What a marvelous time of year.  The golf course is really beginning to flourish.  We have plenty on our plate and continue to play catch up.  We have seeded weak rough areas and are just now seeing some germination.  Finally!  We are also installing more sod in some critical areas before hot weather arrives.

 

Our application for annual bluegrass seed head prevention looks good so far.  This shows some seed heads on one of the greens but they are few and far between.

 

 

If you have played the course these patches may have been observed on several of the fairways.  This disease is called pink snow mold.  Cool wet weather is necessary to get it going.  Fungicides were applied last fall and again this spring once it was observed.  The bent will grow out of it.

 

 

We have added a step cut around the collars of the greens.  This should help all of our scores!

 

 

The fresh smell of pasteurized organic chicken manure will soon be in the air.  Here a truck fills our silo with 24 tons. 

 

We rented a tree root pruner and have just completed this operation.  Tree roots steal water and nutrients from turf.

 

 

A close up of the blades.

 

 

Sod has been flying.  Here the gold tee on 14 is repaired.

 

 

A low area at the front of the fairway bunkers on hole 15 after a nice rain.  No more standing water!

 

 

This is a nice sign.  Cutting rough for the first time.

 

 

Spring has sprung!

 

   

We hope you have been on our renovated golf course. It sure looks pretty but boy is it wet.  We received over two inches of rain over the weekend and it is difficult getting a whole lot done.  After a tough winter we are in catch up mode so bear with us as we slog along.  Let's hope we have some drier weather in the days to come for golf and work.

 

The turf is starting to grow in the fairways.  Ah, the smell of fresh cut grass.

 

 

Doug our detail specialist extraordinaire edging sprinklers at the chipping green.

 

 

Julio cutting back clematis vines at the first tee.

 

 

We are sodding weak areas throughout the course.  Here Rony and Juan remove the old turf near the first green.

 

 

Eighteen pallets of sod to lay.

 

 

More sod work.

 

 

This was Monday morning after the heavy rain.  All the bunkers that we rebuilt drained perfectly and were ready for play.

 

 

We took plugs from the driving range tee and made miniature greenhouses to check the health of the bermudagrass...

 

 

After two weeks the turf is coming back to life!

 

 

Soil temperatures are still cold.  This is from the twelfth fairway.  We need soil temperatures to get above fifty degrees to get the turf moving.

 

 

Greens were sprayed on Tuesday to prevent annual bluegrass seed head formation.  Proper timing is absolutely critical with this application. 

 

 

Bluebirds have begun their spring nesting.

     

It was fabulous getting the entire course open on Saturday.  We need the weather to warm up so the turf can flourish.  Unfortunately another blast of winter weather is upon us.  The long range weather pattern looks favorable by the end of the week so maybe this is it for winter. We are anxious getting back to maintaining the course for golf so lets go!

 

The ninth fairway after mowing Friday.

 

 

Quincy enjoying a freshly cut fairway.  He recently suffered seizures and is now on regular medication.  So far everything looks good. 

 

 

A close up of the new turf on fifteen fairway right after mowing.

 

 

The covers have been removed on the fifth tee.  Notice the deeper green on the green tee than..

 

 

the more shaded tees at the rear.

 

 

Mowing the first tee featuring Crystal BlueLinks bent.

 

 

Greens being cut with a lower height of cut.  The lattice is used to protect the new collars when the mower is turned.

 

 

Edging beds in preparation for mulch.

 

 

It has been a rough winter for many of our trees.  This Siberian Elm at the rear of the second green will require a contractor to repair it.  There are many trees throughout the course scheduled for hazard pruning.

 

 

Richard continues to prune trees as winter continues on.

 

 

Signs of spring.  A red maple in flower.

 

 

Daffodils blooming in a southern exposure on the sixth hole.

 

 

The fifth hole with a nice morning dew.

 

When will this winter end?  According to the calendar spring begins this Thursday but looking out my window it sure doesn't look it.  Warmer temperatures are forecast for the rest of the week so the snow should melt quickly and we can concentrate on getting the entire course open.

 

We mowed greens for the first time on Saturday.  We have a higher height of cut for the first mowing but still removed quite a bit of grass.  Mowing greens on Saturday, plowing snow on Monday. Yikes!

 

 

We removed an overgrown shrub border surrounding some nice crepe myrtles near the 17th green.

 

 

What a difference!

 

The wood chip area on the 8th hole was recently expanded.

 

 

Tulips are beginning to emerge in many beds.  Please don't walk in the flowerbeds!

 

 

We removed one last tree at the rear of the 3rd green.  Hopefully we can now improve this poorly draining area.

 

 

We have a nice supply of split oak that should be excellent for next winter.

 

 

Even the kids are sick of snow.  This hillside is usually covered with children playing.

 

 

One last picture of the winter of 2014.

The golf course is opening!  We appreciate your patience through the renovation and at long last we can play golf.  The back nine will open for play this Friday and we expect the entire course to open on Friday March 21st.  It will be fun managing the course for golf again.  The fairways have  developed a nice mat underfoot and will continue to improve in density as warmer weather arrives.  Carts will be restricted to the path until the turf is mature enough to support them which we are guessing to be mid-spring.  We also insist that all divots be replaced.  The Green Committee decided to remove the sand mixture from the carts at least for the short term in an effort to get everyone in the habit of replacing the turf.  Enjoy!

 

Getting ready for play.  Here Tom is blowing off the tenth green before rolling. 

     

 

Turf covers were removed on Monday but were returned before the cold front arrived on Thursday. 

 

 

Number five green tee.  Roots have hardly grown since last December but should start moving as the weather warms.

 

 

Crystal BlueLinks beginning to green up on the fifteenth fairway.

 

 

We mowed a shaggy third fairway on Wednesday.

 

 

The greens are beginning to show color and lose their mottled look.

 

 

We are seeding areas in the rough that are particularly weak coming out of winter.  Here Erik seeds tall fescue on the first hole.

 

 

The completed seedbed.  The rough will require time to fill in.

 

 

We extended the wood chip area on the eighth hole to include more hardwood trees.

 

 

Julio completed pruning the hybrid tea roses in preparation for a great seasonal display.  Spring may begin!