So Close!

     Good morning from the Briarwood Grounds and Greens, it's Saturday, April 1st and it is a great day outside.  Unfortunately, I am the bearer of bad news as the golf course is still saturated from the 2'' + of rain we received over the past week.  This rain has put a bit of a hindrance on our maintenance practice such as mowing the short grass as much as we would like to but we still have been able to get out and do some detail work important to what sets Briarwood apart from the other facilities in Chicago.

     The grounds crew has been working hard on our cart path expansion project along the practice putting green and I am happy to say that the puzzle has been put together.  The final stone was laid on Friday morning and the clean up process was completed.  The next step is to fill the cracks with a greens sand/soil mix and seed with fine fescue.  We will keep this section of the cart path covered once seeded to help stimulate growth of the fescue
.  This will not only add color to the project but it will help with keeping the stones in place with the abundant cart traffic it will endure.
       The detail work on the golf course has continued throughout the rainy days.  The crew as able to go out and edge sprinkler heads, drain covers, and valve boxes.  Little detail such as these are very important on a golf course, not only because of aesthetics but it is important when it comes to aerification because we are able to see and avoid hitting anything with the aerifiers.  If we simply neglected to edge said irrigation heads and drains the grass would simply grow of them and they become lost.  I can tell you from experience it's not a pleasant time trying to find an overgrown valve when you have an irrigation leak.

A perfectly edged drain cover adds that extra bit of cleanliness when
it come to the aesthetics of a golf course.  Also notice the bunker
has been prepped to be machine raked.

      For now, the practice range is open to hitting off of the mat and the golf center is open for your short game practice.  Please be cautious when driving to the golf center and keep carts on paths at all times.  Be sure to check out the newly renovated clubhouse for lunch. I hope everyone has an enjoyable weekend and just know that golf season is almost upon us at Briarwood!