Off With the Covers!!!!

Well today is the day to "Open Them UP!"  This means, we'll be removing the tarps that have been in place over the weekend keeping the methyl bromide in place.  Our schedule today is the get all covers removed so that we can begin seed prep and sod tomorrow.  If we can begin prep tomorrow we'll have all seed down and begin the growing process by Friday!  If this can be the case we'll have great germination by Labor Day weekend.  Last weeks preparation couldn't have gone any better, especially with the rain over the weekend.  We had set the goal to have everything finished up by Friday afternoon and we accomplished that goal.  Prep took some longer days but they were well worth it, if we hadn't been able to finish the prep work we'd be a few days behind right now due to weather.  This weeks weather looks to be tremendous with a slight chance of rain on Wednesday.  Like I said our goal is to get everything seeded by Friday and I see no problem in doing that.  Friday, Phase II will be completed with only sitting back to water the grass grow.  Attached are some photos from the last day of prep work last week.

Here Ryan begins to work on the front right of 1 grn.  A few adjustments are being done to this green to aid in surface drainage.  If you remember back a few springs this green was 2/3rds dead from ice damage.  With adjusting a few pitches we'll be able to increase surface drainage off the front of this green and help eliminate standing water.

Another photo of 1 grn.  Here they are working on the front left again to increase surface drainage. 

Here they are beginning work on the 9th grn.  This green had a few small pockets in the middle front of the green that we wanted to fix and increase surface drainage.

Some more work being done to 9 grn.  Slight adjustments were also made to the approach to help fix a holding pocket in the middle of the approach.

Back left of 18 grn was also adjusted to aid in surface drainage.



The spark of the greens project was initially the damage we suffered in the spring of 2010.  We had significant damage to 1, 8, 9, and 18 green.  Issues needed to be addressed to insure to not have significant damage again.  Talk began with the XGD drainage system and that moved forward.  XGD has been a tremendous improvement for our greens.  If not for XGD we would have had significant issues again this summer when the rain and heat came.  I've had numerous phone calls from other area private clubs asking about XGD and how it has worked.  These clubs have run into their own issues with the tough climate so are looking for away to remedy.  Now with the regrassing we are going to have a very durable turfgrass that can withstand numerous pressures Mother Nature throws our way.  Not saying that it is bullet proof, but very tolerable.  I'm excited for the finished product as I'm sure everyone is.  I know there is a lot of wonder on whether it is worth having to go through this but I can guarantee you it is!