Snow Cover

Tu is enjoying the snow cover

Great Putting Surfaces - Video

Below is a video that shows just a few of the many facets and procedures involved in providing quality putting surfaces.   There at many variables involved in the process.   Enjoy.

Cookout

We recently had our annual  season ending staff cookout for the Golf Course Operations Department.  These guys are not only dedicated to providing our members with tremendous playing conditions but can they ever cook.  For those of you who have joined us for the cookout, you can attest to how good the food is. 

The fajitas, quesadillas, chicken, hot dogs, tortillas and pico de gallo were outstanding

Keith Berk , Robert Razowsky, Paul Blumberg, Bud Greene and Mark Shapiro took time away from their schedules to join us for lunch.  Below,  President Berk enjoys his lunch with the guys
                                                                    

Adam and Beth join Green Chairman Razowsky and Bud Green  for some great food                                                                       

 

Chairman Blumberg and Mark Shapiro are enjoying the lunch
                                                                     

                                                                       
                                                                         

Fall Practices - Fairway Verticle Mowing

We have started our fall golf course preparation schedule.   We will be implementing a number of agronomic practices and measures to help repair the course from the season long play as well as insuring that it is in quality condition for next season.   Below are just a few of the agronomic practices that we are currently in the process of doing.

One of the keys to firming the fairways is to utilize the practice of verticle mowing.  This practice assists in removing excess thatch from the fairways.   Notice in the second photo how much undesirable material is brought to the surface and removed.   We do this practice each spring and fall.

 

This is what a verticle mowing reel looks like

It is more of a thinning than a cutting process

Notice the amount of grass and thatch that are pulled from the turf

      Verticle cutting results

Topdressing immediately follows the verticle mowing.  Sand is deposited into the verticle mowing lines to help firm the surface of the turf 

                                          
This is the amount of sand that we will put on the white nine fairways
                                                                                 

  This is the result after a week
                                                                           

We are also aerifying the greens, tees, approaches, fairways and roughs over the next few weeks

                                                     

                                                       

Tu - Our New Friend

Many of you recall that over the past 13 years we had two different border collies, Polly and Bristol, that were highly trained and highly priced goose chasing dogs.   Both of them have crossed the Rainbow Bridge and we were in search of a new goose chasing team member.  I spoke with my chairman and he agreed that finding a good rescue dog combined with a good trainer to work with her would be a good way to go.   After months of searching rescues shelters all over the country, I ran across TuTu (Tu for short), a 3 year old border collie - Australian mix at the Deerfield Orphans of the Storm Rescue Shelter.  After visiting her twice over a three week period, I decided NCC would give her a forever home.

It has taken her a while to adjust to all the people and activity of a golf course life but she has made monumental strides.    Here is her story as best as the shelter shared with me. 

She was originally owned by a Chicago family that had to relocate out of state.  They chose not to take her with them so they gave her to the shelter.   Shortly after, a family with young children adopted her.   As one would anticipate, Tu being a high energy and bred to be an outdoor working dog, was too high energy to be around young children.   The young family took her back to the shelter.   After a while, an elderly gentleman who had recently lost both his wife and his dog, adopted Tu.  And again, as anticipated, she was too high energy to be shut up in a house all day without any exercise.   The gentleman returned her to the shelter.  

It has been an interesting 4 months with her.  I never planned on having a 3rd dog at my house but there is no one at NCC for her to live with.   It isn't convenient for my home but I will never return her to the shelter.   She is attached to me and I am her new caretaker.  She doesn't leave my side.  She is at the course daily, running and chasing and is able to enjoy life outside of a rescue shelter cage.  

 

                                                                    

Tu - Our New Friend

Many of you recall that over the past 13 years we had two different border collies, Polly and Bristol, that were highly trained and highly priced goose chasing dogs.   Both of them have crossed the Rainbow Bridge and we were in search of a new goose chasing team member.  I spoke with my chairman and he agreed that finding a good rescue dog combined with a good trainer to work with her would be a good way to go.   After months of searching rescues shelters all over the country, I ran across Tu, a 3 year old border collie - Australian mix at the Deerfield Orphans of the Storm Rescue Shelter.  After visiting her twice over a three week period, I decided NCC would give her a forever home. 
It has taken her a while to adjust to all the people and activity of a golf course life but she has made monumental strides.    Here is her story as best as the shelter shared with me. 

She was originally owned by a Chicago family that had to relocate out of state.  They chose not to take her with them so they gave her to the shelter.   Shortly after, a family with young children adopted her.   As one would anticipate, Tu being a high energy and bred to be an outdoor working dog, was too high energy to be around young children.   The young family took her back to the shelter.   After a while, an elderly gentleman who had recently lost both his wife and his dog, adopted Tu.  And again, as anticipated, she was too high energy to be shut up in a house all day without any exercise.   The gentleman returned her to the shelter.  

It has been an interesting 4 months with her.  I never planned on having a 3rd dog at my house but there is no one at NCC for her to live with.   It isn't convenient for my home but I will never return her to the shelter.   She is attached to me and I am her new caretaker.  She doesn't leave my side.  She is at the course daily, running and chasing and is able to enjoy life outside of a rescue shelter cage.  

                                                                    

Golf Cart Use Parking

When using golf carts, please help with several basic, but very helpful, practices.
1.   Always drive your cart to the CART PATH side of the green.   This direction keeps you in the safest area from errant golf shots from golfers on other holes.
2.   Park the cart with all 4 tires on the path. 

Thanks for your help in keeping the NCC golf course in a pristine condition.

Keeping all 4 tires on the path will reduce reoccurring and unsightly damage to the turf.
The photo below exhibits the recommended way to park a cart with all tires  on the path.
                                        

Parking carts with tires on the grass can lead to ruts, bare areas and poor turf

Please refrain from parking carts with tires on the turf

Each of the photos below is an example of golf cart damage from carts parking off the paths or "shortcutting" a curve.  This damage take a significant amount away from the detail we are pursuing at NCC.

Driving Range Artifical Mats

Below is a video that relates to driving range usage and care.   At times we utilize our artificial surfaces for hitting.   This occurs during wet periods so that we can keep the range open for your use.  We also use the mats in the spring and fall when the turf is not actively growing.    Please take a look.

Ball Mark Repaiirr - Videos

The following video offers several ways to correctly repair a ball mark. 
Please take a look and use this procedure on every green.   Thanks for your
help.

Video - Bunker Consistency - Is It Possible?

The video below explains the questions many golfers have about bunker consistency.
Please take a look.

Men's Invitational

Based on all accounts and the positive comments, the 2016 NCC Men's Invitational was a resounding success.   With it being a short week to prepare the course due to the Memorial Day Holiday on Monday and rainfall two days during the week, the Golf Course Operations Staff did a tremendous job of getting the course into prime condition for the Friday and Saturday event.  Losing Wednesday as a work day due to an inch of rain, the staff worked from 5 am to 7 pm on Thursday and from 5 am right up until the 1:00 pm start time on Friday to get the job done.   The team below are the men who make it all  happen on the golf course for your enjoyment.   They are the silent heros that often go un-noticed yet there would not be a golf course without them.   You likely do not know them by name but please give them  a wave or a smile when you pass them on the course. 

Great conditions for the event

 

Lorrie's Flowrs

The following photos are just a few of the many plantings that Lorrie Witt and her staff have done to beautify the NCC property.  We are fortunate to have these staff members provide such great results.  We have a very small staff to care for the amount of landscaping on the property.   Lorrie, Sergio and Jose do a great job.  They just planted over 6,000 flowers in the last week. !!!!!!!

        Lorrie Witt   -  Master Gardener

Our flower planting team

Jose 1, Jose 3, Ampiro, Lorrie and Sergio

Sergio and Rafael are doing a lot of flower planting

                                                                    

                                                

Carts In Fairways Only - WHY?

On numerous occasions, I receive the questions:
"Why are carts in fairways only today?"
"Why are carts in the roughs only today?"

There are 3 main factors involved in how cart decisions are made on a day to day basis.

1.  In most cases, the fairways drain quicker.  The turf is cut shorter so it dries quicker.  There is also drainage installed in the subsurface of the fairways to get rid of the water quicker.  So whenever possible, we ask that carts be kept in the fairways.

2.  The roughs have longer turf and it does not dry as fast.  The roughs do not have drainage in the subsurface like the fairways do so they stay wetter longer.   The roughs have numerous bird baths and low areas resulting in standing water.  Therefore, the carts can cause more damage in the roughs during wet periods.

3.  No two rain periods have the exact same effect on the course.   Decisions on specific cart usage for any individual day depends on a number of factors.  Drying times depend on:
      How much did it rain on a particular
      How much did it rain on previous days
      How soon does the sun begin to shine
      Is there sufficient wind movement to aide
           in drying the course
      What are the humidity levels and how do they
           affect the course drying process
     
Standing water in the roughs can limit  cart usage because carts cannot get to the fairway without causing damage

                                                                                                      

                                                                            

Every morning each fairway and rough are check for moisture & saturation levels.  Carts are available whenever remotely possible.  I understand the necessity of cart usage for many of our members.  But as you can see, there are simply days when carts cannot access the course without causing significant damage.