There's only one...

We are a couple of weeks past The Masters, which might be just enough time to step back and once again reflect on, "A tradition unlike any other..." and why Augusta is absolutely so darned perfect each spring.  The picture below has made the rounds on the social media circuit lately.  

While we all know that their attention to detail is unequalled, it is still a head-shaker when you stop and count the number of folks working around one bunker--something like 20+ here.  Where else does a "hazard" receive so much TLC? 

 To put this into perspective, what we see here is a group larger than the majority of most golf course's entire Grounds Department.  Oh, and in case you didn't notice, there's not even a single person cutting grass included in the group above.  The phrase, "Resources unlike any other..." definitely comes to mind.

They're back...

 We've written about Brown Ring Patch in the past, and it's back once again.  While this disease rarely impacts ball roll, it can certainly be visually distracting if there's a ring or two between your ball and the cup.

This appears to be changing from a seldom seen, easy to control disease, to a perennial issue we are having to deal with.  Three different fungicide applications have been made since December, and we are optimistic that the latest will check up the disease.  Additionally, with aerification coming up soon, we are starting to increase applications of Nitrogen to the greens.  This, in combination with the decrease in organic matter from aerification, should further help to reduce the rings. 

Quack, quack, quack...

This past week's weather was great if you're a duck, but not so much for the rest of us.  Between Wednesday and Thursday, 63,000 gallons of water fell from the sky on each acre of the golf course.  Whether you were looking to play golf, or prepare the course for Opening Day and GAP matches, it just wasn't happening.

Through April 7, we already received 2.30" inches of rain this month.  In comparison, April, 2021 was incredibly dry, with only 1.80" for the entire month.

What lies ahead for the rest of this year?  That is a great question.  Again, in looking at 2021, despite the rollercoaster ride of above and below average precipitation from month to month, at the end of the year we hit the annual average total exactly.

Bunkers needed attention after the deluge.

These peaks and valleys can make executing our plans for course care challenging.  However, it's also one of the reasons why the vocation of greenkeeping is rarely boring.

Open for business...

 After some crazy temperature swings in March, April has finally arrived, and with this month comes The Masters, the Club's Opening Days, and the opening of the new and improved #10.   

While this hole went from four field bunkers to just one, given the positioning of the new bunker--in the 140-150 yard range from the green and tight to the fairway--there's a fair chance that the lone bit of beach will see as many balls as the four combined previously did.

Opening the hole On April 1 proved to be no joke.  With the hole now playing anywhere from 295-403 yards, the wind was not fooling around, and made this Par 4 play way long.

The ability to adjust the yardage this much will allow for a good deal of variety in daily course setup, which everyone seems to enjoy.