Unseasonably cold weather has been the norm for March.  Finally there is some relief coming later this week.  Beginning today our crew will start deep tine aeration of greens and rough aeration.  This should help stimulate the turf to begin waking up!

What a beautiful frost we experienced this morning.

Our biggest snow of the winter season occurred in spring last Wednesday.

Fortunately snow doesn't last long in late March.  We were playing golf by Saturday!

Soil temperatures are still really low.  With milder weather coming later this week soil temps should rise and the turf will begin to grow.

On Monday we had a tree company prune trees on the driving range in preparation of new poles and netting.  We will raise the existing net fifteen feet.

The irrigation system has been charged up and is ready to be used.  Murphy's Law in action as the only head that came on during the start up was a sprinkler on the 18th green in view for all to see!

Tractors and aerators are ready for action.

Saw these cart tracks and all I can do is shake my head.

Jack and Gill are best buds.

The March lion keeps roaring along.  Strong winds and cold temperatures have been the tale this month.  The crew has done a great job cleaning up after the wind storm on March 2-3.  The driving range net took a hard hit and will need to be repaired.  Thanks goodness for insurance!  The crew is back to  "Mulch Madness" so expect the fragrance of mulch in the air- It smells like Spring!  Weather permitting we begin aerating the rough next week.

The wind storm provided its share of challenges.  Dry conditions allowed bunker sand to be blown out of the bunker which required the guys to blow it back and preserve the grass edge.

Most of this pile is from a weeks worth of cleaning up.

We now have more wood to split as well.

Soil temperatures are really low right now.  This is the 11th green on March 10th.  Soil temperatures at this time last year were 49 degrees!

Here is the 11th green on the 14th.  Interestingly the turf has lost some of its color.

A particularly cold winter raises some concern of possible winter kill of bermudagrass on our driving range tee.  Here we have taken several plugs and brought them inside next to a window to force it out of dormancy.  We will have an idea if it survived in about two weeks.

Please abide by the rules even if our dogs don't so our course will be in the best condition possible during the season.

Mulch Madness at its best!

A bat house near the 12th tee.  There are two in this area.

This is an owl house found in the same vicinity.

March has arrived and it truly is entering like a lion.  Initially this blog was gonna highlight 'Mulch Madness' but mulching has taken a backseat to the wind storm we are experiencing.  Now please out like a lamb!

Twas the last day of February and we were mowing the fairways.

Greens and collars were mowed with an amazing grandeur.

The benches were complete and ready for action....

and the roses were pruned with such impeccable care..

once mulching had started it must be Spring!

Even our red tailed hawks knew winter was done and nesting was to begin.

But suddenly the wind arose with a gust...

we knew that winter wasn't going away.

The driving range net was a tattered mess...

not to mention two posts snapped at the base.

Bunker sand was blown out of its place.

What kind of joke has been played on those who play this great game?

Ah the daffodil knows that begging for spring in early March is fools gold!