There is not much going on golf wise this weekend.  Rain and more rain is forecast.  Fortunately temperatures are starting to climb so expect to see some green-up especially after this rainy weekend.  The course is still about six weeks from beginning to grow so it is paramount that we all do our part in protecting the course.  All divots must be replaced throughout the course.  Ball marks must be repaired correctly to ensure the greens remain in excellent condition.  Lastly golf carts must stay on the path when designated.

The crew rejuvenating benches before the season gets started.

The best time to evaluate drainage is when it is raining.  Here water moves into a new basin on hole 15.

Rain water following the cart path to the storm drain between the homes and our property on the 8th hole.  This water use to run down the middle of the fairway.

A sanitary sewer backup at the beginning of the 15th hole.  Luckily this was discovered before too much drained onto the course.  Ugh.

Bentgrass germinating in aeration holes!  Bermudagrass was aerated in November and then seeded with bent.  Hopefully the bent can get established before the bermudagrass gets moving.

A sure sign of spring-pruning roses.

Cutting back ornamental grasses throughout the course.  Mulch is around the corner!

Preparing the pollinating garden for the coming season.  Here Julio cuts back a butterfly bush.

We have two bee hives.  This one is alive and well.

Unfortunately the second hive didn't make it through the winter.  This picture shows thousands of dead bees.

Geese have suddenly become a nuisance despite the efforts of Jack and Gill.  That's Jack on the left and Gill on the right doing their thing.  We have staff coming in the evening to patrol the course with the dogs to help keep them off.

The course thawed out by Thursday allowing us to open.  We changed cups, rolled greens and raked bunkers.  Expect the turf covers to come off  3,4 and 5 greens this week and have the entire course open by the weekend- Weather Permitting! 

 

    

 Dang if the old ground hog wasn't right.  February has been cold and nasty.  Fortunately it looks like we are about to break out of this cold pattern and move closer to golf weather.  Expect to see the course open up this week at some point with milder weather on the horizon. 

Winter sunrise on the ninth hole on February 3rd.  This was our last day of tree removal for now-conditions were much too soft unfortunately.

Equipment damage in the rough on nine.  This will recover rapidly with good weather.

Removal of decaying landscape ties and sloping of sod.  Much better!

Repairing the landscape ties by the sixth green.

Now add some mulch and the job is perfect!

Tulips are emerging from a winter's sleep.

 
 

Winter has arrived and given the course some needed rest.  This weather break has allowed us to get our tree contractor back and work without golf interference.  There is some significant cold coming next week and we expect more to occur then.  The majority of the work is removal of dead trees or ones that are in decline and pose danger to golfers.  Remember the red dots?  That signifies a removal. 

Two green with the Siberian elm removed in the background.

Thirteen green with the large dying red oak removed viewed from the rear.

A look at the thirteenth with two oaks removed.

These guys don't mess around.

Thirteen tee.  One big negative with winter play is there is no recovery till spring.  Our staff is filling divots with sand and seed as best we can.  When possible replace your divot in the winter!

Our crew installing drainage to correct a chronic wet area on the 11th hole.

Jack and Gill in their element.

Geese don't stay on property very long!

 
   

 What a time we are living in.  With all that is going on I thought it would be a nice break to look back at 2020 with all its ups and downs as seen from a golf course superintendent's perspective.  So here it is Springfield Golf and Country Clubs 2020 golf course blog-the year in review.

April started out with a bang.  Our tulip display was amazing.

The golf course was pristine coming out of a fairly mild winter.

Azaleas and fresh mulch- Augusta worthy.

Mid to late April was cool and wet but by May 1st the course looked primed for a great season.

The course was happy in May.  Our wildflowers never looked better and changed personality monthly.

June was wetter than normal but the course continued to do well.  One bad lightning storm took out our irrigation computer and was a precursor of things to come.  Nonetheless the course looked exceptionally good on July 10th.  

Newly planted wildflowers on the 7th tee thriving.

From the end of June through July it had become hot and dry.  It was so dry that we were prepared to buy water.  We experienced twenty consecutive days of ninety degrees and higher from June 26-July 15 followed by a one day break before the heat really turned up. 

The course finally received needed rain on July 20th.  The course is in very good condition at this time but anymore rain could be problematic with the high temperatures we experienced.  Unfortunately we all know what happened.

Lightning damage to an oak by 13 green and another irrigation computer fried following the next day's storm.

The third fairway on July 23rd with the turf in critical condition and some of the hottest weather of the summer occurring.

Once the rain started it didn't let up along with the heat.  July had 28 days of ninety degrees and higher setting a record for the month.  Night time temperatures did not go below seventy degrees for over fifty days breaking another record.  Our bent fairways didn't stand a chance.

The damage is done.

Once it started raining it didn't let up.  We even endured a hurricane.  Rainfall totaled 16 inches from July 20th to August 31st.

Throughout this the greens and rough performed amazingly well.

What a contrast!

The weather pattern finally showed signs of breaking and we began renovating the fairways.

A perfect seedbed and turning on the water which was weird.

One more heartbreak before we become heroes.  A surprise one inch gully washer that afternoon that almost ruined all that work.

By September 3rd we are in the driver's seat.  The weather pattern has changed and we are growing grass.

By September 8th the course has just abut recovered with a rescheduled Member Guest in our sight.

 A  smoke filtered sun from the western wildfires reminding us we were pretty fortunate this year.

By the end of September the course was in great shape.

What a great fall we had.

A tough summer but fortunate to work on fixing the course's shortcomings.

Drainage, drainage, you just can't have enough drainage.

2020- Gone but never forgotten.