Digging some drains

Winter is typically the best time of year for installing drainage on the golf course.  However, any area that is in need of drainage is typically quite soft.  Therefore we really need some cold weather to firm things up, and the temperatures in the first half of January definitely did not accommodate our needs.  Fortunately, the blast of cold air this past week was the perfect thing to provide a slight frost layer in the ground.

The area we chose to attack first was not exactly on the golf course, but on the driving range. Once the new trunk line was established, we used our demolition hammer to break through the storm water basin.  This is where the new drain pipe will discharge the water.

Even with frozen conditions we choose to work on plywood since it means there will be no sinking trencher, and leads to an easier cleanup.

With two employees attending Rutgers Turf Program this winter, and others away on vacation, we are working with a light crew.  However, while the number of employees may be low, the quality of the employees is high!

Cautious with carts

If it seems that we are more conservative with allowing carts in the winter than in the spring, summer, or fall, it is not your imagination.  This time of year, we definitely must take a more cautious approach with cart traffic than during the rest of the year.  Why is this necessary?  In large part it comes down to three things: moisture, temperature and recovery.

In contrast to other times of the year, evaporation is much less in the winter.  Thus, once soils become wet, they tend to stay that way for a much longer period of time.  Not only do we have less water leaving the soil upward, but often times it is also unable to move down.

When the ground freezes beneath the surface, this lower layer will be the last to thaw.  So as things begin to melt, the water near the surface is unable to percolate through the frozen layer beneath.  This can result in some very soggy conditions on the surface.

The freeze-thaw cycle can also lead to another potential problem for the plant.  When the thawing surface has a bit of give or movement to it, but the frozen roots beneath do not, traffic can cause root shear.

Cart path ends and other "pinch points" can quickly turn to mud with winter cart traffic.

As mentioned above, the other part of the equation is turf recovery (or lack thereof).  Once we see any damage from cart traffic now, we'll likely be looking at it for quite some time--perhaps for months, as the turf isn't actively growing.  The damage may start to snowball as an area that gets traffic and squishes up a bit of mud once, will start to lose its structure and be much more likely to incur further damage next time.

Of course we certainly enjoy seeing some hardy souls on the course during the winter months, and will allow cart use whenever possible, as we keep the long-term condition of the golf course in mind.

Laurel Creek Recognized for Environmental Excellence

We are proud to announce that Laurel Creek Country Club has retained its designation as a "Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary" through the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf Courses, an Audubon International Program.  Assistant Superintendent, Don Holgersen, has led this effort since Laurel Creek was first certified in 2002.

In order to remain certified, we must document our continuing commitment to improving in several areas, including environmental planning, water quality management, and chemical use reduction.

For those who believe that golf courses are harmful to nature, we would point to some telling before and after pictures.  Prior to its construction, the majority of the current golf course property was being mined for gravel and clay.

In contrast to this bleak and desolate landscape, as you can see below, today there is an abundance of flora and fauna on the property.

Much of the work we do in wildlife and habitat management takes place behind the scenes.  It is therefore very rewarding to have these efforts acknowledged.