It's a wet start to the work week as we move towards Memorial Day.  More rain is forecast later in the week, so we'll do our best working around it.  Most of our annuals are in the ground and our main attention is grooming the course for upcoming competitions.  The rough is tough right now so accuracy off the tee is paramount.

We are adding sand to bunkers that are shallow.  A dry course would help move this project along.

Several large oaks were pruned last Monday.  Here is a before photo of an oak at 18 tee.

After pruning.  What a difference from the championship tee.  Now the right side of the tee can be utilized.

Another before and after...

Large oak left side of 16 fairway.

Look out! We are fertilizing the rough.  Now is the time to feed cool season turf.

New landscaping at the pumphouse.

More ornamental grasses added to soften the building's appearance.

Kousa dogwoods have been spectacular this spring.

 

 It has been a cool, dry and windy spring until last week.  The course received over three inches for the week, and more is coming.  Temperatures are on the rise, and we are seeing our first flush of turf growth.  The rough will be pretty formidable over the next few weeks so hit it straight!

Fairways have recovered nicely from spring aeration.  Height of cut has been reduced slightly and we are now playing summer rules.

It has been a tough spring for bermudagrass to get growing.  We have opened up the grass tee on weekends only.  Once the turf begins to grow practice will be allowed Wednesday through Sunday.

Six acres of rough were sprayed on April 25th with herbicides to suppress bermudagrass in cool season turf.  This is working pretty well and will be repeated in a month.  The brown turf is the bermudagrass with the green fescue/bluegrass not affected.  Unfortunately, this can't be done on bentgrass.

May is a busy time!  Here is our garden with improved drainage and neatly tilled.  Leaf compost will be tilled in when the soil is dry and then planted.

The crew planting shrubs in the bed adjacent to the 12th tee.

Rony and Julio planting the entrance bed.

Snakes are coming out with the recent warmth.  These are northern water snakes and are not venomous.  Snakes are part of nature's ecosystem and are not to be harmed!

    

 Spring is having a hard time getting started.  We finally received an inch of beneficial rain on Wednesday, and more is coming starting today.  The forecast is just plain dreary this weekend-cold and wet.  Sorry to all the mothers out there.  This rain will jump start the turf.  Temperatures look to moderate mid to late week so be prepared for a big change in the density of the turf.  There is plenty going on so on to the pics.

Compost is now applied to fairways after aerification.  We will do this twice each season.  This material is fine enough to work into the turf without too many issues.  Compost helps reduce chemical and fertilizer inputs, improves drainage, improves soil microbiology, reduces irrigation requirements, helps hold nutrients in the root zone, and improves resistance to pests and diseases!  This is a program that should improve our fairways given time.

The third fairway before the material is worked into the turf.

Francisco aerating the turf around the clubhouse before receiving a double dose of compost, followed by heavy overseeding.

All bunkers were edged, sand depths checked and evenly distributed.  Several bunkers require additional sand.  The practice bunkers had new sand added on Monday.

Nice work men!

Patrick admiring his work on Saturday morning.

Greens were lightly fertilized in Thursday's spray application.  Expect them to be near perfect by next weekend if warm weather arrives.

Tis the season for pollen, oak catkins and maple samaras(helicopters).  Here the 7th green is covered with samaras before blowing off and mowed by our crew.

We have an unusual number of dandelions this spring and estimate about 40 acres need to be treated.  Six acres of rough were sprayed last Saturday for bermudagrass suppression.  This spray takes care of broadleaf weeds as well. 

Sure would like to open the practice tee, but it is not possible till growth commences.  It was fertilized this week to try and push growth. 

Removing azaleas for fairway visibility on hole two.

This is the view of the second hole looking from the gold tee on nine- now a combo tee for each hole.

New memorial bench location.

Leveling and sodding some deep swales in 12 rough and preventing some back injuries!

A mass of Double Play 'Big Bang' Spirea at the 18th tee.

'Limelight' Hydrangeas planted in the bed adjacent to the practice green.

Fence replacement at the turf care center this week.  Green vinyl slats will be added next week.

Bed preparation for the pollinating garden by 12 tee has begun.

Did you see Venus and Jupiter Saturday morning aligned in this manner?  The last time this occurred was a thousand years ago.