The roller coaster continues.  Soil temperatures are measured at 2 PM and have been all over the place.  Friday they were back at 40 degrees.   This is in stark contrast to a year ago when we were at 55 degrees.  Temperatures look to moderate this week so we can finally expect to see some growth.
Annual bluegrass seed head prevention on greens may be inconsistent due to the temperature fluctuations.

This was a week ago Thursday.

Jack inspecting the course on Friday afternoon and gives the all clear for Sunday golf.

Adding chips to the sixth hole.

An improved chip area on the third hole.

Wrapping up creek work on hole five.

Deep tine aeration of greens went great.  Tees will be done next.

Our first fairway fungicide and growth regulator application

 for annual bluegrass reduction occurred this week.

Waitea Patch disease observed on some of the greens this week.  This is a common disease of annual bluegrass and is controlled best by warm temperatures!  Fungicides were applied this week along with growth regulators for annual bluegrass seed head prevention.

Push and pull carts are not permitted on expanded collars around greens and must go around green side bunkers-never between.

Purple martin houses are out and ready for their arrival.  Expect to see them this week!

March is roaring in like a lion and a snow storm is coming.  As long as it leaves like a lamb I'll be happy.  The crew has done so much work on the course that we are a little behind in the shop so there is a benefit to the return of winter.  The course is very dry and a good snow with a nice slow melt will be very beneficial.  After charging up the irrigation system and hand watering dry areas on the course we have shut the system down and opened up some drains in anticipation of frigid temperatures.

Primary rough aeration was completed on Monday.  The course received a little rain at the end of February which gave us some better conditions for coring.

Weak rough was seeded with tall fescue.

If you look close you will see tall fescue seed dropping into the turf canopy.

Last weekend was rough if you were a saucer magnolia.  This next cold snap could hurt more spring flowers.

There is a little green in the Patriot bermuda on the driving range...or was!

The first annual bluegrass weevil was seen on Thursday.  These critters have built in antifreeze within their bodies to withstand freezing temperatures.

Soil temperatures were observed at 50 degrees on Thursday-seven degrees higher than this time last year...but that is changing now.

Richard hand watering on Thursday.  Crazy!!!

Our Crystal BlueLinks bent is looking spectacular this early in the season.  This snow will be very beneficial to the entire course.

What an amazing stretch of weather we are going through.  I am of the belief this mild winter is a positive for the course.  The early warm start has caused many of our early applications to occur much earlier than ever before.  On Friday the greens were treated with a growth regulator for annual bluegrass seed head suppression.  This usually occurs no earlier than mid-March, sometimes as late as the end of March!  We can expect more treatments as spring will be greatly extended.  The course is unusually dry so we topdressed all fairway approaches and the entire fifth, seventh and eighth fairways!  Primary rough aeration on the front nine was completed Friday too.  It feels good to have accomplished so much this early.

The first fairway mow on February 20th!

Tom mowing collars the same day.

Topdressing followed after mowing.  We try to do this at least three times a season.  Topdressing firms up the turf allowing more roll and faster playing conditions.

Sanding before brushing.

Rony brushing the sand into the turf canopy.

Rough aeration began on Wednesday.

Removing green tarps revealed very healthy turf and surprisingly firm conditions.  These greens opened Friday!

Josh mowing the new 17th tee.  We had to use a rotary mower to start because the turf was so high.  Height is now at .75" and will continue to be reduced before opening in about a month.

Julio pruning hybrid tea roses right on schedule.

Red wing blackbirds have migrated back already.

Look who's back!  It appears our red tailed hawks are pairing up to nest on property again.

Spectacular sunrise on February 23rd.

Conference time is wrapping up.  Key management have just returned from the Golf Industry Show in Orlando where we enjoyed some fantastic weather while learning about the latest trends in golf course management.  The trade show featured nearly 600 exhibitors and my aching feet bear witness that I walked the entire trade show in one day!

A large putting green was built in the center of the trade show complete with bunkers.

Bunker with an artificial sod wall face.

The amount of equipment on display was overwhelming at times.  

Coming home was not fun.  A bumpy flight followed by a dusting of snow.  Here the turf cover shows how well it works on the fourth tee.

The recent wind storms have left plenty of debris to clean up.  The only tree that we lost was on the ninth hole.  It couldn't have fallen more perfectly and the holly is fine.

It's Groundhog Day and we're playing golf!  It may be a little cold but for mid-winter you can't ask for much more.  The long range forecast is not looking too bad either.  At this point is doesn't appear we will move to temporary greens other than 3,4, and 5.

The tarps were taken off the 17th tee so we could apply a granular fungicide.  The turf is rooting in nicely under the covers and exhibits good color.

The forward tee.  All the sod throughout the course has rooted in nicely.

Some nice healthy white roots in tall fescue sod at the clubhouse.

The crew is edging cart paths when time permits. 

Josh plugging out Poa annua plants in the practice green and replacing it with plugs from the perimeter of the green. 

The two green patches are the Poa.  These will aggressively spread at warp speed if not addressed now.  What an amazing grass it is though not the adjective I generally use to describe it.

Hundreds of plugs have been replaced so far with more to come.

The ponds aren't frozen so we are removing accumulated leaves near 16 green.

A nice little snow on Monday and back open on Wednesday.  

Jack is a big fan of snow days!

Edgar is studying to become a commercial pesticide applicator.  Here Josh works with him in disease identification.

The first tulips are just emerging!

January is rolling right along with some really nice spring like weather.  Our crew continues to prepare for the coming season but great weather shifts our focus to mowing greens, raking bunkers, changing hole locations, and rolling greens!  That's crazy!  No complaints here though as there is still plenty of winter ahead.  We've had quite a few guys sick the past few weeks.  In addition one of our guys broke his knee and will be out of work for a while so we are a little short handed.  With most of our crew taking vacation at this time an early spring could hold up some of our winter projects.  

Spring like temperatures are promoting some nice color in our fairways.

January 25th and daffodils are beginning to emerge.

Raking bunkers in January at the fifth green-usually the coldest spot on the course.

The new sod continues to peg down nicely with the mild temperatures.

Over an inch and a half of rain on Monday and we are playing golf on Wednesday-in January!  Lots of branches down throughout the course but no trees.

This fencing was put over the steep slope at three lake to prevent erosion until the sod has successfully rooted.  After the heavy rain everything was still in place!

Relocating tee signs and ball washers that will include memorial benches encompassed in the same mulched bed.

Crows have been a royal pain in the rear.  Here our headless hitchhiker scarecrow keeps watch near the first green.  

This guy reminds me of the scarecrows from the original Planet of the Apes movie.