Opening day is right around the corner.  The course is beginning to grow and fill in.  This is an exciting week for the course as we open the 5th hole on Friday.  The sod has rooted in and has firmed up nicely.  The fairway was topdressed last week before the rain and we hope to do it again this week.  Fifteen is still a few weeks away.  Rough aeration begins Monday.  All of the greens were deep tine aerated earlier this week.  Mulching of all beds began Thursday and will keep us very busy the next few weeks.

The 5th hole about ready for play.

Shawn topdrssing the 5th fairway.

The new bunkers must be managed properly to give the most enjoyment.  NEVER enter the bunker or exit from the high side.  These areas have been compacted to ensure the ball will roll back to the flat portion.  Walking in these areas will loosen the sand and require additional work from our staff to firm up these areas.  More importantly balls will get stuck on the bunker's face causing a more severe penalty and much harder recovery shot.  Leave the bunker rake on the low side as well. 

Tamping and using the back of the rake to cause the ball to roll to the bunker floor.

Deep tine aeration of greens.  The tines go nearly ten inches in the green profile creating channels for root growth.

Five days later and the holes are nearly gone.

These are not aeration holes.  Unfortunately, these are ball marks.  We must do better.

Bermudagrass shoots beginning to emerge.

Watering new sod on 15 before we received needed rain.  

The 1st green showing the benefits of tree removal at 7:30 this morning.  Turf needs sunshine to thrive.  When was the last time this green had sunshine early?

 

  

What a change from last weekend! After a tough start we have moved directly into spring.  We should wrap up sod work this week.  Deep tine aeration of greens begins on Monday as we start pushing root development.  Wet weather is expected later this week, so we aim to accomplish as much as possible on Monday and Tuesday.  We are behind in prepping beds for mulch.  Winter weeds are out in abundance but will be tackled in force after the sod work is complete.  Hole five is getting closer and closer to opening.  It is filling in nicely but after walking on it this morning it needs to firm up.  All sod is to be rolled before it rains again this week. 

 

Fairways were mowed for the first time this week.

Pedro blowing red maple flowers off the 12th green before mowing.  

Our crew installing sod on the 7th hole.

Rony and Lu sodding the 5th green collar with bentgrass.

15 approach drainage doing its thing after Thursday's rain.  We received nearly one inch. 

Winter weeds are in abundance right now.  They germinate in winter and flower and produce seed before dying later this spring.  This is called henbit.

Here is another purple flowering weed sometimes confused with henbit called deadnettle.

This weed's leaves can be used in salads.  This is hairy bittercress.

Chickweed.

Of course, we can't forget about this beauty.  Annual bluegrass or Poa annua.

Friday morning with the moon and some fog.

The 5th hole about ready to play on.

 

  

 Saturday morning and we are experiencing a "Bomb Cyclone".  Hopefully this is the last of winter.  McDonald and Sons completed their construction work on Friday.  Our crew continues to repair turf from the tree removal project.  Next week looks amazing and should provide some nice sod growing weather as well as an opportunity to do some seeding.

Saturday morning and snow.  UGH!

Drainage and fairway shaping to move water across the playing surface.

A final tamping in the new bunkers.

What an improvement- About a month away from opening though.

Five fairway bunker after tamping.

Greenside bunker on five.

Five fairway was mowed and is progressing quite well.  It still requires time to mature before opening.

Our crew creating a small berm to deflect water towards a drain basin on seventeen.

Site for Jeff William's memorial bench.

Lots of wildlife on the course.  Here a juvenile bald eagle overlooks the lake by five tee.

Look close and you will see a bald eagle taking off.  There were two there but I was only able to photograph one.

Geese have been a nuisance of late despite the dog's best efforts.  Here the dynamic duo work in tandem to move a small flock.

The fifth hole looking majestic.
  

 

 

 

 Early spring-like weather greets us this weekend.  The course is very dry and needs some rain to wake up the turf.  It looks like we will get our wish later this week.  Construction work should conclude by next weekend.  New drainage was added to fairways 1, 7, 10, 15, and 18.  Fescue sod comes this week to repair areas where trees were removed.  Our first mulch delivery arrived Friday so expect this to begin shortly as we get closer to opening day.

Drainage installation on the 10th fairway.

Much needed drainage installed in 15 fairway approach.

The irrigation system was charged up Friday and the new sod needs it!  We are still waiting for delivery of the 30 HP pump and motor and the pressure maintenance pump.  Our new isolation valves allow us to use the system without total shutdown.

The decision was made to remove the storm shelters on 6 and 15 and we happily complied.  These were unsafe and ready to fall down.  

The tarps are off and greens 3 and 4 are open.  Five must wait.

Soil temperatures are beginning to rise.  Temps on greens registered about 40 degrees Thursday.

The practice green temperature is 45 degrees.  Sand heats up faster than the soil composition of our regular greens.

The first hole one frosty morning.

Geese are heading north.  Spring is here!