Course Update

We have been having some warm days yet most of the nights are still pretty cool so turf growth has been sporadic. We have planted the majority of the new trees to replace some of the trees we removed during the winter. I am waiting for some additional plant material to finish the area by the 1st tee but the nursery has not received their shipment yet. We have installed new irrigation on the right side bunkers of 8 green along with the mounding area between the clubhouse and 9 fairway.

 A couple of things about the weather, the ball washers will not be placed out until the threat of freezing temperatures is gone, a week from today temperatures will be in the 20's with a chance of snow. The weather system forecasted for next week coincides with our aeration days so it will be a waiting game to see how much we can get finished depending on the hand mother nature deals us. The divot buckets will be placed out on the tees following the aeration the tees next week. We have received the permit for the fence behind 5 green, work will start on that project tomorrow. Spring is a funny season perfect golf weather one day with frigid and snowy weather the next. We have a full crew now and we will be completing as much maintenance everyday based upon the weather.

Course Update and USGA Regional Update

The season seems to be moving right along much different then last spring when on March 17th we were removing ice from the 6th green. The greens have been mowed 4 times this season and rolled twice with the club's new "two-wheel drive" roller. The rest of the short turf has also been mowed and the course is beginning to green up. The crew has been hard at work clearing the stump grindings, adding topsoil where needed and seeding. New trees and plant material is on order and should be arriving next week. The fence project behind 5 green has received zoning approval from the borough and we are currently awaiting our building permit. Carts will available this weekend if your thinking about braving the cold weather. We have a Welcome Back cocktail party at the club Tuesday March 22nd at 7 PM and I hope see you there.

New Roller in Action

Let's Tee It Up... But
Remember It Is Only MarchMON MAR 14 01:26:00 EDT 2016By Adam Moeller, agronomist, Northeast Region

The early spring weather is being welcomed by golfers who are taking advantage of the courses that have opened early throughout the Northeast Region. The early start to the season has allowed many superintendents to complete post-winter course cleanup ahead of schedule. However, most facilities are not fully staffed, so getting course conditions to a level that meets peak-season expectations will be very challenging. The season is roughly three weeks ahead of schedule and, as a result, many superintendents are a few weeks away from having their full seasonal staffs. Remember, bringing staff back earlier than anticipated will have significant budgetary impacts.

Even with ample staff, opening putting greens to early spring play is a tough decision. A significant amount of play on putting greens that are not actively growing, or not growing fast enough to recover from wear, may lead to thin turf and bumpy surfaces. Do not hesitate to keep putting greens closed if they are not growing enough to handle traffic.

Several golf course maintenance practices may need to be examined and adjusted because of the early start to the season.Poa annua seedhead suppression and weed/pest-control programs may need to be initiated earlier than anticipated if the warm spring weather persists. This may result in a more applications than originally budgeted.

The early start to the golf season may stimulate revenue but it is crucial to acknowledge that staffing and/or potential budget restrictions might limit course conditions at your facility. Golfers should enjoy the early season but must be patient with course conditions. Remember, it is only March.  

Early Spring Conditions

After two years of getting a late start to the season this year looks to be starting a bit different. We brought back half of the crew a week early to begin getting the course cleaned up. The weather will be fantastic this week and I am sure many of you will be out to play but please keep in mind it takes a couple of week to get everything cleaned up and begin regular maintenance. Our well project has been completed with the installation of the new well shaft, pump, and discharge head. Completion of this project will provide the club with reliable water source for the next 20 years. The fence project behind 5 green is half way with the trees being removed including the logs and the stumps have been ground. The fence will be installed in the next few week so please be mindful that we currently do not have a fence behind the green and we do not want golf balls landing in the neighbor's yard. Thank you for your understanding until we can finish this project.

I will be attending the MGC Green Chairman Education Series with Ken Ryan from the greens committee on Thursday at Willow Ridge Country Club in Harrison, NY. I always enjoy going back to Willow Ridge as it was my first assistant superintendent job. The seminar includes speakers from the USGA green section, Cornell University, and world renowned golf course architect Tom Doak. The day should be a great experience.

New Well Shaft Installation