Golf Course Update

February 2016 was the most abnormally warm month ever recorded, topping January 2016.  This warming trend allowed us to open the golf course on March 5^th,  marking it one of the earliest official openings to date.  Currently,  growing degree days are tracking well ahead of average years.  This is making it challenging for the Green Department crew to keep up with the quick spring like progressions.  Usually the transition from winter to spring is a slow gradual development, allowing us to fully prepare the golf course for play.  2016 has been the exception. Record breaking warm days and warm nights have soil temperatures on the rise creating a quick green up. 

During the last few weeks the Green Department has been scrambling to get the golf course brought up to playable conditions.  To expedite the golf course preparation process we have brought back some of the seasonal crew members earlier than normal.  All playing surfaces have been mowed at least once.  Greens have also been rolled for smoothness and consistency. The first few mows will be considerably higher than our normal, in season mowing heights.  The objective is to slowly cut off the old winterized leaf tissue at the tops of the plants.  This will prevent the grass from going into shock and possibly re-winterizing during the cooler nights and early mornings.  Once debris cleanup is completed, we will move to bunker rehabilitation.  Bunkers will be decontaminated, edged and sand depths will be evaluated.  Sand will be added and/or redistributed as needed throughout the bunker to maintain a consistent depth and fair playing conditions. 

Spring aeration will begin Monday, April 4^th.  Greens and sand based tees will be core aerated, while native soiled tees and fairways will be solid deep tined.  On Monday, April 4th, the front nine greens will be aerated followed by the back nine greens on Tuesday, April 5th.  On Tuesday, April 5th, the back nine will be closed for golf play.  However, the front nine will remain open.