Lead Up To Thanksgiving Weekend

There is a 40% chance of a little rain in the next couple of days (Thursday and Friday), but otherwise the weather on weekend looks good with a high of 17 and 20 for this Sunday and Monday which we'll definitely take this time of year!

The work on the bunker renovation continued this week.  To passers by, it was uneventful with the installation of the irrigation on No. 4 and No. 5 minimizing the changes to the landscape since the end of last week.  The updated irrigation will ensure adequate water coverage were necessary with the design alterations.

Irrigation installation on No. 4 green

In the meantime, shaper Don Robb and his crew jumped ahead on the project to avoid losing ground and completed the rough grade on No. 16 greenside bunkers.  There is no irrigation adjustments required on No. 16, so tomorrow the plan will be to install the drainage to the bunkers on that hole while waiting for the completion of the irrigation on No. 4 and to allow No. 5 to dry out after the rain received today.

Bunker rough-grading completed on No. 16. Now ready to install drainage.

Today work on regular fall maintenance continued.  Fall leaf cleanup is underway, but a ton of leaves still need to fall before that work can be completed.  While the course still remains relatively dry, a couple of the typically wet fairways 1, and 5 were solid tine aerated and topdressed today.  This was meant to give us a jump-start to the process scheduled to be completed next week after Thanksgiving in case the weather decides to turn bad on us later in the month (making it impossible to complete this process before winter).

The 3/4" solid tines don't remove a core, or make any mess, so the disruption to golfers is minimal.  The plan is to fill the holes with sand, which will not only smooth the surface but will provide a channel for roots, improved drainage and firmness, which ultimately provides better turf conditions going forward into winter and into next season.

No. 5 Fairway today immediately after aeration (no cores before topdressing)

Thank you for your patience during this fall work being carried out on the golf course.  Winter is just around the corner, and we are already working hard preparing for the success of next season.