Mercury Rising

The last few days we've seen the mercury rise in the thermometer, feels good!  Conditions at Briarwood have been very wet over the last week but things have dried out slightly.  Hopefully with today's winds and a bit of sunshine we can get the carts out of the stalls tomorrow.  April has been a very unfortunate month for all of us, the maintenance side and the golfing side.  Progress continues to move as always in the Grounds and Greens department.  We continue to take things each day at a time cause that's what the weather is making us do.  I always pay attention to the long range forecast but anymore I'm afraid to look, but I still do.  Looking at the next week we seem to be getting some more pleasant weather.  Sun and higher temps are just what we need to accomplish some tasks still needing done.  Cultural practices are in the line to begin, starting on Monday we'll be doing some verticutting and aerifying.  These are all ways to increase turf density and upright growth but also remove thatch build up in the profile.  Thatch is a layer of dead organic matter like grass clippings, roots, and shoots.  Thatch can be a big problem if it isn't managed, it acts almost as a blanket not letting moisture and nutrients down to where it should as well as absorbing heat and creating harmful conditions for the turfgrass.  Aerification will be taking place on the approaches along with verticutting.  Verticutting will also be taking place on the greens.  After these processes are completed we'll be topdressing surfaces with sand, which helps dilute the thatch layer.  Video of each process will be posted on Monday. 

All in all things are doing good here at the club.  Spring is here as leaves start to emerge from trees, and flowers are starting to bloom.  Hope you are able to come out and enjoy some time on the golf course. 

A photo from 2 ladies tee looking back down 1.  You can see the Dogwoods producing some flowers.  Flowering hasn't been the best as it has been so cool out as of late.