Week of May 15

Nice view from gold tee on 12

As I write this week's blog, it looks like some much needed rain is on it's way. We have received no rainfall for two weeks now with constant wind and low humidity. This has put a dent into our irrigation pond as well as a large percentage of labor having to be put towards irrigation. Generally in the middle of May you do not have 4 to 6 guys hand watering all day. This dry spell has shifted the focus of my labor to our irrigation needs. Unfortunately the dry spell came at a time where we have a lot of crucial applications to make, projects to wrap up, and a range project starting. Hopefully next week some of the focus can be shifted toward projects and detail work.

On the project front the tee on 4 has been completed as well as the forward tee on 7. These tees have been mowed twice now and are rooting nicely. We will begin lowering height on them and completing some other cultural practice to them this week. There is a possibility they may be able to be opened for this coming Saturday, May 27th.

A gallery of some of the tee work:

The driving range project is moving along. This week we were faced with numerous challenges that unfortunately did take some time away from golf course maintenance. I feel this week should feature smoother sailing and little interruption to the maintenance of the golf course. Goal for next week is to have the targets all shaped with root zone applied, the drainage completed, irrigation installed, and tee work basically completed.

Range starting to take shape

Not much was accomplished to the third hole this past week other then keeping the seed and sod areas with adequate moisture. Goal for this week is to have at least one area prepared for sod and possibly two. The latest areas that were seeded have begun to germinate and we will see how those areas start to fill in over the next few weeks. Please remember maintenance of the rest of the golf course must come first. This week irrigation requirements plus chemical and fertility applications needed to be put ahead of project work. This coming week we also need to redirect some labor to the swim facility as that will be opening next weekend.

29 degrees on member guest morning

This past Thursday was our first member guest of the season. We were greeted by 29 degree temperatures at 5 am and a course encapsulated in frost. To make matters worse we had heavy winds the day and evening before leaving the greens covered in debris. It took 18 man hours just to get greens clear so they could be cut and rolled. Despite the frost we were able to get most of the planned maintenance done prior to the member guest going out.

A view of 9 fairway prior to member guest going out

Also this week, the fence on the 4th hole was replaced. Thank you to Invited for quick approval of the funds needed to make this repair

Fence replacement 4

Other work started or completed this week:

A soil application was made to greens with wetting agent, ammonium sulfate, calcium, humic acid, potassium, and a plant growth regulator we use for poa control.

A foliar application was made to greens with a fungicide, calcium, magnesium, and manganese

Wetting agent applications started to fairway drainage trenches

Varied bunker maintenance from nose mowing to sand additions

Pond maintenance to golf course ponds started

Yardage markers have begun to be edged