A Hint of Spring

Today and tomorrow will give us our first taste of spring.  Forecasts show temperatures reaching the 50's and even close to 60, something we've yet to experience.  Adequate weather is greatly accepted as current course conditions have limited our ability to accomplish tasks.  Spring tasks like cleanup, projects, winter recovery, and course opening are all weather and course condition dependent.  We had a dismal winter and so far the spring is shaping to be the same.

Debris from Locust's and Willow's raked into piles awaiting pickup

Spring cleanup is always a time consuming task, especially if we are limited due to conditions.
 Lately the golf course has remained very soft, preventing any type of equipment being used.  Lots of our tasks require the use of carts and other heavy machinery, right now all we'd do is create damage and more work for ourselves.  The last few weeks the guys have been taking on tasks were they can walk, such as; raking up branches, picking up garbage, and clubhouse cleanup.  Most of this debris is being gathered into piles for pickup later.  A nice week of warmer temperatures accompanied by a good breeze would be nice.  

Snow still hanging around in some spots

Projects have yet to begin, again due to conditions.  This spring we have a few big projects on our hands; lake bank rehab, and finishing our turf nursery.  These are the most important of the projects while the cleanup of our dump along #5 will be done later in the season.  I had hopes of having most of the lake bank work done at this point but, the soft conditions and the ponds still being froze over have diminished that.  Our focus is being placed on the pond edge along the 10th fairway and in front of the front greenside bunker on 3.  With these being highly in play areas we need to get completed soon.  The turf nursery, the area behind the 2nd green and 3rd tee is a concern but yet not as great.  Due to it being out of play we can work on while the course is busy with play.  Although, we understand the visual impact due to it being in sight of numerous holes.  Thankfully, a large amount of the messy work was done last fall.  When things dry up and we can begin work we have final grading, irrigation and drainage installation, along with root mix incorporation.  Our goal of mid June for seeding is still there.

As we are all well aware, this winter was tough.  Winter took a toll on us as well as some turf throughout the golf course.  We're not alone, many reports are coming out of widespread turf damage due to winter conditions.  If we remember back to 2010, we experienced winter damage on a few greens.  It was tough to stomach but we got through.  One reason for regrassing our greens was to have a turf more tolerant of harsh conditions, this winter it paid off.  Our greens and approaches look great, barely a scratch from the winter.  If you remember most of our conversations at that time involved two topics, Poa Annua and drainage.  Damage occurred due to higher populations of Poa, a turf that is very susceptible to weather extremes.   Drainage was also a contributing factor as water couldn't drain, thus forming ice.  Well, unfortunately our fairways have areas of high Poa populations and poor drainage.  It's too early to tell how much damage we have but I know we'll see some.  Currently as I walk the course I do see some improvement with areas, others none.  A nice warm few weeks will really give us an idea of how things sit, so I'm hoping for spring.  Our game plan of cultural practices, fertility, and seeding is in place for those areas that may be slower or just plain done.  We ask everyone to be patient as we bring things back but also know we have some projects down the road to improve drainage and possibly even turf type to prevent this from happening again.

Photos of some fairways showing some winter damage.  Some is coming back some is not, only time will tell.  Most damage is being noticed in areas with poor drainage, high traffic from carts, competition from trees with roots and shade

I'm sure after today and tomorrow the question will be, when does the course open?  Looking at the long range forecast these next few days are the best, the rest sit in the mid 40's.  A good amount of work on the course is needed before opening, my best guess would be a few weeks yet.  Weather will help dictate that, adequate weather could change things drastically.  In the meantime, we'll be opening the range from the mats, with the short game facility opening towards the end of the week.  I know we all have an itch to get out and going, especially after this winter.  Please be patient, we'll get the course open as soon as we can.