Weekend Update

The forecast is calling for some heavy rain this weekend so the golf course will remain walking only. Carts are scheduled to be allowed on Tuesday weather permitting. The 9th hole remains with a temporary green. This week the cedar benches and cedar tee markers that were refurbished have been placed back out on the course. The crew also continued course clean-up and pick-up from the wind storm on Wednesday where we saw gusts up to 40 mph.

The construction company finalized the drainage in the bunkers on 9 and began to install the bunker liner. We should be sodding by the middle of next week leaving us 3 good weeks of rooting weather before the opening day scramble.

Bunker Liner being Installed

New Jersey remains the nation's most densely populated state but golf courses provide a haven for many different creatures including fox, deer, and birds. In an effort to be more sustainable we are installing bluebird nesting boxes on the golf course this spring. Our hope is to increase our bluebird population for the enjoyment of our members while at the same time reducing the amount of problem insects. I had the New Jersey Audubon visit the golf course and show us where we can place these boxes including trees and posts as prime locations. We will then monitor the houses to see what kind of birds we attract, some will be bluebirds but I was told to expect other species to also make a home at Madison. These nesting boxes were made using New Jersey grown white cedar and were dressed up with the Audubon and Madison logos. I am really looking forward to this experiment to see what we can attract to the golf course.

Walking Only

The golf course will open for play beginning on Saturday March 22 at 9:30 AM for walkers only. The 9th hole will play to a temporary green until the greenside construction project is finished. Please be aware that there are some muddy areas along the right side of 1 green and all around the 9th green complex. Please do not walk through these areas. 5 and 8 greens had the covers removed and will be ready for play. The forecast is calling for a weather event the beginning of next week so there is a possibility that the course will be closed again for a period of time.

An update on the construction project - All of the new irrigation has been installed on the new fairway expansion, 9 green and bunkers, and 1 green and bunkers. The left-side 9th green bunker is shaped and new drainage has been installed. The right-side bunker is currently being shaped and is awaiting drainage. The liners will then be installed, sand added, then all areas will be sodded. As you have heard me say, this process is weather dependent.

We use a Growing Degree Day (GDD) model to time application of certain plant protectant materials for seed head control and crabgrass prevention among others. The basis of this model is the number of days starting March 1 where the temperature is above 50 degrees. I noticed today that we have zero GDD but in 2013 we only had 2 GDD so in actuality maybe we aren't that far behind. We shall see what next week brings.

Shaping 9 Bunker on Friday

Painting Course Accessories

Weekend Update

The winter weather is just not letting up this year with some of the snow and ice melting this week on the golf course, the past two days of cold has stopped the melting progress. The clubhouse will be opening tomorrow but the golf course will remain closed for the weekend. All of the greens still have snow and ice on them with the rest of the golf course about 50 percent melted. The saturated conditions from the remaining snow melt are preventing us from opening the course even to walkers. The golf course currently still has two holes under construction 1 and 9 with construction to resume the middle of next week weather permitted. We also have two greens still covered, 5 and 8 along with tree debris from the winter storms scattered about the course. A partial maintenance crew will be returning to work on Monday to start course clean-up and re-finish the course accessories. I understand that the winter has kept all of us inside and itching to swing a club but this is one spring that doesn’t seem to want to show up. I will update again next week hopefully with better news.

 

As the snow and ice begin to melt that does not signal that we are out of the woods yet as far as turf damage from this winter. As the snow melts the plants begin to absorb water, if this is followed by a sharp hard freeze the plants can die from direct winter injury. The following link explains exactly how this process can take place http://gogtn.org/index.php/articles/turf-community/plant-stress/140-freeze-injury

1st Tee Friday March 14

Melt baby Melt

Today's weather is exactly what we need to melt the snow and more importantly melt the ice. The following pictures were taken Tuesday on the practice green. This green tends to hold water on the surface so I have created some channels for the water to move. 

Thankfully it's looks as though the next weather event will be rain but it will be followed by one more day of cold. I am hoping to have the crew return next week and Pavelec Brothers should be back on the construction project within the next 10 days but Mother Nature will have the final say.