Edging Bunkers

 The bunkers are being edged, string trimmed, and cleaned up.

It takes about a week to complete all 63 bunkers.

Cattails

We are mowing down cattails along the stream, we will also start clearing the stream to aid the flow during the winter months.

Fence

 Construction of a fence on hole 15.

Fences are put up for aesthetics and for the safety of our members.

Dead Tree Removal

Dead trees are being cut down around the course.

This is done to eliminate safety concerns, aesthetics, and to make room for new plantings. 

Reel Grinding

Fernando our mechanic sharpening the greens mower reels. This is done three times a month to ensure a clean cut on the greens.

10 Fairway

Since the streams construction in 2007 number ten fairway has struggled through the winter months. I want to explain some reasons for this and the solution. 

The dirt that was dug out to make the stream is called fill dirt; this fill dirt is mostly clay and has little or no nutritional value to plants. The fill dirt was spread over the fairway with no soil amenities added like top soil, peat, or sand. This on top of insufficient drainage and the age of the grass leaves the fairway saturated and thin.

There is little that can be done this winter with the dormant bermudagrass. Come spring we will start an aggressive aerating, topdressing and fertilizing program that will continue throughout the summer. This along with adding a couple drains will set us on track to relieving this problem.  

Greens Soil Temperature

The soil temperature on the greens has dropped below freezing. This is the third time in the last six that this has happened. It takes three or four cool days and below freezing nights to get the soil temperatures this low. The high over the last 8 days was 55 degrees and the low was 26 degrees.

Frost

The temperature dropped to a frigid 27 degrees this morning delaying tee times. It is crucial that the greens have time to thaw before players or employees walk on them.

Fence

The fence on hole number 15 has been completed.

Fence Post Drill

 Friday our fence post drill broke, bringing fence construction to a halt on hole number 15.

Thanks to our mechanics innovative fabrication the fence post drill was fixed Monday afternoon. 

The fence construction continues on 15 today.

Frost

 This morning the temperature fell to 30 degrees.

 Frost covered 90% of the course.

 We put water down to melt the frost as soon as temperatures allow us to.

Flash watering helps us start our maintenance sooner which allows members to get earlier tee times.

Rain

 Saturday and Sunday .8" of rain fell.

 The rain came pretty quick on Sunday, forcing the water out of it's banks.

There is a lot of clean up to do, we finished the majority of it Sunday morning.

Perennial Ryegrass

I have received a few questions regarding the type of grasses we use to over seed our tees roughs and driving range. ParTee 2 is one of the most common blends used to over seed.

The blend consists of four different varieties each with different growing habits. Reading the label:

• PARTEE II PERENNIAL BLEND- Is the name brand giving for this blend.
• L158-10-697-SP- Lot number. Each lot of grass seed is uniquely numbered. This number appears on all documents so that it can be traced back to its origin.
• PURITY The percentage by weight of grass seed that is in the bag.
• GERM- Germination. The percentage of pure grass seed that will germinate in a controlled lab.
• ORIGIN- State in which the grass seed was grown.
• CROP- The percentage by weight of grass seed that is in the bag.
• INERT- The percentage by weight of material that will not grow.
• Weed-The percentage by weight of weed seeds in this lot. 
• Test date- Actual month and year this lot of grass seed was tested for germination.

Rocks

 On top  of pulling out the grass the crew is working on cleaning up the bunkers.

Also we are routinely checking sand depths to keep them more consistent.

Seeding

Seed has been applied to the tee tops in hopes of rain. There will be sand and compost applied as well as roping a few areas off to promote germination.

Tees

Fertilizer is being applied to the tees.

Driving Range Tee & Rough

We fertilized the driving range tee and rough in anticipation of the rain.

Fence Post Drill

 Our fence post drill broke this morning, slowing down construction of the fence for #15 water hazard.

We should have it up and running by Monday afternoon.

Fence

 Fence being constructed on hole number 15.

There will be a few fences constructed around the 

course for the members' safety, as well as aesthetics. 

Edging

 The cart paths are being edged.

It will take about a week to finish all 18 holes.

 

Grass Removal

Removing the grass that has been germinating 

in the bunkers due to over seeding drift.

Topdressing

 The greens were top-dressed this morning.

This will help keep and improve the greens speed, firmness, and consistency.

Aerification

 The slow healing greens have been aerified for the 3rd time.

 After aerifing we roll them to help playability.

Rolling would compact the greens if the soil was saturated.

Not the case for our firm greens. They are getting
some much needed oxygen to speed up the healing process.

USGA

Golf Etiquette 101

Unlike many sports, golf is for the most part played without the supervision of a referee, umpire or coach. The game relies on the individual golfer to show consideration for other players and to abide by the rules. New golfers are often in need of advice about customary behavior and practices to follow on course so that play proceeds safely and without delay. Here are 10 tips to help all players get the maximum enjoyment from the game.
The Spirit of the Game

The game is based on integrity of the individual to show consideration for other players and to abide by the Rules. All players should conduct themselves in a disciplined manner, demonstrating courtesy and sportsmanship at all times, irrespective of how competitive they may be. This is the spirit of the game of golf.



Safety

Players should ensure that no one is standing close by or in a position to be hit by the club, the ball or any stones, pebbles, twigs or the like when they make a stroke or practice swing.

Players should not play until the players in front are out of range.

Players should always alert greenstaff nearby or ahead when they are about to make a stroke that might endanger them.

If a player plays a ball in a direction where there is a danger of hitting someone, he should immediately shout a warning. The traditional word of warning in such a situation is "fore."



Consideration for Other Players

No Disturbance or Distraction

Players should always show consideration for other players on the course and should not disturb their play by moving, talking or making any unnecessary noise.

Players should ensure that any electronic device taken onto the course does not distract other players.

On the teeing ground, a player should not tee his ball until it is his turn to play.

Players should not stand close to or directly behind the ball, or directly behind the hole, when a player is about to play.
View Avoiding Distraction Animation

On the Putting Green

On the putting green, players should not stand on another player's line of putt or when he is making a stroke, cast a shadow over his line of putt.

Players should remain on or close to the putting green until all other players in the group have holed out.
View Putting Green Animation

Scoring

In stroke play, a player who is acting as a marker should, if necessary, on the way to the next tee, check the score with the player concerned and record it.
View Scoring Etiquette Animation


Pace of Play

Play at Good Pace and Keep Up

Players should play at a good pace. The Committee may establish pace of play guidelines that all players should follow.

It is a group's responsibility to keep up with the group in front. If it loses a clear hole and it is delaying the group behind, it should invite the group behind to play through, irrespective of the number of players in that group.
View Playing at a Good Pace Animation

Be Ready to Play

Players should be ready to play as soon as it is their turn to play. When playing on or near the putting green, they should leave their bags or carts in such a position as will enable quick movement off the green and towards the next tee. When the play of a hole has been completed, players should immediately leave the putting green.
Viewing Being Ready to Play Animation

Lost Ball

If a player believes his ball may be lost outside a water hazard or is out of bounds, to save time, he should play a provisional ball.

Players searching for a ball should signal the players in the group behind them to play through as soon as it becomes apparent that the ball will not easily be found.

They should not search for five minutes before doing so. Having allowed the group behind to play through, they should not continue play until that group has passed and is out of range.
View Saving Time with a Lost Ball Animation


Priority on the Course

Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, priority on the course is determined by a group's pace of play. Any group playing a whole round is entitled to pass a group playing a shorter round.
View Priority on the Course Animation


Care of the Course

Bunkers

Before leaving a bunker, players should carefully fill up and smooth over all holes and footprints made by them and any nearby made by others. If a rake is within reasonable proximity of the bunker, the rake should be used for this purpose.
View Bunker Etiquette Animation

Repair of Divots, Ball-Marks and Damage by Shoes

Players should carefully repair any divot holes made by them and any damage to the putting green made by the impact of a ball (whether or not made by the player himself). On completion of the hole by all players in the group, damage to the putting green caused by golf shoes should be repaired.
View Divot Repair Etiquette Animation

Preventing Unnecessary Damage

Players should avoid causing damage to the course by removing divots when taking practice swings or by hitting the head of a club into the ground, whether in anger or for any other reason.

Players should ensure that no damage is done to the putting green when putting down bags or the flagstick.

In order to avoid damaging the hole, players and caddies should not stand too close to the hole and should take care during the handling of the flagstick and the removal of a ball from the hole. The head of a club should not be used to remove a ball from the hole.

Players should not lean on their clubs when on the putting green, particularly when removing the ball from the hole.

The flagstick should be properly replaced in the hole before players leave the putting green.

Local notices regulating the movement of golf carts should be strictly observed.
View Preventing Unnecessary Damage Animation


Conclusion; Penalties for Breach

If players follow the guidelines in this Section, it will make the game more enjoyable for everyone.

If a player consistently disregards these guidelines during a round or over a period of time to the detriment of others, it is recommended that the Committee consider taking appropriate disciplinary action against the offending player. Such action may, for example, include prohibiting play for a limited time on the course or in a certain number of competitions. This is considered to be justifiable in terms of protecting the interest of the majority of golfers who wish to play in accordance with these guidelines.

In the case of a serious breach of Etiquette, the Committee may disqualify a player under Rule 33-7.

Club House Parking Lot

 Saturday we started pruning the parking lot trees.

This is necessary ever 2-3 years for the heath of the trees as well as aesthetics.