Closing of bathrooms

We are getting closer an closer to winter. We are preparing the bathrooms for freezing nighttime temperatures. Bathrooms will be closing this week. We are sorry for any inconvenience.
The greens on the course will remain open as long as they are free from regular freeze thaw cycles. Once the greens begin to freeze at night and only partially thaw during the day, we will move to temporary greens.
High winds! You may want to move patio furniture in if you haven't yet.
Turf

Christmas in October

Today looks like a great day for golf. Get your work done and get to the club. Chef is whipping up something special for you, and I have a special present!
We will allow carts to go off the path, to the ball and back to the path. The course is a little wet, but it looks like one of the last good golf days. Please be mindful of the conditions are drive with concern for the course.
We are blowing out the irrigation system, but we should be wrapping up early afternoon. We are doing our best with leaves, so I apologize for lost balls.
It's a beautiful day,
Turf

Salmon in the creek

We have been watching for the salmon to begin pushing in the creek. Drought conditions coupled with the warm temperatures have delayed the run this year. The first report of fish came Saturday by Mark Heaney, good eye Mark!
The water levels are still low as you can tell by the photo showing the bank. If it cools an we get the predicted rain, by the end of the week we should be able to view them regularly from the bridges.
We manage the golf course to protect the water quality of these streams and to protect the habitat of these creatures. These habitats are important sources for their survival, especially when we consider the current situation in the Great Lakes with the introduction of invasive species. The proliferation of the Asian carp could be devastating to this great natural resource. Many people are unaware of the magnitude of the fishery industry that exists in Lake Michigan. We do, and that is why we are so dedicated to the management practices that slow runoff, filter nutrients, and preserve water quality.
Happy Monday,
Turf

You got your poa in my bentgrass!

Many Northern courses have poa annua (annual bluegrass) and bentgrass blends that comprise their playing surfaces. Despite the best efforts of turf managers, true stands of bentgrass are difficult to maintain, if not impossible. The reason? Well, we have three golf seasons in the north with two distinct types of growing conditions. Fall and spring tend to be cool and wet, while the summer is warm and dry. Voids, or bare areas in the turf will be filled with whatever grass has the competitive advantage at the time. Poa annua likes the cool and wet, while bentgrass favors the hot and dry.
Photographed are two examples of voids, earthworm castings and divots. Other types of voids include ball marks and traffic damage. As long as their exists voids in the turf during more moderate weather, Northern courses will always contend with having poa / bentgrass surfaces despite the best efforts one can afford.
These may be fighting words for turf managers who don't believe in Darwin.
My inbox will be full of comments soon,
Turf

Leaf season and a new look

Leaf cleanup season has begun! Our staff is busy picking up leaves, blowing, and mulching. Try as we may, we cannot keep up, so remember the "leaf rule."
We have also been busy cleaning up several areas like the one on the right and left of one red tee. The photo does not do the work justice, but the new look is amazing, and should help speed up play off the first tee.
Thanks to everyone for your support. The cards, phone calls, text messages, and yes, even a road trip, are much appreciated and more than I could have imagined.
You're the best,
Turf

Mr. Powers

The plaque has arrived at the flagpole. The tribute to Mr. Powers, in my opinion is perfect. Please take a moment and come to the club to see for yourself. Located just outside "the turn" is the fantastic symbol of our freedom waving in the autumn breeze among three pines that could easily be life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. In the background the palate of fall color compliments the vivid green of the golf course which is soaking up the last rays of sunshine before the sun takes its dip towards the winter solstice.
It is really pretty out,
Turf

Trees and turf

Sometimes these pictures are just too good not to share. This spring the irrigation to the small putting green was overhauled as the construction project destroyed the old lines. The red dotted line is showing the trench line. The grass opposite the trench from the trees (or to the right of the red dashed line) is no long competing with tree roots because they were severed by the trencher.
The line that appears in the left of the photo is simply leaves that are caught in the ornamental grasses. The big story is in the really green healthy grass.
Pretty cool,
Turf

Cooler temps / range tee closing

The leaves are turning into a vibrant background, the days are getting shorter, and the recuperative potential of turf is slowing. These things are indicators that our golf season is winding down....(insert sad face).
This will be the last weekend for the driving range tee on the grass. Next week we will go to the mat on the back of the range. The main reason for this is as soil temps dive, seed germination stops. We don't want to do any damage to the tee that won't repair itself.
The mat upgrade was a great addition this year and makes cool weather practice possible.
Time for hot cider,
Turf