Helicopter Season Almost Over

If there is one thing I can count on every year it is the numerous Silver Maple trees on the course dropping their seeds all over the course.  Helicopters as many of us call them have run out of gas for the most part as I see there aren't many seeds left in the trees.  See you next year. 

Chainsaw would cure this problem

Horrible Weather Pattern Continues to Dampen Course

Today is basically another lost day due to poor weather.  We have experienced far to many of these types of days this year.  With no normal routine this spring it has been somewhat up and down at times with course conditions.  As soon as we catch up, we get behind because of the lost time on the course but I feel we have still been able to provide above par conditions no matter what the circumstances.  Today will be a day to catch up on some of the little things that have been put on the back burner.  Every year is different and this year is no exception.


First it was the flood to start the season that put us way behind schedule

Cleanup from the flood took a couple weeks and hours upon hours of labor to get us back on track with debris and silt deposit removal.




1 inch of rain last night just adds on to saturated conditions.

The rain lately hasn't come in the form of a flood thankfully but it has haulted our progress and more importantly it continues to limit the use of golf carts. 

Native Area at #8 Tee

Installing native plants will bring more color and beauty

Kudos to Andrew for finding the time to get the plants in the ground

This has been an on going project over the past several years but with a new Assistant, Andrew Narlow; comes new ideas.  Andrew has spearheaded the project and will lead the charge with our Audubon Program.  Areas like these are used for case studies which we then use as part of our recertification. 

Transformation of the Landscaping at the Cart Staging Area

After the removal of the Ash Trees.  Next step was the removal of the junipers.

Emerald Ash Borer started the process by killing the Ash trees

Installation of the new landscaping material

A new & improved look for the area

With only a few more plants to install, the area has greatly improved its aesthetics.  Over the past several years we have updated the landscaping in areas to provide a more modern look that provides more color and appeal. 

Memorial Day 2013 Weather Prediction

WEATHER PREDICTION FOR 5/27/13

While I am no weatherman, I do follow the weather pretty closely and I have been asked to give me weather prediction on days when the weather is a little suspect.  So moving forward, I will give my best guess based on the information that I have available.

Memorial Day 2013 weather definitely falls into the suspect category and this is what I see happening.

The highest percentages for rain are at the start of the day with 80% chance of rain from 5-7 am.  The percentages begin to decrease hourly from 70% at 7-9 am to 60% from 9-11 am followed by 40% from 11am-1 pm.  After 1 pm every hour is in the 20% range.  In general, these weather events tend to move through quicker so hoping that is the case today.  All things being considered it looks to be a slow start this morning but hopefully the rain front will move through by late morning and provide a decent afternoon of golf.  Lastly, I don’t expect the rain to fall hard enough to limit carts for the day but the weather is unpredictable.

Best guess respectfully submitted,

Kurt Sams, CGCS

Idle Chatter With Course Updates

FROM THE GROUNDS

MAY 2013

Spring is quickly escaping us as we move into the end of May.  We have gotten a lot of work done and the course shows the progress that has been made even with the extra work that was put upon us with the flood.  For the most part we have achieved all the necessary duties during the timing that was necessary but for a few things.  Here are a few tidbits to either mark on your calendar or maybe even make you laugh a little.

Irrigation working properly on #10 Tee.

The irrigation system, “The Dragon” as I call it; has once again awakened for the season.  It took a lot of man hours but we finally have it operating properly.  My fingers are crossed that my old nemesis will maintain itself thus allowing me to maintain my sanity.

 

Solid tining provides benefits without the major disruption of pulling plugs.

The aerification process that I have used for the last few years is pretty membership friendly and it has all but been completed.  The only areas remaining to be aerified are the fairways.  Without the irrigation system operating properly, I had to delay fairway aerification to ensure the health of these 25 acres.  Now that the irrigation system is up to snuff….we will begin fairway aerification next week.  We will be solid tining the fairways so they should recover pretty quickly.

 

New #16 Tee.

I am happy to say the new #16 tee will open Friday May 24^th just in time for the Memorial Day weekend.  It’s kind of a funny thought but I think some people may be upset.  Numerous members have said they like the temporary tee box as they have hit the green more often.  From that stand point I find it hard to say sorry but some good things must come to an end.

 

Andrew performing flood clean up.

In case you haven’t noticed the new face on the course this spring I wanted to mention Andrew Narlow.  Andrew is the new Assistant and I am happy to say the he is off to a great start.  Andrew is a hard working and diligent young man that is going the help me a great deal.  He has quite a few things to learn about the operation here but I am sure he will give the effort necessary to succeed.

 

Thinking about the heat makes me think of snow.  O-H-I-O!

I hope everyone has had a great spring thus far and are looking forward to some normal weather before the heat and humidity set in for the summer.  I am really looking for to the 2013 and the great things it will bring to the club.  I feel the same way every year about this time; ask me that in August and you may get a different answer.  For future, frequent updates follow the blog or follow me on twitter @idycc

Respectfully,

Kurt Sams, CGCS

Welcome to Idlewild, Lulu!!

My family dog (Lulu) is now a member of the Grounds Staff.

Lulu is 5 months old and I believe she is a Collie/Shepard mix.  She loves treats and is very friendly (but protective) once she gets a sniff.  She has been hard at work chasing geese and I can say it is not the trainer but rather she is just a natural.  In one week, we have went from 16 geese down to just 2 and I haven't really seen them much either.  Lulu is a jack of all trades as shown in these next 2 (amateur) videos performing irrigation work & chasing geese. 

#16 Tee Renovation is Completed

Putting the final touches on the grade and sodding the bluegrass around the tee.

Installing the bentgrass sod on the tee surface.

The equipment makes the job a lot less labor intensive and time efficient.

Completed # 16 tee.

The renovation of #16 tee is finally complete.  I would have liked to have seen the work done a couple of weeks ago but if you are wondering why......read the previous post.  We will be topdressing and watering the tee heavily for the 1st 2 weeks and hope to have it open shortly there after.  Please refrain from using the tee box until is officially opens.  I must say this is a great improvement.

2013 Flood in Review

#8 tee and the south side of Butterfield Creek is where a bulk of the issues were.

Spent a few all nighters keeping the trash pumps moving water off the course.

Silt deposit left from the flooding of Butterfield Creek

The flood a few weeks ago left a lot of clean up work and delayed other work that was scheduled.  Fortunately, there are only a few scars that remain but all in all I am very happy this flood event took place during cool weather otherwise turf loss would have been enormous.  The Grounds Department is starting to catch up with some work that was delayed and the course is in excellent shape all things considered.

Irrigation 911

Flushing the irrigation heads to remove the debris that is clogging the heads.

Material that is flushed out creates quite a mess.

Properly operating irrigation sprinkler.

The irrigation system is old (Circa 1979) and it takes this extra kind of effort to keep it working properly.  The new acid injection system should aid in dissolving the lime/calcium deposit that is responsible for this issue.  I am sure this is just the 1st posting of many for 2013 when it comes to the irrigation system.

# 4 Green Cart Path Removal & Replacement

Cart Path before work.

New crushed brick path installed.

Finished product with old path removed.

In the plans to do the work for a couple of years, I am glad to see the old path removed and out of play to the golfer.  Please follow the cart directioning in order to keep the new sod healthy.