It's December 19th and its sixty degrees!  Beautiful weather is allowing everyone to enjoy the course just a little longer before winter hits which looks like next week.  The last budgeted sod is being laid on the 18th hole and when finished we will do a rain dance.  We've only received two and a half inches since November 1st which is not much.  Plants need moisture heading into winter before the ground freezes.  The course was irrigated in December right before we winterized the system which is pretty unusual.  If you haven't watered foundation plantings at your home it wouldn't be a bad idea before turning off the water.

Need firewood?  The guys split quite a bit during the brief cold spell.

Internal drainage was added to the gold tee on hole 15. This should help give the turf half a chance in this difficult growing environment.

The completed tee with new rough surrounds.

New fescue sod on the 18th hole.

This is the type of definition between fairway and rough new sod brings!

Mulching new plantings before winter arrives.

Warm days bring out the bees!

Nice weather is allowing us to move right along with sod establishment and leaf removal.  Unfortunately it looks like old man winter is about to make his presence known.  After today we will have installed over one acre of fescue with another half acre planned for next week to complete all budgeted work for the season.  All winter fungicides were applied this week and the irrigation system has been shut down.  We have prepared a winter course when and if we close the greens down.  The course will be back nine only played in reverse.  Greens will be specific tees and tees will be located in the rough.  Sounds like fun!

Tis the season for frost delays!

Nice weather allowed us to sneak in one final deep tine aeration on the greens.  Aerating late in the season improves rooting and drainage to prevent winter damage.   After rolling the greens putt pretty well too.

Final fungicide applications to prevent disease were applied to greens, tees, and fairway approaches.

Several small bentgrass areas were sodded using sod from our nursery.

Replacing rough grass around 16 fairway.  Francisco is aerating the soil prior to installation in the background.  Proper soil preparation is the key to success.

Here's a before and .....

After picture!

A beautiful red oak in all its glory on the 12th hole after a nice prune.

Jack and Gill are quite a pair!