Real Spring

Well it seems that Spring is truly here now and the 2 week forecast shows no freezes and quite possibly no more frost delays.  I have also found a few morels so that is tipping me off as well.  The weather has been favorable so far and has allowed for some good root development throughout the course.  I have noticed a good increase in root depth and mass in the greens which is always welcomed.  I have just a few things to talk about today and then I need to get back to the course.

By now we all know about the virus outbreak and the steps taken throughout the course in order to help flatten the curve so I don't need to go into details.  It has forced us to run a skeleton crew for the moment, but I feel like we are still performing the necessary tasks each week to provide a quality golf course.  Plus we even sneaked in the drain project in 9 fairway which I was afraid we wouldn't have time for.  Finally we don't have to look at that ugly birdbath right in the middle of the fairway anymore.  It was a long run of drain pipe for such a small area, but way worth it.  I feel like it turned out real well and we avoided hitting any irrigation pipe which is always sigh of relief.

We have opened the range tee turf for the season and as of now we are on the mats Monday and Tuesday and on turf from Wednesday through Sunday.  Ultimately I would like to be on mats Mondays only, but I need to monitor usage and recovery so that we can have turf through the entire season.  Not having our range open to all classic level courses Monday through Wednesday will be a big help, but I have one more plea in order to have better turf.  Please, please, please hit your range balls in linear patterns like the following:

This is essential to the speedy recovery of the turf and the more frequent usage of the range tee grass.  Please do not make the following pattern with you practice shots:

The only way this will recover is if we sod it or seed and sand it.  And if I seed and sand this area, the sand will constantly be pushed out of the hole by my mowers.  If we have the linear patterns to work with, the strips of grass will prevent the mower from gouging the sand out which will allow the voids to be filled laterally.

Aside from just trying to keep the course mowed out, a few small projects we will be working on will be:

• Completing the irrigation controller move near #11 tee
• Pouring new concrete and installing the ball washer and trashcan pole at #18 tee
• Spraying the native with pre-emergent and broadleaf herbicide

Please, as always, feel free to stop me on the course with any questions or comments.  Enjoy the spring weather as much as you can.