What's Happening On The Course?

Since my last post the weather has done an about face and pretty much shut down the 2012 golf season. Unless the temperatures rise dramatically next week I think it is safe to assume we will not reopen. However, you never know.

Good news on the paving. Answer Asphalt has finished their work as planned but the curbing and finish work will have to wait until next spring. We are doing some prep work before the ground freezes too hard so that we have a head start next year. 2 extensions to the existing asphalt at 13 tee and 15 green did not get started but we will take care of those small areas next spring as well. One note to consider. The section of path that leads down beside the first tee and then splits toward #18 will be paving stone instead of asphalt. It will be a tight fit stone that matches the colors we are using on the course.

On the winter preparation front we finished blowing out the irrigation system late Friday and finished the final fungicide applications on the course Saturday afternoon. It was a very hectic few days but it felt great to get it all done. We didn't know what was to come this week and as it turns out we made the right choice to complete the work and not wait for a possible return to warmer weather.

The 6th green will have the bubble wrap, venting and non permeable tarp installed in due time. I want the surface completely frozen so that plant respiration is at it lowest rate before being covered. Throughout the winter we will monitor oxygen and carbon dioxide levels under the cover and blow in fresh air if necessary. In my preference I hope we have a cold, snowy winter so that the other greens are well protected. We will  post a video of the installation process on the internet that may help you understand the procedure.

The 150 yard dwarf spruce trees have been removed from the course. They are root bagged, in the maintenance facility and available to the membership for free to pickup anytime. They were removed as required for the LPGA tournament next summer and the holes are being back filled and sodded at present.

Lastly but not least we have planted 5 trees between the short game practice area and the back of the 10th tee and cut down the driving range greens so they look more like real targets. If it warms up we will remove sod on the perimeter of the greens and lay down a thin layer of bunker sand to make them look more realistic for next season.

All for now,
Wade