood ready to be picked up and burned.

 

Erik and I attended the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America annual convention in San Antonia last week.  It was cold there too.

 

 

The trade show is at least an all day affair.  Everything imaginable in the management of golf courses can be found here. 

 

 

Though dormant the turf looks healthy.  The recent snows were very beneficial in insulating the turf from the extreme cold.  Here is some fairway turf from the third fairway with the snow easily brushed away with my foot.

 

The twelfth fairway this morning.

 

The same fairway near the end of the day.  Plenty of melt happened today.

 

 

The mass of pallets is no more!  We have had plenty of time to get our facility in order this winter.

 

 

A cherry tree pushing buds.  The power of spring is amazing and recharges the soul!

 

 

No sign of tulips amongst the mulch.  Once the ground thaws look out!