 |
| Sunrise on the course |
Spring is here and that means that the golf course will be opening soon. We wanted to give everyone a brief overview of what has been happening since last fall.
 |
| The dark army green Kentucky Bluegrass is what we want to have on our golf course |
This past fall the golf course fairways and approaches were re-seeded with Kentucky Bluegrass. During the seeding process the first attempt at killing off the unwanted grass or "Poa annua" was completed. At this time we feel we have made significant progress in this attempt and are very satisfied with the percentage of control over the Poa annua.
 |
| #15 Roll off after Poa annua treatments |
The desired Kentucky Bluegrass was placed in the ground back in the fall so that it would begin to grow this spring. It is in fact beginning to grow, but it is still in the ground. At this time we need warmer weather, so that the soil gets up to and average of 55 degrees. Once the soil warms up the grass seeds will germinate and grow more rapidly.
 |
| Seed covers help keep the soil warm were and incubate the seed where we need it to grow |
It is going to take some time before we have lush thick fairways. Our plan is to push the growth with different variety's of fertilizer and we will continue to need some good warm dry weather, By the middle of the summer we are confident that we will once again have a quality golfing product.
 |
| #5 Fairway in the summer of 2016, Poa annua treatments were made in fall of 2015 |
Also this spring you will be happy to know that the green side bunker project was approved and we are in full swing in getting this project completed. The goals of the project are to take the old sand out of the bunkers, fix any problems in the bottoms of the bunkers, install a permeable hard linear, and then finish the bunkers off with new sand.
 |
| A rented excavator is helping get the sand out of the bunkers |
 |
| Some hand work is needed to do the detail work inside the bunkers |
As of right now, when the golf course opens, we are currently working on the front nine green side bunkers. All of the sand has been taken out, and we have been fixing any minor issues with the drainage system. We hope to have the front nine done by the middle of April, once the front nine is completely finished, we will begin working on the back nine.
 |
| The emptied bunkers are then edged back to their original edge |
 |
| All bunkers are covered in plastic to protect them from the elements, until we are ready for liners |
While the golf course fairways and bunkers are some of our type priorities this spring we have also been focused on several other projects and areas of the golf course. We have been diligently working on the clubhouse landscaping. The club house landscaping has been in a need for a bit of reorganizing, we have been removing old plants and dead trees as well as making better use of perennial plants.
 |
| Mulch going down in front of the clubhouse |
 |
| Relocation of perennial plants as made better use of space and plant material |
 |
| Removals of unwanted trees and weeds has made for a more cleaner look in the parking lot. |
We have also completed the drainage project on hole #14 this spring. An additional 700 feet of drainage was installed in the fairway and approach areas. This additional drainage will help alleviate surface wetness and make for better play-ability on this golf hole. Our plan is to get these areas sodded as soon as possible
 |
| The finished drain lines |
 |
| Middle of fairway next to the bunker |
Golf Course Superintendent
Nick Marfise
