Snow Cover

We have about 15 inches of snow cover on the course today.  This will likely result in wetter playing conditions initially in the spring when the course opens.  Let's hope for a warm, sunny and windy spring.

Tu enjoys running in the snow 

 

Dog Calendar and Course Coyotes

Many of you have come to see and know our new Border Collie- Australian Shepherd.  I rescued Tu from Orphans of the Storm shelter in Deerfield.  She is our new goose chasing teammate.
She is a huge success story.  I am her 4th owner.  She was previously simply in the wrong family environments.  She was with families with small children and she is a high energy working breed. 

The great news is she has progressed tremendously with her training.  She was also recently chosen to be the December poster pet for the month of December for a nationally published golf course management calendar. 

Last winter we received a number of calls about our Decoy Coyotes that we place on the course during the winter months to aide in goose control.  Below is a photo of one of the decoys we utilize.  We have the decoys placed near the lakes where the geese tend to congregate.  However, be aware that real coyotes do frequent the property at times.  We do implement coyote control measures but the random coyote does enter the property.  They have little fear of humans so please be careful. 

Rall Range Schedule

This fall we will be following the same driving range and short game area schedules as we have each fall.   As of October 1st, we will be hitting off the artificial surfaces on the range and the short game area will be closed for the season.

This schedule is implemented in order for us to prepare the surfaces so that they will have time to recover and heal in from the season usage while the temperatures are still warm enough for germination and growth of the heavy divots and wear.   This schedule will insure that these surfaces are ready to go and in top condition to begin the spring season.  

Continuing to use the grass surfaces late into the fall or early winter results in those areas being bare and unsightly in the spring. 

The photo below is look and condition that we want the range to be in.  

 Short game area divots need time to heal

Short game hitting surface at the end of the season needs time to heal

 Short game hitting surface is beginning to heal since traffic has been eliminated

   Range divots need time to be seeded, germinate and heal before the spring

Bunkers - Why Bunkers Are Not Consistent

I receive a number of questions regarding our bunkers.  The USGA video below will help answer your questions. 

Firmer Approaches

When the weather in the form of excessive rainfall occurs, the course naturally becomes softer until  it  has time to  dry.   When conditions are normal and there is limited rainfall, our agronomic practices of sand topdressing, careful water management, brushing and verticutting the playing conditions exhibit the fruits of our labor.   Now that we have had limited rainfall and sunshine since the flooding of early August, our playing conditions are much firmer and faster.

In the two videos below I am using the bump and run chipping method as well as putting from approximately 50 feet in the red #1 green  approach.  Both methods are giving me a smooth and quick roll-up onto the green.

I hope you like the playing conditions since the excessive and record rainfalls of July.

Soil vs Sand Greens

Why are the white greens different from the red and blue greens?  Why do they feel softer? The white greens were built 100 years ago and were what we call "push up" greens.   Native soil was just moved and shaped to a design and grass was planted on top.   There was no drainage installed and the native soil (clay) has a tendency to hold moisture following a rainfall.   When the white nine was  renovated in the late 90s, there was no drainage installed in the greens and they kept the same soil rootzone.  Only the grass species was changed.

Conversely, USGA sand based greens are designed for drainage and dryness and firmness.   Sand drains better than soil and the red and blue greens also have a drainage system built into the subsurface.   The combination of a sand rootzone and subsurface drainage provide for a firmer and drier putting surface. 

Lorrie Flowers Home

A number of you have asked about Lorrie and her Master Gardner "Green Thumb" abilities and if she likes gardening at home.    Gardening is her passion.  Included are a few of the photos of her work at our home.  Enjoy.