Trees

Many members focus on the trees in the spring when they first come to the course and see the results of our winter tree management plan. I wanted to share some of the work that we did this morning to the maple tree next to 1 tee that was planted last spring.

The air-spade is a handheld soil excavation tool connected to a large air-compressor. The high-pressure stream of air is funnelled through a small nozzle breaking dense soils into small particles particularly useful in removing soil while leaving tree roots undamaged. When required the air-spade is a fast and accurate method for the removal of soils for investigating sub soil conditions.

The Air-Spade is a truly versatile tool that can be used in a wide variety of tree care and utility applications including:

• Aerating or reducing soil compaction
• Excavating tree root collars and trunk flares
• Investigating damage caused by tree roots
• Inspecting girdling roots
• Root pruning
• Cultivating soil
• Vertical mulching
• Radial trenching

The air-spade process was a huge success for us on the maple tree located on the 1st fairway until the October snow storm damage some of the branches. The leaves doubled in size from one season to the next because of the air spade. I expect the same results in the years to come for the maple at 1 tee.

Irrigation

The weather the last few days could be called "perfect" by most people in northern New Jersey. The issue that most members do not realize is that these warm, breezy, low hummidity days draw alot of water out of the ground. Dry conditions are great firmer greens, great roll in the fairways, and comfortable weather to play in. The maintenance face the challenge of keeping the soil moist enough to support growing turf. The majority of the playing surface have irrigation which limits how much we have to handwater. The large exception to this is the rough and bunker banks. Many of our green-side bunker banks do not have irrigation and some of the secondary rough is not irrigated. Come on out and enjoy the waether but be mindful of the staff out watering.

Handwatering of bunkers that have no irrigation

Irrigation added in fall of 2011 on #2 bunkers

Lightning

The following took place yesterday on a golf course in Connecticut. Please obey the siren on the golf course and head for safety in the clubhouse.

Fifteen workers at a Connecticut golf course now know what it’s like to get up close and personal with lightning. The close-call happened Monday at Foxwoods Resort Casino.

The workers had taken shelter in a building on the course when lightning struck close by, very close by.

This is the Lake of Isles golf course near Foxwoods Casino.

Fifteen workers here found out the hard way that lightning and golf courses don't mix.

Club general manager Archie Cart described what happened.

"This morning at about 9:30, there was a lightning strike on property that impacted 15 associates who were seeking shelter in an enclosed building,” said the Lake of Isles GM. “No one was struck by lightning.  It struck near the building."

The workers were taken to various hospitals including six to Backus in nearby Norwich. One worker we spoke with said they were all in the building when he heard an explosion outside. He described a feeling like a huge amount of pressure being applied. So big it knocked some of the men to the floor. All of them were conscious and alert as they were taken for medical help. They are all expected to be fine.

"A general physical assessment of the person is done initially and then they look for specific areas of contact with lightning," said Sandee Gelven of Backus Hospital.

The worker we spoke with said at least one of his colleagues has some markings on his ankles from the strike.

“It’s horrible. I hope everyone's okay,” said Mike Bopp of New York. “We were hitting balls on the driving range.  As soon as it came we ran for cover."

"It's crazy,” said Steve Johnson of Old Lyme, Conn. “We weren't going to go out and play if there's any danger."

It wasn't so much the lightning but the rain that put the kibosh on the rest of the day's activities here at Lake of Isles. 

Fan

We will be using a portable fan on the 5th green this season when temperatures and humidity levels require.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Venting

All of the greens and nursery were vented and topdressed today allowing them to breath in preparation for the hot temperatures later this week.. All of the greens then received some organic granular fertilizer to help the turf with the upcoming heat.

Day Two

Sunrise on Day 2 of the member guest. I hope the weather stays like this today.
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Tournament Ready

This week was a short week for us on the maintenance department as all of our work needed to be completed for the start of the men's two-day member guest Friday morning. The week did not start off well when our summer employee who was supposed to start Tuesday morning to help get us ready for the tournament decided on Monday night that he wasn't interested in the job anymore. The hits kept coming as the oldest utility cart in our fleet had a mechancial breakdown that required the engine to be removed from the cart, repaired and installed again. Thanks to Mike for fixing the issue so quickly. The tees were in need of a fungicide application and with Monday's rain Wednesday morning was our day. I started to spray the tees and the boom broke off the sprayer, 3 hours later it was repaired and back on the course. Just as Thursday morning started, I was feeling good about the course conditions one of our greens mowers broke down. Thankfully we had the part in stock and I was able to repair the issue and get it back on the course before play started. I hope we are done with the problems for this week and everyone enjoys the great event that our head pro Craig has put together with his staff this weekend.
See you on the course.

Rain

The storm last night dumped an inch of rain on the course. The greens were rolled this morning and I vented the 2nd and 4th collars. These greens stay a much wetter then the rest and last season the collars took a beating with the wet weather. The Bayonett tines that I used will allow oxygen down to the roots and help vent out any gases that build up under saturated conditions. All of the greens will be vented after the two-day member guest to aid in recovery from the additional mowings and rollings that the greens will receive for the tournament. The long range forecast is calling for chances of rain the rest of the week. I hope they are wrong for the sake of the greens. For the sake of our bunker banks that do not have irrigation the rain is a blessing.