Greens Aerification and #6 Tee

Greens Aerification

Aerifier collecting the cores

Greens aerification was completed Tuesday afternoon and through the day on Wednesday, with 18 holes back open for play on Thursday of this past week. Our process went very smooth considering that we needed to work within the only 48 hours we had without any rain. All greens were punched with 5/8 hollow tines, pulling out the aerification plugs. All the plugs were cleaned and the sand was swept back into all/most of the holes. 

Brushing in the sand

Next week we will be doing some touch up work and adding sand to a few areas where it is needed. The putting green was completed about 9 days ago and it is healing nicely. Assuming we have some nice warm days ahead of us we should see the greens be completely healed in the next two weeks.

Putting Green on September 26th 

Putting Green on October 4th

#6 Tee 

There it is

As many of you are aware the 6th tee struggles to maintain adequate grass, this is due to the horrific environment that it sits in, back in mosquito ally. This tee sits back in the trees it has little to no air movement and receives little to no sun most of the day. It is constantly wet and has been in need of some attention. 

Seed lines are growing

We have got some grass growing on this tee and it is important that we see to it that we are successful. With all the major events on the golf calender being complete we have decided to close the tee for play the rest of the year.

Over the next few weeks you will see us put some fertilizer on this tee, and most likely we will get a cover on it when it starts to really get cold. As we tend to this tee gingerly we appreciate it if all players can use the temporary tee that has been shaved into the rough in-front of the large tee box. We also ask that you respect our fence that is being used to keep anyone from trying to get back there. As always we appreciate your support 

Tee cut into the rough

Respectfully, 

Golf Course Superintendent 

Nick Marfise 

Greens Aerification to Begin Later Today

We will be starting our greens aerification process later this afternoon after the high school tournament is over. We are starting today instead of waiting for tomorrow in order to try and beat the rain and weather that is predicted for the rest of the week. We are hoping to be finished sometime on Thursday. 

We have done several different variations of aerification on these greens, all of which have been done in an attempt to find what is the best type of practice for our facility. We want to continue to improve our greens playing surfaces from a health stand point and a play-ability stand point. We have also wanted to work out a procedure that works well with our small staff size.  The first thing we do is cover the green  in a heavy amount of sand. Second, we take our aerifier over the green, the aerifier has a plow on the back that catches the aerification cores and drags them to the sides of the greens for easy cleanup. 

After the green is free of debris, we brush in the sand and blow the surfaces clean. The days after are focused on rolling the holes for smoothness. If we get some good dry warm weather, here in October we should see the holes close up in about two weeks.  

Respectfully, 

Golf Course Superintendent 

Nick Marfise 

Fall Over-Seeding

Seeded lines in #8 Fairway 

It is that time of year where fall is quickly approaching and many golf courses have already begun fall projects, and most have started and some have even completed their Aerification practices. Our greens aerification will not take place for another two weeks, we plan to aerify our greens the week of October 1st.

Seed coming in on #14 Fariway

In the mean time we are over-seeding the fairways to help improve our overall density. This time of year is great for growing grass because the soil is still warm, but temperatures are cool, giving plants a much needed break from the summer.  This time of year we should get a good months worth of growing weather before it gets cold and plants really slow down.

Seed filling in, in a bare area

By the end of this week all of the fairways will have been seeded, we are seeing germination and growth in less then seven days, and are happy with the results so far. As our fairways mature over the next four to six weeks we will be in better shape to start next years golf season.

Respectfully,

Golf Course Superintendent
Nick Marfise

September Update

#3 Approach

Unfortunately it has been another wet week the golf course has received three inches of rain over the last several days and hasn't had much of a break to dry out. We were able to mow the Tees, Approaches, and Fairways only once so far this week, and it is still unknown if we will be dry enough by Friday to mow much more.

Wet Fairways have resulted in a week of no riding golf carts 

On the bright side the extended forecast looks really good for not only growing grass but also playing golf, dry and cool.

Several areas on the course have been improving and our fairway recovery methods have definitely paid off. The stress has warn off and many of the fairways are looking better. We have also gone back to a more normal mowing pattern (when we aren't wet) on fairways and have lowered the mowing height slightly to help get the playing surfaces a bit tighter.

#4 Fairway 

Our seeding efforts have paid off as we have seen lots of positive growth. Most recently we have started to seed the fairways again in an attempt to help get the thin areas addressed and more mature.

#15 Fairway

 #15 Fairway seedlings  recently mowed 

As the course dries out we will be getting caught up with mowing all playing surfaces, we will then resume fixing and improving related areas on the course.

Thank you for your support

Golf Course Superintendent
Nick Marfise

Fairway Recovery

This years weather has had its share of challenges, we started off spring with over 14 inches of rain, which was followed buy early season heat and humidity. We just finished up a stretch of hot and dry weather all of which has put an abundant amount of stress on the golf course, but primarily the fairways.

The weather can surely cause set backs, but when you combined that with continuous golf, golf cart traffic, and mower/equipment traffic you now have created additional stresses. When all these factors are added up we wind up with turf thinning, hard panned lies, and a stressed out golf course.

In the extreme heat like we saw last week and through the weekend, riding carts and even pull carts can damage turf when the turf is dry and wilting.

Pull cart tracks on #10 approach

The maintenance staff has already begun seeding the fairways in areas where grass has been lost due to the water damage, additional seed has also been put in fairways that were thinning due to weather stress and excessive traffic. Several other areas have already been given additional fertilizer to promote extra growth and recovery.

seed germinating on #6 fairway 

In an attempt to help promote recovery the maintenance staff is going to take a more conservative approach to maintaining the golf course. Starting this past week the fairways have been mowed at a slightly higher height of cut. By raising the height of cut there will be more turf to help cushion and displace all related traffic . Longer grass helps the grass grow better roots and get stronger for the future.

slightly longer grass in the fairways 

The fairways will also be mowed less frequently, by doing this we are eliminating one of those additional stresses that were mentioned previously. Excessive mower traffic can cause stress on the grass, including over compacting soils.

Un-mowed on the left/ mowed on the right 

Once the turf gets stronger and healthier we will then begin to mow more often and potentially lower the height of cut down once again. Right now we want to have a thick stand of grass for the future and this has shown in a short period of time that it is working. We appreciate your patience, see you out there.

Respectfully,

Golf Course Superintendent

Nick Marfise

Venting Greens

After this last stretch of warm and dry weather it is important to make sure we get air and oxygen into our greens. Over the next couple of days you will see us poking small holes in the greens to help with air exchange and let our grass and its roots breath. The holes will heal quickly and after they are rolled, should not disrupt the putting surface.

Much needed rain

The golf course received some much needed rain, the golf course had been hot and dry for several days. With close to an inch in total accumulation this should help the grass hit the reset button moving forward. 

The golf course is open for walking only.

Finally got some rain!

There will be no riding golf carts today.

We went through a significant drought and dry spell there, and the grass could have really used some rain. This looks like the weekend for that to happen. Between yesterday and this morning we've had enough rain to help the grass, but unfortunately we will not have riding golf carts for the rest of the day. 

Morning Maintenance 
Pin locations moved
Greens mowed
Bunkers raked

Saturday

Looks like rain, the golf course was very dry and needed a shot of rain. We will keep everyone posted as to how conditions change due to the rain. With the course being dry we expect it to take and handle the rain well.

Morning Maintenance 
Pin locations moved
Greens mowed
Greens rolled
Bunkers raked
Garbage and Water Barrels Changed

Friday

We received minimal rain last night, riding golf carts are available today.  

Morning Maintenance 

Pin locations moved 

Greens Rolled 

Approaches and Fairways Mowed 

Bunkers Raked 

Happy Fourth of July!

Happy Fourth of July, we thank you for celebrating our nations independence with us. 

Morning Maintenance 

Pin locations moved 

Greens Mowed 

Approaches Mowed 

Tees Mowed 

We ask that everyone respects the american flags located on holes nine and eighteen today buy not letting the flags touch the ground. Please use these signs to support the flag while putting. 

Thank you

Hopefully a new week with no rain

#1 Green

Morning Maintenance 

Change pin locations 

Roll Greens 

Blow and clean fairways 

Mow Fairways 

Afternoon Maintenance 

Detail work at the clubhouse 

Mowing rough and banks 

Trimming yardage markers and sprinkler heads in the fairways 

The golf course is open for walking only. We received just under an 1 inch of rain between yesterday morning and the storms that came through late last night. 

Morning Maintenance 
Greens mowed
Tees mowed
Pumping water off of fairways

Sunday

Greens Roller in Action 

The golf course is open for walking only. Most of the standing/surface water on the course has gone down, but all of the low line areas are still saturated and very wet.

Morning Maintenance 
Pin locations moved
Greens mowed
Greens rolled
Bunkers raked
Remaining bunkers and fairway areas pumped

Saturday

The golf course is open for walking only.

Morning maintenance
Greens mowed
Bunkers raked
Pumping water off of fairways and bunkers

Course Closed

#13 Fairway 

The golf course has received just over 2" inches of rain over the last two days. We will be remaining closed for the day. We hope to reopen tomorrow for walking only.

#17 Fairway 

Ladies Guest Day!

Welcome all WGA members and Guests to today's event. The wind blew all night drying out the golf course, riding golf carts will be available. 

Morning Maintenance 
Pin locations moved
Greens Mowed
Approaches Mowed
Fairways Mowed
Bunkers Raked

Afternoon Maintenance 
Driving Range Maintenance (The driving range will be closed after 8 am until further notice)
Clubhouse landscaping

Saturday

With over an inch of rain last night, there are puddles and standing water on the golf course. We will be delaying the opening of the course until 9am today, and then will be open for walking only. Please check back with the proshop and website for start times.

Monday

Another good weather day, no restrictions

#4 Fairway 

Morning Maintenance 
Pin locations moved
Greens mowed
Approaches mowed
Fairways mowed
Rough mowing

Afternoon Maintenance 
Greens rolled
Bunkers raked
Rough mowing
Fairways blowing/cleaning

Staff hard at work on #1 

Morning Maintenance 

Pin locations changed 

Greens mowed 

Greens rolled 

Approaches mowed 

Fairways mowed 

Bunkers raked 

Rough being mowed 

Afternoon Maintenance 

Clubhouse mowing and detail work 

Rough mowing 

Sweeping rough clippings and debris 

Blowing and cleaning fairways and approaches 

Annual flower planting

Thursday

Riding golf carts are available,  we received .20" of rain last night, tropical storm Alberto was kind to us considering some areas of Illinois had over five inches of rain.

Morning Maintenance 
Pin locations changed
Greens mowing
Tee mowing
Rough and bank mowing 

Afternoon Maintenance 
Continue rough and bank mowing
String trimming and mowing front nine holes of bunker faces

Memorial Day Weekend!

We will be flying the american flags on hole 18 and number 9 this weekend in honor of those who have served this great country. We'd like to thank fellow employee, Billy Zigmond, for creating the signs you see here to help hold the flags so they don't touch the ground.

Holiday Weekend

Enjoy The Holiday Weekend!

The golf course is open with no restrictions

Morning Maintenance
Pin Locations Moved
Greens Mowed
Bunkers Raked

Friday

The golf course is open and riding golf carts are available 

Morning Maintenance 
Pin locations moved
Bunkers Raked
Fairways Mowed
Approaches Mowed
Rough and Bank Mowing

Afternoon Maintenance 
Continue fixing washed bunkers
Rough and Bank Mowing

The golf course will be open for walking only to start the day, if the course drys out we will reevaluate and allow carts no earlier then this afternoon.

Morning Maintenance 
Change Pin Locations
Roll Greens
Mow Fairways
Mow Tees 
Mow Rough /Banks

Course is Open

flooded areas have left debris and water marks 

The golf course will be open for walking only today. We made a lot of progress yesterday getting all the water moved and pumped off of primary playing surfaces. We are confident that there will be little to no turf loss after getting the water off of the golf course. The North Branch of the Chicago River also started to go down and helped take much of the water off of the property. There is still plenty to clean up including washouts in bunkers, and debris in the fairways. Staff  began fixing bunkers yesterday and that work will continue until we are finished.

Before 

After

Pumping down #13 fairway 

#14 mid day on Tuesday 

Closed for now

After revaluating, the golf course will remain closed for the day.

Golf Course Closed

After an entire day of rain the golf course will be closed for the day. Several areas on the golf course are flooded and standing water is everywhere. It will take some time for the water to begin to recede. 

After the water goes down it will take staff time to put the golf course back together again, including pushing sand in bunkers.

Fairway bunker #8

Almost all fairway bunkers are washed and have standing water in them.

Green side bunker #1

Some green side bunkers are washed, mostly due to surface run off into those bunkers. You can see from the picture above how the Capillary Concrete liners are showing in some areas. We will keep everyone posted about weather or not we will be open tomorrow, and how the golf course drains.

Thank you,

Nick Marfise
Golf Course Superintendent