No Carts Sunday April 14th, 2013

There will be no golf carts available again on Sunday April 14th due to the extremely wet conditions that persist on the golf course. We need some sun and wind to dry out the course after the 3.1" of rain that was received between Wednesday and Friday.  Sorry for the inconvenience, but we must protect the course this early in the season. We will get the carts rolling as soon as we can. Thanks for your understanding and cooperation!!!

Course Closed 4-12-13

Attention Members:
COURSE CLOSED TODAY – Friday, April 12th, 2013

The course has received 3.1” of rain in the last 48 hours and therefore a decision has been made to close for today.  This closure includes all golf related areas (Championship Course, Short Course, Range, Chipping and Practice Greens).  Greens crews are out working aggressively to remove the water as quickly as possible in order for the course to re-open tomorrow.

Dainforth B. French, Jr.
Golf and Greens Chairperson

Bunker Inspections

 

Each spring, the maintenance crew spends the better part of one entire week preparing the bunkers for play.  It takes a small army of about 15 crew members, split into two teams, to accomplish this task.  With 73 bunkers (including the 2 at the chipping green) covering approximately 110,000sqft of hazard, it is no small task to get this work done.  The crew have been instructed to ensure there is no more, or less, than 2" of sand on the "face" of each bunker and exactly 4" of sand in the bottom of each bunker.  We are constantly monitoring these conditions throughout the season and are always making adjustments as issues are discovered or reported.  

 

 

 

In the above picture, you can see crew member Martin Perez, who is leading team #1, inspecting the depth of the sand on the left side fairway bunker of hole #14.  The measuring device is nothing more than an old golf shaft that as been marked at the 2" and 4" depths mentioned above.  Behind Mr. Perez, the remainder of his team diligently works to smooth out the bottom of the bunker surface.

 

Below is team #2 working in the large bunker left of #9 green/approach.  This time crew member Bulmaro Cruz is leading the way and doing the inspections while Salvador Gonzalez is placing new sand where the depth was not correct.  In the areas such as this, where it has been determined that sand must be added, the sand will be raked out and re-inspected by Mr. Cruz to ensure the correct depth has been achieved. 

As of this morning, the combined efforts of both bunker teams have left us with just a handful of bunkers in the 4, 5, 13, 16 area of the golf course to complete.  This work will be completed today and all of the bunkers will be in service for the season. 

Authored by:  Bob McCurdy, Golf Course Superintendent

Course Opening FRIDAY!!!

Although today it feels more like winter than spring, we have made the call to open the golf course for the season this Friday (4-5-13).  Additionally, we will open all practice facilities (range, chipper, and putting green) on Thursday in order to allow a little warm up before your first round of the season.  For those of you looking to use carts...Good News!  Carts will be available on opening day!!!

A couple of things you should know about this years opening:

• Due to the cold temps and frozen conditions in the bunkers, many of them will not be groomed prior to opening.  The crew is out working today, and will be all week, on the ones we can but many of them are simply unworkable at this time. 
• While the greens will be mowed prior to opening, many of the other surfaces (tees, fairways and collars) may not be mowed prior to opening unless they begin to grow.  We will mow each of these respective areas as soon as they are ready.
• Deeptine aeration of the fairways is on-going and will continue daily into the week of April 14th.  It's a slow process but extremely important to relieve soil compaction in the fairways.  After last years unusually long, dry and warm season, the fairways are more in need then ever of this process. 
• Course Aerification - The greens and tees are scheduled to be aerified April 15th and 16th.  With cooperation from Mother Nature, in about 10 days time the holes should completely heal.
• Fairway Graden - This spring we intend to conduct an aggressive verti-cutting procedure known as "gradening".  This process is less intrusive than conventional hollow-tine aerification but still extremely effective in removing excessive organic matter (thatch).  We expect the process to take one week to complete all the fairways.  This work will begin April 17th and will continue daily until complete and as weather allows.

Look forward to seeing everyone back out on the course.  Here's to a great 2013 season ahead!

Authored by:  Bob McCurdy, Golf Course Superintendent