Last Days of Winter

The groundhog appears to have gotten the forecast correct as spring has arrived early.  There has been abundant rainfall though and the area has gone from snow to flooding.

The bermuda continues to amaze me at how fast it is emerging from dormancy just a month after the last snow melted.  The fairways are ready to be cut short removing the winter fluff that protects during cold weather.  By doing this sunlight will penetrate to the soil warming it quicker and allowing the turf to come on stronger.  The downside of starting this process so early is that there is still a possibility of frosts or freezes that could not only set back the bermuda but also kill it in its tender stage of new growth.  Keep your fingers crossed for mild weather.

The tees have been cut down in the last two days and will continue to green as the days get longer.  Next on the list are the collars and approach areas.  The areas have to be blown clean first and the expanded areas may have to be cut twice as those areas all used to be rough.

With luck the majority of the seasonal staff will show up next week as the early spring has overwhelmed the six of us the last couple of weeks.  Monday the practice green will be aerated in order for a demonstration of a Sweep N Fill brush to be done.  This brush promises to put the sand topdressing into the aeration holes better than everything else.  We are hopeful.  If rain misses us tonight, fairways may be dry enough to be cut early next week and may be sprayed for poa annua too.  Bunkers are high on our priority list especially now that we have gotten another load of sand for them.

The rest of the greens will be aerated starting on the 28th.  This is a two day process and this year it will start with a contractor deep tining them with solid 1/2 inch tines to a depth of 8-10 inches.  We will follow with our regular aerator and then topdressing.  Look for them to be good in about 10 days.

I hope you are getting the itch for golf.  There still isn't much roll in the fairways but the greens are rolling pretty smoothly.  The new hole location guide is being implemented with some different looks.  Last Friday was our debut and it did not go as well as planned with the location on #17 being unplayable.  That situation was rectified and last Monday staff spent 90 minutes in training to make sure all staff are on the same page with knowlege and expectations and hopefully it will be smooth sailing from here on.  The shelters are open and the water coolers were put out late this afternoon.  Carts are still restricted to the paths as we wait for the bermuda to green up and the ground to dry up.