I am running out of adjectives to describe 2014 but one thing is for sure, 2014 will be remembered for a long time & not in a good way. The struggles to the beginning of this golf season have been well documented and as the window of opportunity that Spring brings quickly washes away; I have come to the conclusion that 2014 is going to be a real battle. The development of the new seedlings has been slow with the below average temperatures which could lead to underdevelopment of the new plant prior to the summer heat. It can bring overwhelming thoughts at times as I try to adjust/adapt to the ever changing weather. We have done all the right things and given the effort needed but this proves that Mother Nature dictates the success of things as the environment is a major component in the health of living plants. All that being said, progress has been made and brighter days are ahead.
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| With the colder nights and chance for frost covers have been put back on recovering areas |
On Wednesday, we pushed the envelope and got all the greens, tees, & fairways mowed getting things somewhat under control. Also, with the colder weather, we covered the damaged areas on greens to protect these areas from the well below nightly temperatures. These areas will remain covered until more moderate temperatures return. All greens are open for play with the exception of 7,8,10,& 11. The other greens will have partial covers but portions of the greens are open.
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| Flooding conditions in some areas while other areas were just fully saturated |
Over the past 7 days we have received over 4 inches of rain with still more looking to fall from the skies today. A lot of labor hours have been lost and numerous tasks not completed due to the overly wet, rainy weather. None of the additional seeding of greens or fairways was able to get started & it has been a crap shoot with keeping up with mowing the fairways and rough. Bunkers have been wounded severely from all the rain and we will need some dry conditions to get the course tamed once again. The crew is ready to tackle the task at hand and hopefully it can start tomorrow if conditions allow.
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| Typical bunker conditions following heavy rain events |
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| Flooded conditions |
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| Saturated conditions limiting mowing of the rough |
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| Tire tracking throughout the course limiting normal maintenance |
The rain has had one positive affect. The sod at the new range tee is beginning to root & we haven't needed to water it. Hoooray!!!
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| Dodging the rain drops, a few crew members mowed the new sod for the first time at the New Range Tee |
The new tee sign post have been installed this week and beginning next week all the new tee signs will be hung. A little clean up of the crushed brick area surrounding the tee sign & bench and things will be looking good.
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| New tee sign at #1 |
Lastly, I wanted to point out something that we usually don't see in normal years.....Poa Seed Heads!!
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| The sea of white shows all the seed produced by Poa Annua on a green |
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| Here is a closer look at all the seed production on a fairway |
In normal years we apply a combination of growth regulators that suppress the production of seed. Unfortunately, these products were not applied this year based on the fact that we had so much turf recovery & reestablishment to achieve after the ice damage from the terrible winter.
I will update you next week and hopefully it has some good news & weather to go along with.
