January 16th Update

Finally some decent weather to continue our project, although it has been very wet and mushy we are not picky and will work with what we have. So far #10 status is the right side bunker is prepped for the spray and we opted to not return to the left green side bunker and the fairway bunker, its just to wet to be productive. So we decided to move to #9 where the ground is higher and a little dryer. Sod work is on going at this point with a truck scheduled for tomorrow to finish #15 and #11 approach/fairway extension, these changes will bring you more eye candy and improve the play-ability of the hole.

#9 left fairway bunker, ready for polymer

#9 left green side bunker

#9 right side bunkers

#10 green right side bunker

#11, cutting out rough for our bentgrass
approach extension.

#11 right side has been cut and ready for removal, 

Outside our shop on 18 the fence is pretty unsightly from the club house and when you are playing the hole,  what we plan to do is prep this area for some fence screening plants such as leyland cypress trees. This will serve a great purpose when we have members enjoying a meal on the patio seeing green rather than a brown fence.

New Maryland Fertilizer Law

Recently I have completed my certification to apply fertilizer on a commercial basis. This is a new law that has come out and every business will be required to participate in. Its main goal is protecting the water quality of the Chesapeake Bay by reducing or eliminating water run off containing nitrogen or phosphorous.  The biggest targets are of course golf courses and other large turf grass entities. I can personally say that we are fully aware of the detrimental actions of not following the correct protocols when fertilizer application are taking place. I do believe that we as golf course managers care more about the environment than most people would think. 

The golf course industry is doing their part in eliminating the chances for nitrogen and phosphorous run off, I really do hope that you as home owners will help us as well. By working together we can have a great partnership and goal of improving the water quality of the Chesapeake bay while still having a great looking golf course and home lawn. So if you are interested in more information about the fertilizer law and how you can reduce your inputs at your home please visit http://mda.maryland.gov/Pages/fertilizer.aspx

January 8th Update

All I can say is that "I Survived the Polar Vortex"! With temperatures dropping dramatically with in a 24 hour period we shifted gears and concentrated on working inside. We try and set up our winter work load this way so that we can keep the staff out of the elements when it gets this cold. Some good opportunities that we can do is sanding of the golf course benches. This removes the yearly wear and preps them to be re-oiled for the coming season.  With just a few pallets of sod to lay out they literally became ice blocks, to combat this we would leave them over night in a heated environment and quickly lay them out the next morning before they would freeze again. 

The bunker project is in standby mode, the future weather forecast looks promising to continue later this week. Our last two trees were planted yesterday on #5 screening the home, the frozen ground was a great advantage to limit any ruts from the heavy equipment.

#15 new fairway extension

Staff prepping the benches

Happy New Year!

Welcome to the first post of 2014 with many more to follow so that we can educate you on the practices and principals of turf grass management. We always encourage you to follow along and enjoy the pictures of the golf courses road to maturity and improvement. With that being said we are back on the sand train and its moving very well.  Today we have finished #17 and currently on #11 adding sand while the the other team is busy constructing the bunkers on #10. The staff has been busy working in the fairway top dressing, prepping areas for sod repair and we have even started to mulch beds during the frosty part of the morning. As I am typing this we are unloading a sod truck so check back on the completion of that very soon.

Today we closed the greens and moved to temporary cups into the fairway where they will remain until March 1st weather permitting. 

The bare area will be a new fairway extension on #15 in
front of the green complex. 

Same area but looking towards the 15th green, please note
that the new fairway edge will be smoother than what you
see in the photo.

#10 right side bunker almost ready for gravel installation

#10 front green side bunker almost ready for the floor
to be shaped.

#17 Back bunker 

#17 front bunker

#11 right side bunker

#11 right side bunker