Spring Round-up

Course Conditions

Tulips are on deck

Thanks to a cold and 'normal' winter, the course came through with flying colors.  The fear of winter freeze damage is lessened when no major thaws occur.  Midwinter thaws can do damage in a few ways but the most worrisome is weather that lets plants break dormancy and grow when they shouldn't. Results are often severe and can be fatal to certain species.  So, as our climate responds to our collective inputs we can be thankful for more normalcy and less chaos when we get it.  

Spring Growth 

Spring lushness

As mud season gives way and we move into May, as normal, there will be a growth surge in all areas on the course.  It's as much a blessing as a curse for our staff.  As you see in your own lawns and gardens, growth is fast and heavy, the grass seed finally pops and it's off to the races.  

To manage this we employ hormone regulators that slow the greens fairways and rough.  It's an imperfect solution but one that buys time for our operators to keep up with the speed of growth and increased golfer presence.  Be assured we use all of the resources available during this time to keep conditions playable. Within the constraints of hours in the day and avoiding daily play we mow as much as we're outfitted to mow. There will be moments during this time when it's too wet or we're struggling with older equipment when rough (especially) will get ahead of us - this is temporary.  

As summer heat moves in and the rock the course sits on heats up, the rough will dry up and thin out.  Your annual patience and understanding prior to that time goes a long way.  And remember, those heroic chips from 4 inch rough after you've short-sided yourself are character-builders!

Project Update

5/14

As the sod on the new tees knits in and rooting gets established we await better temperatures to really get them into gear. Seed on the banks is idling as temperatures aren't  quite there yet. As soon as growth can sustain it, we'll  mow them down closer to tee height and allow play.  Tees will open soon as temperatures climb and stay put.

#2 descent

On 2 tee we've added a more naturalized look to the descent. The limestone outcropping we were previously trying to mow was exposed to enjoy the natural beauty of the stone. The final look will be a weed-free meadow fescue laced through the 'mini cliff'.  We hope it'll  be an attractive addition to a fun hole.

 5th hole considerations 

As the yardages from the new tees will bring different looks and landing areas there has been much discussion regarding the trees on the inside of the dogleg on #5. 

As hole strategy and long term planning are discussed, there is a likelihood that trees will be pruned or removed to make the hole play as a true par 5 for all handicap levels. More importantly it will create more options for the player and offer a better quality shot than currently exists. The entire process may involve more adjustments than merely tree removal.  More to come as it develops.

Twenty Twenty One

 A new hope for a new year

We hope this entry finds you and your families healthy.  We continue to be mindful regarding Covid-19 at the maintenance department as we move inside for our equipment service and repair.  

The last entry to this blog was posted just under a year ago. 2020 was obviously a strange year that got even stranger after the election. Regardless, people continued to play on despite the political drama and we ended the season with a record amount of rounds played. Managing through the drought in May and June, the weather held up as did the course thanks to our tireless crew.  The course played excellent all year and we even began a few projects at the end of the season. Here's a few of them..

2 tee

The idea for 2 tee originated from fighting shallow bedrock the old forward tee rested on. Exposing the natural boulders instead of trying to bury them seemed like the smarter idea. They're attractive and part of the natural aesthetic for this property and area. 

Eroding soil with compressed air

Grass never has a chance when the soil is this thin

Reusing eroded soil for construction of new tee

Ready for sod

Right tee will be releveled and enlarged.

Rocky relief

5 &14 tee

The plans for these tees have been talked about on and off for years.  As equipment and golfers get better and as the skill of the golfer becomes more diverse, we find the need for more options in teeing ground and hole strategy.  The tees will be connected at the back and have trees and flowerbeds running between them as a demarcation. Sodding will begin asap this spring.

North is up

Pre-reconstruction

5 roughed in ready to start excavation of 14

All fill generated in-house as is excavation

 Wooded area left of 15 green

This is another area well in play that we've cleaned out and allowed light in. We've left enough trees to keep the privacy between 15 green and 14 tee intact. The increased amount of sun and air will allow for sustainable turf in this highly played area. 

Looking down 15 from the fairway looks relatively unchanged

Looking north to 14 tee

Closer inspection shows the scale of the work

Stump removal instead of grinding whenever possible

Skis and snowshoes

To give you relief from cabin fever or if you'd rather not be near people at a gym we've built our own track groomer this winter to allow for cross country skiing and snow shoeing. If the demand remains high for it we might look into a more serious groomer for 2022.

DIY trail groomer