What an amazing stretch of weather we are going through.  I am of the belief this mild winter is a positive for the course.  The early warm start has caused many of our early applications to occur much earlier than ever before.  On Friday the greens were treated with a growth regulator for annual bluegrass seed head suppression.  This usually occurs no earlier than mid-March, sometimes as late as the end of March!  We can expect more treatments as spring will be greatly extended.  The course is unusually dry so we topdressed all fairway approaches and the entire fifth, seventh and eighth fairways!  Primary rough aeration on the front nine was completed Friday too.  It feels good to have accomplished so much this early.

The first fairway mow on February 20th!

Tom mowing collars the same day.

Topdressing followed after mowing.  We try to do this at least three times a season.  Topdressing firms up the turf allowing more roll and faster playing conditions.

Sanding before brushing.

Rony brushing the sand into the turf canopy.

Rough aeration began on Wednesday.

Removing green tarps revealed very healthy turf and surprisingly firm conditions.  These greens opened Friday!

Josh mowing the new 17th tee.  We had to use a rotary mower to start because the turf was so high.  Height is now at .75" and will continue to be reduced before opening in about a month.

Julio pruning hybrid tea roses right on schedule.

Red wing blackbirds have migrated back already.

Look who's back!  It appears our red tailed hawks are pairing up to nest on property again.

Spectacular sunrise on February 23rd.

Conference time is wrapping up.  Key management have just returned from the Golf Industry Show in Orlando where we enjoyed some fantastic weather while learning about the latest trends in golf course management.  The trade show featured nearly 600 exhibitors and my aching feet bear witness that I walked the entire trade show in one day!

A large putting green was built in the center of the trade show complete with bunkers.

Bunker with an artificial sod wall face.

The amount of equipment on display was overwhelming at times.  

Coming home was not fun.  A bumpy flight followed by a dusting of snow.  Here the turf cover shows how well it works on the fourth tee.

The recent wind storms have left plenty of debris to clean up.  The only tree that we lost was on the ninth hole.  It couldn't have fallen more perfectly and the holly is fine.

It's Groundhog Day and we're playing golf!  It may be a little cold but for mid-winter you can't ask for much more.  The long range forecast is not looking too bad either.  At this point is doesn't appear we will move to temporary greens other than 3,4, and 5.

The tarps were taken off the 17th tee so we could apply a granular fungicide.  The turf is rooting in nicely under the covers and exhibits good color.

The forward tee.  All the sod throughout the course has rooted in nicely.

Some nice healthy white roots in tall fescue sod at the clubhouse.

The crew is edging cart paths when time permits. 

Josh plugging out Poa annua plants in the practice green and replacing it with plugs from the perimeter of the green. 

The two green patches are the Poa.  These will aggressively spread at warp speed if not addressed now.  What an amazing grass it is though not the adjective I generally use to describe it.

Hundreds of plugs have been replaced so far with more to come.

The ponds aren't frozen so we are removing accumulated leaves near 16 green.

A nice little snow on Monday and back open on Wednesday.  

Jack is a big fan of snow days!

Edgar is studying to become a commercial pesticide applicator.  Here Josh works with him in disease identification.

The first tulips are just emerging!