Mice, Mold, and Moles

It looks like spring may have sprung. There is still a good layer of frost in the ground, a good rain would help to remove it. the frost layer in the greens is about an inch and a half deep as of yesterday afternoon.  Once we can get the frost out of the ground, the course will begin to drain, and the opening of the course on regular greens will be a reality.  While the frost remains, you are welcome to come out and play the temporary greens, but please remain on the cart paths at all times.

My first non-snow covered tour revealed some damage from the winter, but overall the course faired better than most of our 401k plans. The typical winter damage was observed Pink Snow Mold (Microdocium Nivale). This fungus is found mostly in the shaded areas of the course, fungicide applications are made in the fall to prevent this disease, so most of the fungus is isolated to the roughs. We found minimal damage in a few areas of fairways and tees.


 

Pink Snow Mold

Star-nosed moles, native to Northern Indiana, create many burrowing tunnels and mounds of soil.  When these animals go deeper into the soil, they leave mounds of soil at the surface.  We found several ares where damage had occured on the tee surface, I don't care for these critters.

We also found some mouse damage.  These little guys like to eat the leaves of the grass plant under the cover of the snow, from the amount of damage on 3 white tee, the hawks should be feasting soon.  The damage looks like a small zig zag depressed area in the turf, but will heal once the turf starts to grow.

We have much work to complete, look back here for more updates soon.

See you on the tee,

Erwin