Course Conditions Update

I know my previous blog stated that I would discuss double cutting but I changed my mind. March 30th was the first mild, sunny day in a long while. The melt is finally underway so I thought the membership would like an update as to what has transpired over the last few weeks. Some encouraging observations and one troubling concern. Don't worry. The problem isn't a turf related issue.

We began snowblowing a path around the golf course last week and should be finished by Friday. These paths allow us quick access to the greens and tees in order to keep a close eye on the snow/ice conditions. The snow pack is still deep and the turf is frozen underneath. This can change quickly depending on the weather. I'm not a big fan of clearing greens but this has been an unusual winter so it looks like we will begin blowing off the snow early next week. Our main concern once the snow is removed is keeping standing water off the surface of the greens to prevent a freeze thaw cycle that can kill turf at this time of year. Our other concern is being able to get on the greens with our sprayer to apply a spring fungicide to control disease. That all being said, any spot we have shovelled down to the surface looks promising. We did encounter ice where someone skiied across the large practice green in December. I'm sure it wasnt a member but probably someone unfamiliar with the course. If the track is damaged this spring we will know why and it will serve as a good example as to what early ice formation can do to turf.

Now the "troubling concern". One week ago our city water stopped flowing to the green house and our maintenance facility. After many phone calls, map reading and thawing attempts we have finally figured out the problem and its a big one. 11 years ago a 6 inch high density polethylene pipe was pushed in from the parking lot entrance area to the irrigation lake behind the shop. This line is "all weather" and our water supply tees off this line close to the maintenance facility. We thought this 1 inch feed line had froze. We were wrong. The type of winter we have experienced (very long and cold) coupled with the asphalt at the entrance to the club (the 6 inch line runs under the entrance) being exposed without an insulating snow cover has resulted in that line freezing. How do we know? We went into the irrigation pond control vault to test the water flow and there is no flow. That line should be fully pressurized as it is supposed to be below the frost line. Not this year. Before anyone says, "Call Epcor", forget it. They told us we are on our own as it is a private waterline. We have thought about steaming the line but the variables are to numerous to discuss here. For the time being we have Maureen and the greenhouse looked after. We have brought in bottled water for the shop and some portable outhouses for the staff. If it hasn't thawed out when we need irrigation water we will go through the procedure of pumping directly from the river into the pond. Old school. A 6 inch pump and lots of hoses (with notification to Parks and Rec of course). Hopefully the line thaws during April and the line isn't damaged. HDPE line is more durable than steel when it comes to ice.

Thats it for now. The double cutting topic should be up by Sunday.
Wade