Although it’s not quite officially summer yet, after the last few weeks of warmer weather and greener grass it feels like the golf course is finally awake.
Thankfully we didn’t suffer sustained bitter cold over the winter, but the weather still threw us challenges. December was so warm that the fairways actually started greening up. When that happens, the dormant Bermuda can exhaust its food supplies too soon, resulting in some of the spotty areas from which we’re finally recovering. January was consistently cold and February was really wet. Thanks for your patience during the frost and weather delays that impacted over half of our days the first 10 weeks of the year.
The reduced mowing requirements during the off-season enabled your course maintenance team to focus on needed projects and improvements, including:
- construction of a new and expanded chemical storage building
- installation of new pedestrian bridges on holes #5 and #6
- strategic tree pruning and removal to open needed channels of light and airflow, most notable around the expanded nursery greens and hole #11 tee complex
- refurbishment of the on-course bathrooms
- conversion of “hard-to-grow” areas to more visually appealing ground cover
- equipment maintenance catch-up and prep for a new season
- construction of a retaining wall and expansion of the right side tee on hole #4 – providing more area for the forward tees and an option for occasional use as the middle tee with an interesting new approach angle
- addition of a new forward tee on hole #9 – 50 yards ahead of the previously most forward tee, leaving 100 yards to the crest of the hill
- our latest project on and around hole #11 tee complex, including removal of two large trees to improve turf conditions, re-sodding an expanded area on the tee itself, and construction of a new pond retaining wall to greatly improve the visual appeal
With most of these projects nearing completion and our playing surfaces rounding into form, you have probably noticed the increase in mowers on all areas of the course as we added seasonal staff in preparation for sustained warm weather. We’ll talk in another update about further actions being taken to beautify the course. Until then, know that your maintenance team is fully engaged toward providing you with the very best on-course experience.