Odds and (path) ends

The team is trying to finish up some small projects, before we are spending every day mowing.  Included in this, has been sodding some cart path edges--undoubtedly, it's going to be a tough existence for this turf once the carts start pounding on it.  

Another thing that may have caught your eye recently, is the par 3 tees.  We always include some fertilizer in our divot mix to encourage recovery.  However, with record rounds, we also had record divots, and once they were all filled, there are some glowing green areas on these tees.

Lastly, we have been addressing some erosion on pond banks.  While we love the wildlife on the golf course, muskrat tunnels can cause damage, and lead to potentially ankle-twisting holes.

As always, we roll with the flow of the weather, and adapt to it.  While February had us shoveling most of the month, thus far, March has allowed us to catch up on some tasks.

Master Plan Prep

This summer will see the construction of a long-awaited amenity for the Club, a short game area.  Thoughtfully designed by Andrew Green as part of the Club's Master Plan, this will also include the shifting of #10 tees, and the field bunkering on the hole.  As you can see below, the newest addition to the practice facility will contain two greens and two bunkers, allowing flexibility in practice.

In anticipation of this, we did a bit of pruning this past week, removing the small grove of "volunteer" trees between the practice tee and #10.

This small change really opens up the view when looking back from the far side of #10 fairway.  Six months from now this view will, once again, be quite different.

We will be continuing the tree work along the right side of #10 this week, where numerous storms have knocked down trees over the past several years.  Regardless of doing Master Plan work or not, this area definitely needs a good cleaning.

Be part of the team that gets it done!

 We are always looking for new team members to join us on the golf course, and we have some exciting opportunities for individuals this year.   Whether they are interested in turf management as a career, a summer job during college, or as a retiree, many people find this work to be a rewarding activity.

For someone considering turf management as a possible career, our intern program may be of interest to them.  This would be a good fit for both recent high school graduates, as well as existing college students.  Additional information can be found by clicking this link:  Summer Intern Program

Alternatively, if you or someone you know might enjoy being on the course to get some fresh air in a safe outdoor work space, they can learn more about what we offer here:  Seasonal Employee Information

While we always start early in the morning, there is flexibility in hours.  Again, this is a great work environment for anyone 18 years or older, with both part time and full time positions available.  If the thought of wildlife, freshly mown grass, and a beautiful landscape sounds appealing, we should talk!

Not exactly a game-changer

 Winter often provides us with an opportunity to get caught up on the latest turf research, and help to plan for the upcoming season.  With this in mind, a webinar related to weed management in Fine Fescue areas seemed like something worthy of attending. 

So, what did we learn?  Well, not surprisingly, we found out that in most situations, achieving the goals of thin, wispy, penal--but with no weeds--isn't easy:

We were also made aware of the fact that referring to these as "Goldilocks" areas isn't too far from reality.  If you want to discourage weed encroachment, a thick, healthy stand of turf, is among the best options.  However, too thick, also means lost, unplayable balls:

If you go on the thin side, which may help playability, these areas often become a playground for weeds:

The presentation also pointed out that unwanted irrigation water can exacerbate the weed issues:

But how about weed control in Fine Fescue areas?  Well, when the phrase, "Temper expectations" is used under a heading of improving control, it's hard to be encouraged:

While it certainly wasn't the fault of the presenter in this webinar, the information largely acted to confirm much of what we already knew--these areas are far from low maintenance, and there is no silver bullet to get them into the "just right" zone all of the time.