Maintenance Update 12/15/2010

Despite the weather turning cooler than normal, we have been quite busy on the course.  As I'm sure you have noticed, we have finished cleaning around the irrigation pond located between holes #3, #16 and #17.  We will be renting a small stump grinder in January and will grind out the remaining stumps around the perimeter of the lake so we will be able to maintain the area with a mower.  This body of water is a nice feature and greatly opens up the view from #3 tee box.

Our staff started early this year on blowing and picking up leaves around the course.  We've been able to stay on top of it thus far and have pretty much eliminated the need for any 'winter rules' concerning lost balls in the leaves.

Almost all of the grass has gone dormant already.  There is a small bit of color left on the greens and this will probably fluctuate with the weather.  As I type, it is a windy 77 degrees.  This will probably bring a little color back, but for the most part, the greens are done growing.  We will still mow on an as needed basis to smooth the surface and remove any debris the wind may have blown.  On days we do not mow, we will still go out with a blower to remove any debris.  Also, after the final member event (The Ultimate Scramble on 12/19), we will proceed with cutting three holes per green.  We will start off with cutting holes in locations 1, 2 and 3 on the pin sheet.  Weather and the number of golfers we have will determine the frequency in changing the cups.  Typically, we will change cups after every two weeks.  The next cup changing will have cups in locations 4, 5 and 6 on the pin sheet.  This will enable you to still utilize the pin sheet for hole locations.  We will change the number on the sign at #1 tee box daily.

Also, with the turf going dormant, the greens have a much quicker pace.  My staff do the best job they can in choosing hole locations.  However, please realize they are not golfers and may not necessarily realize the difference between a fair hole location and an unfair one.  With the speed of the greens the way they are, it is very easy to place a cup in an unfair location despite the fact that it may look just fine from off the green.  I've asked the guys to make sure they are at least a flagstick length away from the slopes and to drop a ball next to the cup.  If the ball rolls, it's probably not a fair location.  I've also asked Nathan to notify me if there are any unfair locations that I may have missed so I can make sure the cup is moved.

Frost has also been a big player for us already this year.  Pictured below is the ladies tee on #4 (taken 12/15) that shows our tee mower going out a little too early and leaving tire tracks across the tee.  While frost can be a big hindrance to eager golfers, the damage that can be made to the tee boxes while frost is present leaves us no choice but to hold off play until all of the frost is gone. 

Thank you all and I hope to see you out on the course.

Chuck