We started bunker renovations on the par 3, 6th hole this week. In the interest of safety, while On-Course is working, we will keep all tee markers on the forward tee. We will push the markers back for the weekend. Any area disturbed due to the project should be considered Ground Under Repair until the bunkers reopen in the Spring.
Projects
Drainage on 6 green was completed yesterday. All materials have been removed, the green was rolled, and is open for play this morning. The crew has moved onto #7. We have placed a temporary pin in the fairway on 7, as that green is now closed until done. The hope is to have all greens open no later than Sunday morning.
Following 0.52″ of rain last night, I’m happy to report the 6th green feels firm under foot, and ball roll is near perfect. Some time next week we will be aerating between the drainage lines on 6 & 7.
Wednesday at 2, greens were opened following aeration. There hasn’t been a lot of play since then. At the risk of beating a dead horse, if one didn’t know any better, it would appear not a single ball mark was repaired. I happened to have flags in my cart from aeration, and they help drive home the point. Each flag in the pictures below represents an unrepaired ball mark on the 3rd and 8th greens, just in the last day and a half, with relatively light play. This is an ongoing issue that is having a direct impact on playability and quality, but is easily remedied.
The golf course will open tomorrow (4/6) for walking. We are expecting some rain tonight, so the decision on carts will come in the morning.
The crew has been hard at work, cleaning and getting the course ready. This morning they will finish cleaning, moving sand and raking bunkers. All the sand depths have been checked and we know there a some thin spots out there. Bunker sand is being delivered next week and we will cap off the bunkers that need it. Down the middle, things are fairly clean and we will continue to work our way around the course. My hope is one more roll today, possibly a first cut on greens, and finish getting the course accessories out.
There are a couple important things to note out on the course. We have a large project planned for the left side of 7. I will mark what I can, but expect most of the area between the left fairway bunkers and the stone wall along the road to be ground under repair. I’m excited for what is going to happen over there, but we are probably a week to 10 days away from most of the work taking place.
We have a little bit of tree work happening today. Conditions are too soft to get the log truck where we’d like on the course, so you may see a pile of logs off to the side, out of play (depending on how well you’re hitting it), until we can either get the truck out or move them closer to the road ourselves.
I am expecting a new and hopefully more reliable warning system for the 4th hole to be installed this afternoon. The new system will include a button on each of the 3 back tee boxes.
Opening the course this weekend is taking a lot of work from our small April crew. And I couldn’t be happier with the effort they are giving. We know there is a lot more to do, but wanted to give membership a chance to scratch that golf itch. Just like some of our golf games at this point in the season, it’s a work in progress, so please bear with us. I always have to remind myself at this time of year, that the course really doesn’t round into form until most of the trees have leafed out.
With the arrival of Spring, of course the topic on everyone’s mind is… snow. After several storms already this month, the golf course is well blanketed with pretty significant snow pack for late March. The good news is that the longer daylight hours and slightly stronger sun has done a decent job of melting. Even on days in the 30s, when the sun is shining we see some melting. I’m not sure what to expect with this latest storm, as I’ve seen the totals seemingly change by the minute, but anything in the 4-8″ is really going to hamper things. For reference, the last three years the course was opened for walkers on 4/17/2015, 3/31/2016, and 4/11/2017. Personally, I’d love it if the course opened each year by the time everyone gets hit with the Masters bug. But this is New England, and scheduling around the weather, no matter the season, can be an exercise in futility. Looking ahead at the 10-day forecast, I see some 50s at the end of the tunnel.
When the season ended, my staff had the course as clean as I’ve ever seen it for late fall/early winter. (Great job, guys!) Several weeks later the course was covered once again by the late-to-the-party oak leaves. Additionally, the last couple Nor’easters brought down quite a bit of debris as well as several large trees between 5 tee and the dump.
As last season wound down, we began several projects, which will be completed this Spring. We have identified an area in the rough beyond the ropes in front of 3 tee, adjacent to the flower bed on the left, that we will use to construct a new turf nursery. In the Fall, we routed irrigation to the area, and removed several trees from the flower bed in order to create an ideal growing environment. Once the stumps in the flower bed have been ground and cleaned up, the bed will be renovated and replanted.
We also began construction on a second tee space for use with the new short game area. The thinking behind this second tee, was to allow multiple people to practice at once, and also allow us to close one area if use and wear dictates. This tee will be finished as soon as we can get sod delivered, and should be available for use later in the Spring.
The area above the short game area, on the hill on 4, where several trees were removed, was loamed and seeded in the Fall. We used a “native area” seed blend, and as most have seen, covered prior to winter. The permeable cover accelerated seed germination, and we got a pretty good catch. We will continue to overseed as needed for the next couple months. The plan, as indicated by the seed used, will be to maintain this area as a natural area with long fescue, once established. This should be a great look from 4 tee.
I recently spoke with Sean Hanley of On-Course Golf regarding this years bunker work. Similar to the work on the third hole last year, we are scheduled to renovate the bunkers on 9. On-Course began their season in the last week or so on the south shore, and will make their way towards us. If conditions allow, we will be 2nd or 3rd course on their calendar. Worst case scenario will put us on the same schedule as last year, meaning bunkers will reopen in time for Memorial Day, at the latest.
The plan moving forward, will be to get the course ready for play as soon as possible, and as soon as weather allows. Once playing surfaces are free of snow, we will then evaluate any possible damage from the winter (if there is any at all), and plan accordingly. In the meantime, with equipment wrapped up, we continue to work on projects inside and out in preparation for the eventual 2018 season.
Keeping a close eye on the weather, we are slowly working towards winter, and preparing to put the golf course to bed. We have already blown out the irrigation system and started to bring some course accessories inside. All mowing has ended for the season. Although this year, because of a brief warmer than normal stretch in late October, we actually mowed greens in the first week of November. A first in the last 5 years.
There are still a few plant protectant applications to make to playing surfaces, which will be followed by a fairly heavy sand topdressing on greens. These applications will need to be made before frost settles into the ground. The topdressing will essentially render greens unplayable, as it serves as a blanket, to protect the plants over the next several months. So, it’s important to note, greens will close for the year just prior to their freezing.
If last week was the first time you were on the course in the last couple weeks, you’d think we’ve been ignoring Fall cleanup. Just the opposite actually. The last of the season’s crew had been doing a great job keeping up with leaves; actually getting to a few spots usually left until Spring. But a windy week and some really late oak trees changed all that in a matter of a few days. Until late last week, we had oaks that hadn’t even lost their green yet. So Fall cleanup will continue this week.
Also, out on the course, we started a few projects. As I’m sure you’ve seen, we addressed the area on the hill above the new short game area. Where the trees once stood, we loamed the area, and seeded with a natural area seed blend. In the Spring we will seed it again and probably transplant some fescues from out of play areas, to help it fill in a little faster. With cleanup done – at that time – the 5 man late season crew split up to begin two other projects. On the third hole, new irrigation is being installed to accommodate a new turf nursery. And on the 4th hole we are adding a second tee for use with the short game practice area. Both projects will likely be completed early in the Spring.
As the rain gauge ticks past the 1 inch mark this morning, most greens have significant standing water. For now the course is unplayable and will remain closed until conditions improve, but it doesn’t look good for today.
First thing I did this morning was drive out to the new bunkers. Unsure what to expect, I am more than pleased to say, they are all dry and would be perfectly playable…. if the greens weren’t under water.
HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!
The course has dried out significantly over the past few days, however, not enough to let carts out yet. Several areas around the course, specifically areas without cart paths are much too wet for cart traffic. All you need to do is visit the third hole to see just how wet we remain. The left bunker was pumped out earlier this week and ground water has seeped back in and filled it. Yesterday, while spraying greens for the first time, I was concerned that I might get the sprayer stuck, coming off the back of the 3rd green. My hope is by Monday we will be able to put some ropes and cart signs out and route carts around the wettest areas. This is dependent, in large part, on how much rain we see over the weekend.
Greens were mowed for the second time yesterday prior to being sprayed. Height of cut was dropped slightly, moving towards our target H.O.C., but this application prevents us from mowing for 2 days. We will mow them again Monday morning; again stepping down the height a little. It’s worth noting that the different grasses we have on greens (bentgrass and poa annua) and collars (bentgrass, poa, and quite a bit of rye) break dormancy at different times and rates and as a result, greens will seem a little bumpy until they even out. Consistently warmer soil temperatures will play a major role.
The new short game area or chipping green is looking good, and on schedule. Today I mowed it for the second time. Taking the height from .500″ down to .350″. For comparison sake, tees were just mowed at .500″ and last cut on greens was .145″. The goal for opening the green has it being mowed at the same height as the other 10 greens. Projected opening no later than Memorial Day still looks likely. Once open, it is the Greens Committee’s recommendation that while playing the 4th hole, the green be treated like any other green complex on the course. If a ball were to land on the green, the player should drop at nearest point of relief, no closer to the hole. However if a ball lands anywhere else in the short game area, it should be played as it lies, including the bunkers. Until it is open, any ball that lands inside the roped off area should not be played from inside the roped off area.
I took a cup cutter to the center of the green just before mowing it and was pleasantly surprised to see roots pushing 6 inches down. Next week, we’ll aerify and topdress.
This time of year, it feels like the crew of 5 of 6, depending on the day of the week, is working on dozens of things at once. One of the issues we started addressing today, was capping some of the bunkers with sand. Last week, the guys went through all the bunkers, moving sand around, and noting those that were in need of sand. We’re chipping away at them now. If you hit your ball into one of these bunkers, before they have a chance to completely spread and rake the sand, please take a drop outside the bunker.
I mentioned on Twitter earlier this week, that Wednesday morning, following the course’s opening day, there were at least a dozen ball marks on the 3rd green alone. Ball marks that are not repaired or improperly repaired leave lasting damage to the putting surface. A mark left one day, and repaired by the staff the next day will also leave a lasting impression. On top of the damage left behind, please consider those playing behind you. The rule of thumb is fix your own and one other. Fortunately there’s no rule of thumb on the maximum number you can fix. By the end of the season some of the greens can look like minefields, and really its altogether avoidable.
Right on schedule and right on budget, the new short game area, adjacent to the 4th hole, was completed last week. A lot of people have asked if I’m happy with the outcome, and the answer is – I couldn’t be happier. Honestly wouldn’t change a thing. Sean and John of On-Course Golf did an amazing job. When the plan was drawn up, we thought it would give us a general idea of how things would lay out, and the process would be fluid, as we encountered different things. But I’d say the finished product is 99% true to the original design. The new construction fits that area perfectly, and to be honest, once the sod matures, the green, the approach and 2 new bunkers will look like they’ve always been there. As the weather continues to cool down, we will put some plant protectants down, hopefully topdress at least once, and covered for the winter. For now the entire sodded area is roped off and everyone’s favorite ball retrievers from lower 4 have been placed around the ropes. Please stay out of the roped off area. Depending on the Winter and Spring weather, we are targeting May for the grand opening.
I’m sure you noticed this spring, as I did, that last Fall’s large drill-and-fill holes were slow to heal up. This year, following 3 years of drill-and-fill, we opted to try a different, less disruptive process called DryJect. The hole on the green surface is much smaller and the machines allow some versatility as far as spacing and depth, as opposed to the set spacing of the drill-and-fill machines. Ideally I’d like to do this twice a year in conjunction with our core aeration. The image below briefly explains the process:
What we’re trying to accomplish is really two things; we want to continue to incorporate sand into our root zone while also fracturing the heavier, native soils found in the lower portion of the profile. We’ve rolled greens a couple times since, and today mowed for the first time; and despite still being wet and a little soft from last weekend’s 1.25″ of rain, they’re rolling great.
Last week, we had several trees removed on the left side of the 4th hole. This was done to clear room for the new short game area. The removal was absolutely necessary to create an acceptable growing environment. The work will include constructing a new, approximately 5000 square foot green – slightly elevated – with a small approach and 2 bunkers. To put it into perspective, the 5th green is right around 5000 sq ft. I think this is will be an exciting and attractive addition to the Club. On-Course Golf will be doing the work for us, hopefully beginning in under two weeks.
…Great news.
First, for the first time this year, the 4th green and 5th tee will be open for play. Obviously for the next month or so, there will be a large area of “Ground-Under-Repair”. The entire area is roped off, and spans from the cart path on 4 to the rough between the creek and 5 fairway. It’s important to the process of the sod maturing properly to keep all traffic out of this area. We will put 4 telescopic ball retrievers out, should your ball land inside the ropes. Under no circumstances should carts venture off the cart path between lower 4 and 5, and this includes “Blue Flags”.
And not to bury the headline here, but also for the first time this year, carts will be available as of this morning. There are still some tender and/or slightly wet spots out there, but they are few and far between. Please follow all ropes and cart signs.
4.5 months from closing the hole until today, 580 yards of loam, 1011 feet of new drainage, new irrigation, 20,000 sq feet of rough and 13,500 sq feet of fairway sod: