Course Update

Well Mother Nature continues to not cooperate this spring like she did last.  Last week we were able to be outside and start cleaning up the property but this week we have been completely idled due to the snow.  We managed to clean up the entire clubhouse area, driving range, and short course before the snow came so we do have a good head start as we await some better weather. 

The extended forecast is still not very favorable over the next 7-10 days.  With highs barely reaching forty degrees and lows at or below freezing well into next week, it does not look very likely that there will be any golf this March.  In these temperatures, the frost in the ground will not come out and until that happens, we simply can't open the golf course.  My hope is that our crew can resume the clean up efforts the early part of next week and perhaps finish that component by the end of next week.  With any luck, by then the temps will have elevated and we will begin to see the frost come out of the ground and the turf begin to grow. Ideally, we would get a week of good growth before we open so the course can defend itself from divots and ball marks.

We will continue to update you as conditions change.  In the meantime, keep hitting balls under the domes in anticipation of a great 2013 golf season!!!

Authored by: Bob McCurdy, Golf Course Superintendent

Extended Forecast Trending Up...But Slowly!!!

 

 

The extended forecast is starting to move in the right direction, but very slowly.  Below is graph from Accuweather.com prediciting the weather for the remainder of the month.  You will see the forecast highs and lows will be at or below average for the duration of March.  Certainly far different than last year when we were mowing by this time.  

 

 

Although the forecast may not be as aggressive as last year, we are gearing up to go to work full tilt next week.  We will be welcoming back a limited staff on Monday!!!  Once the paperwork is done, the clean-up of the golf course and grounds will begin in earnest.  After a long winter...Everyone is excited to get back outside and doing what we love!!! 

Looking forward to opening as soon as we can!!!

Authored By:  Bob McCurdy, Golf Course Superintendent 

Course Amenities Upkeep

Another time consuming winter project is the re-finishing of all the on-course supplies and amenities. Pictured below are the benches and ball washers that line our tee boxes during the season. The club has made a significant investment in very high quality materials and we are determined to make sure they get the greatest care possible!!! To maintain all of our wood products in "like-new" condition, we apply a specialized cleaner and scrub every surface of the benches, trash cans, stakes, divot sand boxes and water coolers. After a light power wash and two days of air drying, we are left with a bare wood surface that is ready for a new finish coat. This year we opted to convert the benches to the same color stain as our garbage cans and water coolers. We think the new improved look is fantastic and hope you agree!
Pictured above are two of our finest, Lino Bautista and Martin Perez, applying the new finish coat to a perfectly cleaned bench. These two gentlemen have repeatedly done this process for two months straight and deserve a big round of applause. Below you see a bench that has been throughly cleaned along side a already finished trash can. The contrast is stunning.
To keep their fresh shine, the ball washers are disassembled and cleaned of any imperfections. A coat of slide polish is applied and they are ready for play.
Authored by: Kevin Peck, Assistant Golf Course Superintendent

Winter Maintenance

One of the most commonly asked questions of our department is "What do you do all winter?" Even though it may be considered the off season for golf in Michigan, it is anything but for the Greens Department. In addition to handling all of the snow and platform tennis maintenance duties, we must tear down every piece of golf course equipment during the winter months in preparation for the next season.

Pictured above is our Head Mechanic, Nathan Foondle, working on one of our three fairway units. These cutting units(reels) must be completly disassembled, thoroughly cleaned, bearings replaced, greased, reassembled and sharpened for the upcoming season. This detailed work is just some of the routine winter maintenance required to upkeep our equipment at the highest level possible.


This fairway unit already has had the reels sharpened and is now ready for a through inspection. The machine is placed in our lift to inspect, and replace where necessary, every hydraulic hose, change filters, and all necessary fluids.

Winter provides our two mechanics with about four and a half months to thoroughly dig into every piece of equipment from the smallest weed whip to our large John Deere tractors. This is an extremely key and time consuming task. With the season just around the corner, about 85-90% of the all the equipment is complete. Just a handful more items to get through before mother nature says it's time to golf. Authored by: Kevin Peck, Assistant Golf Course Superintendent