Rain on the last day of the year is a fitting end to the wettest year on record.  Let's all make a wish for drier conditions in 2019.  The mild weather is allowing us to accomplish some unusual jobs as we enter the new year.  Changing hole locations, rolling greens and raking bunkers are seldom done this time of year and it's a nice change.

 

This is an unfortunate consequence of too much rain and very disappointing.  Please repair divots by replacing the turf or use sand if available.  Replacing the divot is preferred in the cool months of the year and will heal rapidly.  Leaving the divot unrepaired allows an opening for weed invasion.

 

 

Raking bunkers for New Years Day.

 

 

Rolling greens as well.

 

 

Eight tee turned out great.  Here's a picture earlier this year and ...

 

 

 

Here's the new tee and expanded collar. Once the turf greens up it will look significantly better.  

 

 

Our family went downtown last week and look who also has a bemudagrass problem!  Reducing the amount of this weed will be difficult but will be a major focus in 2019.

 

 

 

 

Rain arrived just as the eighth tee project wrapped up.  We removed two maples between it and the seventh green and increased the size of the expanded collar and the results are stunning!  The new tee has nearly fifteen yards more in length and the red tee has been enlarged as well.

 

A view of the seventh green from eight tee.

 

 

Hole eight from the back of the new tee.

 

 

Catch basin in front of five fairway bunker.

 

 

Catch basin on six doing it's thing.

 

 

Basin behind eight green waiting for sod but functioning well.

 

 

Winter is officially here as the irrigation system has been winterized.

 

 

Replacing some bermudaggrass with bent in the 18th fairway.  Reducing bermudagrass will be a priority in 2019.

 

 

While not a huge fan of USGA greens there is no questioning their ability to drain rapidly.  Here's the practice green and conversely....

 

 

The 18th green.

 

 

Topdresssing the 5th fairway.

 

 

Awesome sunrise this morning.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finally some dry weather to help us complete projects on the course.  Unfortunately a little too cold for most golfers but what's new.  The weather has not been kind to golf in 2018.  Eight tee is wrapping up as are the leaves on the course.  Firewood splitting is ongoing and is now available to the membership.  It is located in the woods adjacent to the driving range near twelve green.

 

Ready for sod.  You could shoot pool off that surface!

 

 

Bentgrass going down.

 

 

Drain basin on the sixth hole ready for grass.  There are also basins going in on the fifth hole at the fairway bunker and behind the eighth green (two very wet areas).

 

 

Topdressing approaches.  The sand helps firm up these areas.

 

 

Leaf mulching madness.

 

 

All chipping is complete.

 

 

Splitting wood while waiting for frost to lift.

 

 

Three green still frosty at 11:30 on Tuesday.

 

 

Come and get it!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We finally have a break from the rain but not the cold.  Golf season in essentially over but not maintenance.  Eight tee is proceeding well and looks to wrap up next week.  The crew is finishing up this fall's sod project.  They have replaced almost two acres!  All fairways have been solid tine aerated and bermudagrass areas overseeded   We rented a chipper and begin work on the mess near twelve green on Monday.  If the course remains dry we will topdress all approaches as well (better late than never),   Leaves continue to drop late but appear to be about done.  Hurray! 

 

Eight tee with drainage installed waiting for irrigation.

 

 

Irrigation installation.

 

 

Drainage work on the fifth hole.

 

 

All collars have been reduced to a consistent 24 inch width and additional sod added around.  Excellent project!

 

 

Monday morning felt like a spring day and the fairways responded accordingly.  Unfortunately it lasted only a day.

 

 

A very strange fall.  Here two willow oaks acting very differently.  One has already lost it's leaves while the oak in the foreground is just turning.